Dominik, Bucs have options with trade of Adams

TAMPA - No one can accuse Bucs general manager Mark Dominik of being afraid to pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade.

The rookie GM who traded for tight end Kellen Winslow back in February and sent quarterback Luke McCown packing back in September has now traded former first-round draft pick Gaines Adams.

Adams, who is sure to go down in history as one of the biggest draft busts in Bucs history, was dealt to the Bears for a second-round draft pick Friday. Don't be surprised if another big deal isn't right around the corner.

With the NFL trade deadline coming up on Tuesday there's a chance the Bucs will work quickly to fill the hole they created at right defensive end by dealing the ever-disappointing Adams.

Though it may be wiser to wait and what's available to them in the draft, the Bucs could try to work a deal for one of the notable defensive ends who are expected to hit free agency next spring.

Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers heads that class and he's followed closely on the list by Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers and Kyle Vanden Bosch of the Tennessee Titans.

There has long been talk in NFL circles of the Packers dealing Kampman before the deadline, and the possibility of the Panthers dealing Peppers and the Titans dealing Vanden Bosch could increase if both teams lose this weekend.

A deal for Peppers or Vanden Bosch would be ideal, of course, because it would immediately fill the need the Bucs have for a dominant right end. A deal for Kampman, who plays the left side, could work, too, however.

In that scenario the Bucs could move Jimmy Wilkerson back to right end, which is the spot he spent most of his time playing last year when he ranked second on the team in sacks with five despite playing only sparingly.

Another option, of course, is to sit tight, see who hits free agency and see what comes available on draft day. As we said before, that may be the wiser approach, and here's why.

The Bucs are obviously on a youth kick. They're rebuilding with young players that fit their needs and with players they envision playing for them for the next five to 10 years.

As good as they are, neither Peppers, Kampman nor Vanden Bosch fits the second part of that equation. Vanden Bosch will soon turn 31, after all, and Peppers and Kampman will be 30 next year.

And it's not like the Bucs won't have the draft picks necessary to get what they need. Though they still don't have a full complement of picks, they did get back in the Adams deal the second-round pick they gave up for Winslow.

That gives them picks in both the first and second round and you have to keep in mind that both Dominik and his bosses, the Glazer boys, believe strongly in building through the draft.

And as usual the 2010 draft figures to have a good array of pass rushing defensive ends, including several who could be available to the Bucs in the first and second round.

For example, Von Miller of Texas A&M, Greg Hardy of Ole Miss and Carlos Dunlap of Florida are all projected to go in the first round and are players the Bucs almost certainly have their eyes on.

The Bucs are also sure to be watching closely the likes of Eric Norwood of South Carolina, Ricky Sapp of Clemson and maybe even George Selvie of South Florida.

Those three are projected at this point to go in the second round, and so anyone of them could become the player that ultimately replaces Adams, who never quite found his niche in Tampa.