The Bucs entered the NFL draft looking to improve at several positions, with running back and defensive back among the top priorities. How well did general manager Jason Licht do in addressing those needs? Well, the grades from the draft experts are in.

Before we get to those, a recap of the team's selections: Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea (No. 12), USC running back Ronald Jones II (38), North Carolina defensive back M.J. Stewart (53), Auburn defensive back Carlton Davis (63), Humboldt State offensive guard Alex Cappa (94), Pittsburgh safety Jordan Whitehead (117), Pennsylvania receiver Justin Watson (144), Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy (202).

And now, to the grades!

Ian Wharton, Bleacher Report: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did well to move back and collect two second-round picks in the 2018 NFL draft. They had the chance to add safety Derwin James to their secondary but instead went with mammoth defensive tackle Vita Vea in the first round. Vea is not yet a complete three-down player but is a terrific athlete for his size and is the latest investment this offseason as the team tries to shore up a woeful run defense.

General manager Jason Licht had a terrific Day 2, led by explosive running back Ronald Jones. The USC ball-carrier has home run speed and consistent vision. He should excel behind the Buccaneers' athletic offensive line and has untapped potential as a pass-catcher.

Defensive backs M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis immediately add needed talent into one of the worst cornerback depth charts in the league, and Tampa Bay now boasts a bit of a surplus at the position. Humboldt State guard Alex Cappa had dominant film and could be the next Ali Marpet for the Buccaneers' offensive line.

Grade: B+

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: They needed players on defense and they landed a bunch of talented guys who can help, thanks in part to a trade down in the first round. Defensive tackle Vita Vea gives them much needed bulk up front and they took some secondary players who will help. I really like the pick of corner Carlton Davis in the third. Second-round pick Ronald Jones will be a star. Watch out for this team next year.

Grade: A

Luke Easterling, Draft Wire: Jason Licht started the weekend with two picks in the first three rounds, and he turned them into five by trading down five spots in the first round. The Bucs got a massive anchor for the defensive line (Vita Vea) to help take pressure off the rest of the front seven, then got an explosive, big-play machine at running back (Ronald Jones II). They doubled up on tough, physical corners (M.J. Stewart, Carlton Jones), and added nasty, versatile blocker in small-school stud Alex Cappa. Day 3 was icing on the cake, filling needs (Jordan Whitehead), more small-school upside (Justin Watson) and worthwhile risks (Jack Cichy).

Grade: A

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: The Tampa defense was abysmal last season. The Bucs allowed 5.98 yards per play, which ranked last in the league. They couldn't stop the run, and they couldn't defend the pass. They made a few moves to address the defensive line in the offseason, signing Vinny Curry and Beau Allen then trading for Jason Pierre-Paul. And they went defensive line with their first pick, adding mammoth nose tackle Vita Vea after trading down five spots with the Bills. I was a little surprised the Bucs didn't go with safety Derwin James because he was still on the board, but I like Vea, even if tackle wasn't a huge need. He should eat up blockers next to Gerald McCoy. GM Jason Licht and coach Dirk Koetter clearly identified the weakest spot on the team and fortified it this offseason.

The Bucs added two second-round picks from the Bills in that trade — those are two really important and premium selections — and ended up picking four times on Day 2. Running pack Ronald Jones II (pick 38) could be an immediate starter. He has breakaway speed but wasn't used much in the passing game in college. Then Licht went with back-to-back cornerbacks in M.J. Stewart (53) and Carlton Davis (63), trying to address that need in the secondary. Former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves III has been a disappointment, so expect Stewart and Davis to compete right away. Alex Cappa (94) is a developmental prospect who was named Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year each of the past four seasons. He'll need time to adjust to the NFL. I had safety Jordan Whitehead (117) farther down on my board — he's not very big. If Jack Cichy (202) stays healthy, he could be a good player.

Did this D get better in free agency and the draft? Six games against New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina will tell us.

Grade: B

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Vea could be a difference-maker against the run and as a penetrator in the interior. There was better value at a position of need in Florida State safety Derwin James. They could have picked a nose tackle later in the draft. But they did pick up two second-round picks by trading back only five spots in the first round. That haul resulted in a starting running back in Jones, who can do a bit of everything and was a worthy selection. Pairing Stewart with outside corner Carlton Davis gives the Bucs depth. Cappa is a starting guard for the Buccaneers sooner than later. He'll get after it in a big way. Whitehead (fourth round) could turn out to be a starter at free safety if he can be physical with bigger receivers and overcome off-field concerns. Watson earned fans during the postseason process and has the chance to be a fit as a fourth receiver. Cichy missed his final season at Wisconsin due to injury, but could rebound in 2018 to be a solid contributor in the middle.

Grade: A-

Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: Day 1: Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea completes the offseason transformation of their defensive line and gives them another player that will attempt to occupy that nose tackle spot next to Gerald McCoy and succeed. Vea has been a dominant run defender in college, but the question will be how much of a factor in the passing game can he be at the next level, with this being a league where passing is paramount.

Day 2: USC's Ronald Jones II earned the highest PFF grade of any running back in this class in ANY season of their college careers this past season but has just 40 career targets in the passing game, so is something of an unknown in that area. M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis should be big additions to the secondary, with Stewart having extensive experience in the slot and a game that is reminiscent of Micah Hyde — a player that can match up with problem players on offense and neutralize a personnel advantage. In the third round, they grabbed Alex Cappa, an offensive tackle out of Humboldt State. Cappa was at the Senior Bowl and held his own in the 1-on-1 drills, even if he struggled in team drills, surrendering a sack and five hurries on 65 snaps.

Day 3: Injuries kept Jack Cichy off the field entirely in 2017, but he had a PFF grade of 89.0 the year before and dominated against Ohio State specifically. Safety Jordan Whitehead from Pitt has seen his grade go in the wrong direction over his college career, but his 2015 season was excellent, and showed the potential he could have, with 29 defensive stops over 761 snaps.

Overall grade: Good

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: Taking defensive tackle Vita Vea in the first round over safety Derwin James was a puzzling move. Vea is a really good player, and will help a re-shaped defensive line that already added Beau Allen, Vinny Curry, and Jason Pierre-Paul. Safety was a just a need for the Buccaneers and it wasn't addressed until the fourth round with Jordan Whitehead of Pittsburgh.

Between those two picks the Buccaneers got some starters in cornerbacks M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis. Taken at No. 63 overall, Davis was a good value at the end of the second round. Running back Ronald Jones II is a playmaker and should get a majority of the carries for the Buccaneers. He may be an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Alex Cappa has good potential at guard.

Sixth round guard Jack Cichy could stick as a nice backup if he can stay healthy. Had he not been injured last year, he may have been a top 100 pick.

Grade: B-

Andy Benoit, Sports Illustrated: It's a little odd to sign career backup Beau Allen to a three-year, $15 million free-agent contract if the team didn't think he'd become a starter. Vita Vea's arrival relegates Allen to a second-string role. And the Bucs can't play the "we didn't think Vea would still be on the board when we picked" card because they entered this draft with the No. 7 pick. Which means they knew when they signed Allen that they could get Vea if they wanted.

If Vea had been gone at No. 12, Tampa Bay almost certainly would have drafted a defensive back — safety was their biggest need, with corner not far behind. The second-round selections of M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis can be interpreted as a subtle message to up-and-down 2016 first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves, especially when you consider the Bucs also drafted a defensive back in the fourth round who has slot coverage potential (Jordan Whitehead). But nickel is the main defense in today's NFL, and Tampa Bay realizes it can't have too much depth here, especially with soon-to-be 35-year-old Brent Grimes entering perhaps his final year. If Hargreaves plays in 2018 like he did in the second half of his rookie season, he'll be viewed unequivocally as a long-term starter.

Dropped in between these defensive picks were Ronald Jones, who fills Doug Martin's multi-year void at running back, and Alex Cappa, an interior O-lineman. With Cappa now on the roster, it's likely that the J.R. Sweezy experiment won't last much longer—though some see the rookie as a tackle. If Tampa Bay does, this pick becomes that much more interesting given that 2015 second-round left tackle Donovan Smith is in a contract year.

Grade: B

Nate Davis, USA Today: GM Jason Licht was aggressive, winding up with three second rounders, while wisely procuring toughness. First-round DT Vita Vea, second-round CBs M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis and third-round G Alex Cappa addressed needs while bringing attitude. Round 2 RB Ronald Jones is a home run waiting to happen as Doug Martin's replacement.

Grade: B+

Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: The Buccaneers really wanted Quenton Nelson, so when they saw that he was off the board, they traded down five spots with the Bills. Derwin James, a popularly mocked player to them, was still available at No. 12, but Tampa eschewed the safety upgrade in favor of Vita Vea.

Vea is a very talented nose tackle, but spending a top-12 pick on a two-down player is questionable. Still, the Buccaneers did well to acquire more assets, as they had three picks in the second round as a result. One turned out to be a major reach (M.J. Stewart), while the other two choices were just fine. Ronald Jones has game-breaking talent, but I worry about him being in Tampa's crazy party environment.

The Buccaneers finally found some offensive line help near the end of the third round, taking Alex Cappa, a very powerful blocker who should be able to spring open holes for Jones. Two of Tampa's third-day choices were solid, but the team failed to find more offensive line help for Jameis Winston, who desperately needs it.

If it wasn't for the trade, this would've been a dud of a draft for the Buccaneers. It was still mildly disappointing because Winston's blocking hasn't improved very much. However, Tampa's play in the secondary will at least be better, and that's crucial when considering all of the quarterbacking talent in their division.

Grade: C+

Round 1, pick #12 - Vita Vea, DT (Washington) Washington's Vita Vea, left, sacks Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Round 2, pick #38 - Ronald Jones, RB (USC) Southern California running back Ronald Jones II (25) runs against Stanford during the second half of the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Round 2, pick #53 - M.J. Stewart, CB (UNC) North Carolina cornerback M.J. Stewart (6) on the bench during an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Round 2, pick #63 - Carlton Davis, CB (Auburn) Auburn defensive back Carlton Davis (6) celebrates with fans after they defeated Arkansas 56-3 in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Round 3, Pick #94 - Alex Cappa, OG (Humboldt St.) South Squad offensive tackle Alex Cappa of Humboldt State in action during the South team's practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Round 4, Pick #117 - Jordan Whitehead, S (Pitt) Pittsburgh defensive back Jordan Whitehead (9) plays against Miami in an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Round 5, pick # 144 - Justin Watson, WR (Penn) North Squad wide receiver Justin Watson of Penn (15) in action during the North teams practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala.,Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)