It is officially NFL draft week. Come Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be adding to their roster with the next wave of great young players. The only question left is who will those players be?
Obviously, we know what that pool of potential Bucs rookies might look like. There have been dozens of names linked to the Buccaneers, either through team meetings or the hundreds of mock drafts we have seen. This week, that like goes from being a pool of potential, to tangible athletes who will be suiting up in Tampa Bay next season.
So without further ado, here is my 2024 final Buccaneers mock draft.
26) Jackson Powers-Johnson, Center, Oregon
Powers-Johnson was the Rimington Award winner last year as college football’s best center. The 21 year old was dominant for the Ducks in his first full season as a starter. An incredible blend of youth and talent, which means that his best football is likely still ahead of him.
This is an interior offensive lineman who can do it all. Powers-Johnson has great size at 6’3 and 330 lbs. He uses every bit of that size to win at the point of attack and be a force in the running game. Shockingly, he is also very nimble and does a great job working up into space to block linebackers as well.
This is also someone who is fantastic in pass protection as well. Powers-Johnson dominated the Senior Bowl with some of the top defensive linemen in attendance for the event. He was also part of a Oregon offensive line that allowed just 5.0 sacks all season long.
57) Ruke Orhorhoro, Defensive Line, Clemson
This is the pass rusher that the Bucs have been talking about all offseason. While many might assume that this would have been addressed on the edge, there is a lot more depth on the defensive line. Getting a guy like Orhorhoro can still improve the pass rush and not force the Bucs to reach on a lesser player.
Orhorhoro has great length (6’5) and athletic ability. He can play 3 tech and kick outside to play some 5 tech as well. This will allow Todd Bowles to use him as a chess piece and play all sorts of pass rush games with last year’s first round pick Calijah Kancey.
However, this is more than just an athletic pass rusher. Orhorhoro also has refined hands and can use them to play the run. He uses his length and strength to blow his man back, but can also cut through the line with skill and speed.
89) Jalen McMillan, Wide Receiver, Washington
McMillan is a monster over the middle. He combines speed and quickness to generate separation over and over again. He also has the size to take on the contact that comes with being a slot receiver in the NFL.
Unfortunately, McMillan missed a good chunk of the 2023 season due to injury. Had he not, his final statline would have been much more impressive than the 559 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, we did get to see him shine some in the national championship game with the Huskies only touchdown.
92) Dominick Puni, Offensive Line, Kansas
I won’t be surprised at all if the Buccaneers decide to double dip on the offensive line in this draft. Developing this running game has been a point of emphasis this offseason and adding a pair of new starters up front is a great starting point to do that.
Puni played left tackle for the Jayhawks last season. He has great length for a soon to be guard (6’5) and fits the profile of what the Bucs have looked for in the past. Specifically, what they have looked for athletically.
There are not many big men who move as well as Puni. He is extremely light on his feet and will do very well in more zone heavy rushing attacks in the NFL. However, his power shouldn’t be overlooked when his technique is good.
125) Audric Estime, Running Back, Notre Dame
The Bucs aren’t looking for a running back so much as they are looking for a tank. This offense desperately needs someone who can pick up short yards in the tough gritty parts of the field. This is the compliment they are currently lacking to Rachaad White.
Estime fits that mold. At 5’11 and 220+ lbs, this is a player that makes his mark by bouncing off would be tacklers and trying to build a head of steam. He’s like a human avalanche, difficult to slow down and shockingly fast once he gets moving.
220) Beanie Bishop, Cornerback, West Virginia
Quietly, this was one of the most productive defensive backs in college football. Bishop pulled in 4 interceptions and had a whopping 20 passes deflected. In terms of coverage and playmaking, this is one of the better options in the draft.
What hurts his overall draft stock is that Bishop plays the nickel. We have seen too often that great players will slide in the draft if they are limited to the nickel spot. That should suit the Bucs just fine since that is exactly the type of player they are looking for.
246) Michael Barrett, Linebacker, Michigan
Many would call him the other linebacker on Michigan’s championship defense, but that should take anything away from what Barrett can do. A former safety, Barrett moves very well and should bring some depth to the lineback room in terms of coverage. He’s also a good, fairly instinctive run defender.
Barrett has a lot of special teams experience. He is a self made man who worked his way up the Michigan depth chart, making his mark on special teams before he was able to get on the field on defense. This only adds to his value at this point in the draft.
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