It’s that time of year again Buccaneers fans! The NFL offseason, or silly-season as some would call it is here. That can only mean it’s time for some mock drafts.
In this Buccaneers Mock Draft we get the first submission by Nick Sitro. And Sitro is focused on the defensive side of the ball here. Rightfully so.
It’s no secret that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need help on the defensive side of the ball. As a defensive unit, the team ranked below average in most categories, especially passing yards given up (29th), interceptions (26th), and completions (32nd). With a glaring weakness against the pass, the Buccaneers have a few options in the first two days of the NFL Draft to solve this problem.
Round 1
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
While Mike Green seems to be the hot choice in a number of recent mock drafts, there is no guarantee that he will be available at pick 19. I would not be shocked if he was picked a few slots ahead by the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, or Cincinnati Bengals. Still, Jahaad Campbell would be a perfect fit in a Todd Bowles style of defense. He shares a similar style of play to Lavonte David, who is likely looking to retire in the next year or two. Campbell was extremely effective at blitzing from the ILB position at Alabama. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bowles gets creative and lines him up at EDGE to really show off his versatility and quickness.
Round 2
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Filling another position of need, Maxwell Hairston is a ball hawking corner that Todd Bowles would love to have at his disposal. One of the biggest knocks on Hairston is his lack of physicality, but his speed and aggressiveness make up for these shortcomings. He thrives in zone schemes, a staple of any Bowles defense. Hairston’s stock has risen a bit since the end of the college football season, and he could be an easy choice in the middle of the second round
Round 3
Ashton Gillote, EDGE, Louisville
To round out the second day of the draft, the Buccaneers complete their run of defensive players with Ashton Gillote. A disruptive and versatile player, Gillote can move across the defensive line to exploit any mismatches. Gillote is an interesting prospect due to his balance of speed and power, but his jack-of-all-trades type of skillset could delay his development and ceiling for one position.
With a number of quality defensive players in the first few rounds, Jason Licht should have no problem bolstering positions of need in this year’s draft. With less than a month away, who do you think are the most likely candidates to wear red and pewter in 2025?
For more from Nick click here, then make sure you follow him on Twitter.
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