The Tampa Bay Buccaneers season is over. It was an incredibly disappointing final two months where the team spiraled out of control and missed the playoffs. Now we look ahead to a long offseason.
The organization still has a lot to figure out. We don’t know who the head coach of this team will be next year. We don’t know what players will be released or traded, nor do we know what players will be signed. There is a lot to figure out before the NFL draft in April.
With that said, it’s never too early for a mock draft. We know what the team currently needs based off the regular season and we can guess on some of the moves they’ll make. With that said, here is my end of season Buccaneers mock draft.
1st Round: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio StateÂ
Styles is the ideal pick for the Bucs. He is a 6’4 and 240 lb linebacker with sideline to sideline speed. He also seems to have outstanding leadership skills and is the type of guy that you’d want leading your defense for the next 10-15 years.
As a former safety, Styles projects to be a good coverage linebacker at the NFL level. He is still developing some of the instincts to play at the second level, but he made a huge jump this season in just his second year playing the position. His tackling, athletic ability and intangibles make him the perfect linebacker that the Bucs desperately need.
2nd Round: Christen Miller, DL, GeorgiaÂ
Miller has all the pedigree of a future NFL player. He won a national championship with the Bulldogs in 2022 and has been able to watch and learn from NFL stars like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. By all accounts, this will be the next starting defensive lineman that Georgia puts into the league.
In terms of run defense, Miller plays with both leverage and power. He’s a high motor player who hustles for everything. He is still developing as a pass rusher, but I like the way he attacks blockers and there is reason to believe that this is an area that will continue to improve in the NFL.
3rd Round: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
If you like Yaya Diaby, then you are going to love this guy. Jacas is 6’3 and 275 lbs wrecking ball. He can hold the point of attack as a run defender and he’s had 19.0 sacks over the last two seasons.
I can’t sit here and tell you that Jacas is going to be a star edge rusher in the NFL. However, you probably aren’t going to find that kind of pass rusher in the draft unless you’re in position to get Rueben Bain or David Bailey. But if you can get a powerhouse athlete like this in the third round as part of the rotation then it’s a great addition.
4th Round: Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
There are a lot of things that Trigg can’t do. This is not someone who projects as a good blocker in the NFL and he has his fair share of focus drops. However, he has one elite skillset that can make him a meaningful weapon in the NFL.
Trigg is fabulous in terms of making contested catches. He has extremely long arms and the body control to haul in any pass that is remotely close to him. Watching him make insane catches reminds me of George Pickens if he were a 6’4 and 240 lbs tight end.
5th Round: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
It seems that Rachaad White will be leaving in free agency. Sean Tucker could be out the door as well. This means that the Buccaneers will need a complement to starting running back Bucky Irving.Â
Allen is a big body workhorse. He has the burst and vision to hit the hole and the physicality to pick up the tough yards. This skillset has allowed him to become the all time leading rusher at Penn State.Â
His speed is limited, so he will probably always be the thunder to somebody else’s lightning. Fortunately, that’s exactly what the Buccaneers need right now.
6th Round: Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
I don’t know that Teddy Bridgewater will be back in Tampa next season. This leaves an opening for the Buccaneers backup quarterback job. Ideally someone with starting upside if the team decides to move on from Baker Mayfield in the future.
Sawyer has great tools for the position. He is 6’4 with a big arm and reasonable mobility. His footwork and accuracy can be a little wonky at times, so he will need to be developed, but this is a high upside pick that I am very interested in.Â
7th Round: Rocco Spindler, IOL, Nebraska
The depth offensive line play was rough this year. Mike Jordan was brutal at left guard when called upon and the team refused to even activate backup center Elijah Klein. I expect they will want to add some depth here.
Spindler is a big powerful brute with a good deal of experience. He was part of the Notre Dame team that went to the national championship in 2024 and he transferred and played for Nebraska last season. He was a big part of the emergence of the Cornhuskers star running back Emmett Johnson.
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