Home NFL Draft Mock Draft BR’s 2026 Buccaneers 3-Round Mock Draft 1.0

Cincinnati Linebacker Jake Golday is moving up several NFL Draft Big Boards including the Buccaneers / via Instagram

BR’s 2026 Buccaneers 3-Round Mock Draft 1.0

January 27, 2026

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.

Round – 1, Buccaneers’ Pick 15: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

HT: 6’4
WT: 243 lbs

Accolades:

CFP national champion (2024)
First-team All-American (2025)
First-team All-Big Ten (2025)
Second-team All-Big Ten (2024)

Video:

Pros:

Dominant run fits with violent hands and leverage
Chases ball carriers with frightening speed
Elite play recognition and pre-snap diagnosis
Versatile defender (LB, safety, slot coverage)
Legit pass rush from multiple alignments
Thrives in zone coverage with range and ball skills
Special teams demon with frame and speed

Cons:

Struggles in man coverage vs quick slot receivers: ◦ Stiff hips ◦ Limited tight-space movement
Tackling technique needs work: ◦ Arm tackles ◦ Missed opportunities vs elusive backs
Rush technique: ◦ Plays upright in interior gaps ◦ Vulnerable to cut blocks
Aggressive playstyle: ◦ Bites on play-action fakes ◦ Vacates run fit responsibility
Limited LB experience: ◦ Learning gap integrity ◦ Communication responsibilities still developing

Summary:

Styles has the physical tools and football smarts to become a solid NFL defender, but he’ll need patience from himself and the team as he learns. His late start at linebacker means he’s playing catch-up on position fundamentals. The potential is there – he can cover TEs, rush the passer, and stop the run. Getting him ready for elite play will take the right development and realistic expectations.

Round – 2, Buccaneers’ Pick 46: Romello Height, DE/EDGE, Texas Tech

HT: 6’3
WT: 240 lbs

Accolades:

First-team All-Big 12 (2025)

Video:

Pros:

Explosive First Step: Height’s explosive first step allows him to immediately win around the edge, putting tackles in recovery mode and creating opportunities for pressure or sacks.
Advanced Hand Usage: He showcases advanced hand techniques with multiple counters, including swipe, rip, and spin moves, keeping blockers guessing and off balance.
High Motor: Height has a relentless pursuit angle, resulting in backside cleanup tackles and disrupted rushing lanes downfield.
Rare Coverage Ability: He’s comfortable dropping into zones and carrying tight ends vertically, showcasing rare coverage skills for an edge rusher.
Natural Bend: Despite average length, Height has a natural bend around the edge, flattening to the quarterback while maintaining balance.
Smart Processing: He quickly processes blocking schemes, finding the ball carrier through traffic with urgency and decisiveness.
Physical Finisher: Height accelerates through contact, driving his legs and finishing with authority when he arrives at the ball carrier.
Adaptable Experience: His experience against top competition across multiple conferences shows adaptability to different offensive styles and tempo variations.

Cons:

Size Limitations: At 240 pounds, Height struggles against offensive tackles who get clean hands on him, often getting stone-walled and having trouble disengaging.
Run Defense Consistency: He sometimes chases splash plays, getting washed down the line or caught inside when trying to knife gaps aggressively, which affects his run defense consistency.
Tackling Technique: Height’s tackling technique can break down in space, leading to high misses against shifty backs in open field opportunities.
Lack of Functional Length: He struggles with stack-and-shed techniques, unable to hold his point against double teams and getting moved off his spot.
Predictable Pass Rush: When speed doesn’t work, Height’s pass rush plan can become predictable, lacking power conversion moves or counter rushes to keep tackles honest.

Summary:

Height’s combo of pass rush production and legit coverage skills is a major selling point – that’s rare for edge rushers, especially at this level. He needs an NFL strength program to add 10-15 pounds of functional mass without losing his explosiveness, plus coaching on run fits and finishing tackles. But he’s got the foundation to be a rotational edge, providing 400-500 snaps as a rookie and growing into a starter by year three. Bust risk is if the weight doesn’t come or tackling doesn’t improve. But his versatility makes him worth the investment.

Round – 3, Buccaneers’ Pick 77: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

HT: 6’4
WT: 240 lbs

Accolades:

First-team All-Big 12 (2025)

Video:

Pros:

Athletic Profile: Golday’s 6’4″ frame and sub-4.6 speed make him a freak athlete, checking all boxes for a modern NFL linebacker.
Closing Speed: He has a sudden, violent closing burst in open fields, allowing him to quickly erase cushion and catch ball carriers or quarterbacks.
Contact: Golday fires into contact with pop, showing knockback power against tight ends and fullbacks.
Range: His sideline-to-sideline speed and pursuit angles are impressive, chasing plays down from the backside and recovering quickly.
Tackling: He wraps up reliably in space, finishing most tackle opportunities with solid fundamentals.
Pass Rush: Golday’s defensive end background gives him a developed pass rush repertoire, creating pressure on third downs.
Motor: He plays with consistent energy, pursuing every play with urgency, especially in critical fourth-quarter moments.
Blocking: Golday takes on blocks with proper hand placement, improving his ability to stack and shed.

Cons:

Zone Coverage Awareness: Golday struggles with zone coverage, drifting from assignments and getting manipulated by route combinations.
Power vs. OL: He gets overwhelmed by ascending OL, lacking functional power to disengage or counter blockers.
Run Diagnosis: Golday’s instincts lag behind his athleticism, causing him to arrive late at the fit point.
Lower Body Strength: His lean build limits anchoring ability, getting washed out by power blocks.
Backfield Vision: Golday’s eyes get stuck, failing to read QB vision and anticipate throws, leaving passing lanes open.

Summary:

Golday’s got the physical tools to be a difference-maker, but his processing speed and technique need work. He could develop into a three-down defender with the right system and coaching. However, adjusting to a traditional NFL defense from Cincinnati’s 3-3-5 scheme will be a challenge. Golday needs to improve his zone discipline, keys, and strength vs. blockers.