It’s already the third one? Wow, time flies, and it never slows down.
This one is a fun one; I tried my best to go with picks who would raise the Buccaneers’ ceiling for both now and the future the most. These aren’t safe picks, these are a bit more out of left field.
We’ll get started with a bit of silliness that might make some folks roll their eyes, but bear with me and keep reading, because I’ll explain myself.
It’s all about building a bomb squad where if everything goes right, the Bucs could win the NFC South and maybe even a playoff game or 2.
And even if not, it can be a great team for whoever they decide is their QB of the future.
Of course, these picks could go very wrong and the Bucs are picking in the top 10 next season.
But that’s the draft baby, I’ve grown tired of trying to be safe and predict what the Bucs will do to fill out their roster, I’m trying to have some fun.
And the most fun pick of this draft…
Round 1, Pick 15: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
What a monster. Sadiq posted an elite 40 time, and at 6’3 is a bit undersized for the tight end spot, but makes up for it with a ridiculous motor and a ridiculous vertical that speaks to just how hard it is to cover this guy.
His blocking could use some work, but for goodness’ sake, they’re not drafting him to block; that’s what they brought back Cade Otton for, to block and be a release valve for Baker while Sadiq is making circus catches with those super-strong hands.
He has some things to learn about finding holes in zone coverage, an important trait for NFL tight ends, but he’s worth taking some time to give him the room to grow. His upside is as immense as any player in this draft, it just happens to be at a risky position with a dangerous downside.
There’s a real shot he doesn’t figure it out, or the Bucs don’t utilize him properly and he turns into a dud, but the ceiling of him being a Vernon Davis-like force at the position is tantalizing.
Round 2, Pick 46: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
Bull rush, bull rush, and Moore (pun!) bull rush.
Derrick Moore brings that to the forefront with his pass-rushing ability, and he managed a 10-sack season this past year in the very competitive Big 10 to end his Wolverine career.
He was always an athletic player, but the traits and ability came together with that production for his senior season.
The run defense needs some work, and without that improving he won’t be able to turn into a multi-down player; he’ll have to be a pass-situation specialist until he figures that out.
That’s fine for the Bucs, especially in 2026. They can have him provide some real juice to their pass rush rotation, even despite his weak first-step burst that could be an issue if he isn’t able to win at the next level with that monstrous power.
Round 3, Pick 77: Deontae Lawson, ILB, Alabama
Lawson is an immediate replacement for LVD in terms of run defense. Frankly, he’s one of the better run defenders in this linebacker class.
His 6’3, 226 size belies what his greatest strength is on the football field. Someone his size isn’t supposed to have the impact he does against the ground game, but he’s so smart and good at reading schemes and being where he’s supposed to be that it’s hard to get past him.
The pass coverage was a bit of an issue early on in his career, but the 23-year-old showed some real progress in his 5th collegiate season.
Lawson could also potentially emerge as a leader, a role he took very seriously at Alabama as a two-time team captain. Lawson is very much a dog on the field, someone who could come in and play his heart out and do some excellent things for a Bucs defense that lacks identity at times.
He’ll be a great addition for a defense that focused on bringing in guys with a bit more grit and edge to them this offseason, while also maintaining the smart, leadership-based playstyle that David brought to the field his entire Bucs career.
Round 4, Pick 116: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
Here’s your immediate Mike Evans replacement!
Well, not really. But Lane is 6’4 and possesses a lot of the same sort of traits Evans did in terms of physicality and winning those pesky 50-50 balls. Unfortunately he’s not nearly the route runner Evans is, and certainly won’t be able to repeat the production of the legendary Buc.
But, he possesses enough upside at the wideout spot and can bring a bit more thump than a lot of others in the wideout room to warrant this selection. He’s one of my favorite receivers in this class in that he has that big play ability despite not having the speed to separate at that next level, and he also posted some solid production at USC last year. His 2.42 yards per route run were elite. He also had a somewhat pedestrian drop rate, and the dropoff in TDs might be concerning to some folks, but not to me.
I view him as being a potential starter beyond the days of Chris Godwin, with Emeka Egbuka shifting to the slot and J-Mac remaining outside. That’s a pretty darn good receiving corps moving forward, especially with fun speedster Tez Johnson spelling folks now and then. Lane fills a need not only right now as a depth WR5 for some injury-prone wideouts, but also could fill in as a starter in years to come.
Round 5, Pick 155: DeMonte Capehart, IDL, Clemson
Ah, some might read this and think, “12 starts in 6 seasons? Where will he even play, Clemson was in a 4-3, he’s not fit to line up next to Vea?”
And you’re right. But when a guy tests as well as this guy did athletically, there’s gotta be some give. He’s a fascinating riser in this draft despite his lack of playing time due to his combination of size, length, and movement.
So, if he’s there in round 5, maybe the Bucs pick him up. He could at the very least be a backup for Vea as a nose tackle, if he doesn’t even do anything else that’s pretty valuable as a 5th round guy.
But he’s sort of like a ball of clay right now; you can really mold a guy with that kind of athletic ability into anything (ok, maybe not anything, but you get my point).
Round 6, Pick 195: Pat Coogan, IOL, Indiana
There’s a lot of upside here for Coogan as both a backup center, a backup guard, or even a starter at the guard spot.
He played LG at Notre Dame next to Joe Alt in 2023 before transferring to Indiana for his final collegiate season, where he played exclusively center.
That versatility makes for an interesting player, one that could even go as early as round 5, but there are plenty of folks who have him comfortably slotted in the 6th round.
Coogan is an excellent pass blocker with quick feet and good hands. Where he struggles is where he puts those hands; he can get a bit caught off guard and struggles against some of the more powerful pass rushers.
He also doesn’t necessarily thrive against quicker guys who use their agility to win at the point of attack (which speaks to why he’s a good candidate to last this long in the draft), but he has enough of a floor to be a good backup.
Round 7, Pick 229: Terion Stewart, RB, Virginia Tech
Oh man, that 2023 season was magical for Stewart. He was a load to bring down out of the backfield, averaging over 6 yards per carry for over 750 yards. He can shed tackles like nobody’s business, but that’s about all he does.
He’s not especially electric or quick. He’s a bit lost in terms of being good in pass protection and doesn’t offer much versatility as a pass catcher.
But, that’s alright, the Bucs have Bucky and Gainwell, and Stewart would be more of a practice squad guy for the time being while the Bucs carry those other 3 backs. He could be very valuable as a workhorse kind of runner for any time the Bucs suffer injuries at the position.
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