Let’s have some fun. We’ve done realistic. We’ve done upside. But who are my guys? Who are guys I actually would love to see in a Buccaneers’ uniform, who I think would give this team a shot to be great this season?
We are shooting for the moon with some of these picks, so bear with me.
But if things fall JUST right for the Bucs, these guys could be massive difference makers for the squad in 2026.
Round 1, Pick 15: Sonny Styles, ILB, Ohio State
What is there to say about Styles that hasn’t already been said?
He might be the best athlete in this class. His combination of height, 40 time, vertical, and broad jump speak to just how impressive his raw abilities are as an athletic demon.
A lot of the work that needs to be done for Styles is just refining his skills across the board; coverage and run game assignments, filling gaps, etc. But with Alex Anzalone in the fold, I have a lot of hope Styles can turn into a borderline Fred Warner type of athlete who impacts the game at a high level.
Why would he fall to the Bucs? Well, that’s a good question; plenty of folks have him going as early as the top five, with the Giants as a popular target. But many folks are coming around to the realization that positional value reigns supreme. And off ball linebackers are not nearly as impactful as people might think.
But I’m taking a gamble on Styles having enough upside to be that good, and the other teams will pass up on him for other potentially higher impact positions.
Round 2, Pick 46: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
The national champions from this past year had a lot of talent on their roster. Ponds was one of their better players on the defensive side of the ball and that’s saying something.
His lack of size is concerning at 5’9, 173 pounds, but his work ethic and IQ are unmatched. He was relied upon quite a bit by the Hoosiers in a zone-heavy scheme and would fit perfectly in the Bucs’ defense.
Well, not drafting a pass rusher in the first two rounds is slightly concerning. I think both Ponds and Styles have the talent to make the Bucs’ pass rush better than it seems on paper.
Plus, the good news is Ponds is projected to comfortably be available at pick 46 for the Bucs.
Round 3, Pick 77: Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
This guy will likely be gone by pick 77.
He’s been a riser as the draft process has gone along as many teams have been impressed by his tape, production and athletic ability.
He didn’t allow a sack, and only 6 pressures, in his final season at Tech. His 40, vertical, and shuttle numbers all speak to a good if not great athlete at the guard spot.
Has a background in shotput and basketball that also contributes to the idea that this 315 pounder can do more than just maul on the inside.
Most of his issues are very coachable, and he’d turn an already potentially solid offensive line into a very good unit. Whether he’s able to take the starting guard spot opposite Cody Mauch or he backs up Mauch and Ben Bredeson, Rutledge would be a phenomenal pickup.
Round 4, Pick 116: Max Llewellyn, EDGE, Iowa
Athletic? Nah, not really. But Llewellyn was a tremendous producer in 2024; the Bucs would be banking on that upside of production. He’s also perhaps a tiny bit of a reach, as most sites have him as a 5th round type of guy.
His struggles on tape against higher level teams like Penn State and Indiana are concerning, and if the Bucs are relying on him to be a 3-down player on the outside they’d be fools. He’s a work in progress to say the least against the run.
He’s also a bit older as a draft prospect, and will be 24 by the time the season starts.
As mentioned previously, his combine numbers are nothing to write home about. But at 6’6, his bench press was enough to give me hope he’s got something in the tank as a dominant pass rush force.
He’d have to play situationally, but that’s fine for the Bucs, as they can handle the run under Todd Bowles.
Round 5, Pick 155: CJ Daniels, WR, Miami
Daniels is another older prospect. He’ll be comfortably 24 by the time the season starts.
But he’s a tremendously hard worker, and an incredibly smart football player. He’s a great route runner and has enough size to wear. He certainly won’t be bullied by any corners.
Unfortunately, where Daniels falls short is in his athletic ability and his production in yards after the catch. He’s not the most elusive fellow out there.
Think of him as sort of an outside receiver version of Chris Godwin. Excellent as a run blocker and willing to do a lot of the dirty work. His drop rate was also incredibly low, especially at LSU where he didn’t record a single drop in 2024.
He might be viewed as more of a depth piece than a starter, but is still someone who will have enough fire and IQ to be a contributor if given the chance.
Round 6, Pick 195: Jakobe Thomas, Safety, Miami
Back-to-back Hurricanes? I know I’m usually an LSU guy, but Miami did make it all the way to the championship game for a reason. Drafting players from winning teams is sometimes a fun little experiment.
But don’t let that take away from Thomas as a player. He’s a hard hitting physical presence on the third level and can be an excellent contributor in special teams due to his hair on fire style of play.
He’s yet another player who relies more on his intelligence and instincts rather than athletic ability. But the fact that he’s played in so many different defensive schemes and has picked up on each of them seamlessly speaks to just how high level of a thinker he is on the football field.
His athletic ability limits his ability to play all over the field, a little bit, but placed in the right system, and in the right situation he can be a fine backup safety for the Buccaneers.
Round 7, Pick 229: Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
A guy the Buccaneers just gave a top 30 visit to, Daniels has some very intriguing upside.
He’s a decent enough athlete to be mobile, but not nearly shifty enough to be a huge threat in the run game.
His lack of size and height is a bit concerning, as is the fact that he spent six years in college and still can struggle a bit sometimes to read coverages.
But he has solid arm strength and has shown a proclivity to be accurate on the move. His improvisational nature as a quarterback, could get him into trouble sometimes at the collegiate level, but if reigned in could actually be a huge strength of his.
Luckily, he’s projected by many places as an undrafted free agent. So picking him in around seven isn’t even necessarily the only route to having him in a Bucs uniform.
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