10 Bucs Draft Sleepers Heading Into The Mix | Pewter Report

The Bucs might be touring to Indianapolis subsequent week for the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix. The Pewter Report workers may even be there to interview the highest prospects and Bucs targets. A number of of these targets are sleepers with some query that want solutions heading into the Mix.

So let’s check out 10 potential Bucs draft sleepers and what these query marks are.

Is Donovan Ezeiruaku A First-Spherical Possibility For The Bucs?

If the Bucs wish to spend a first-round decide on an edge rusher at No. 19 they seemingly will miss out on the highest 4 prospects. Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., Georgia’s Mykel Williams and Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced will most likely be off the board by the point the Bucs are on the clock. Would Boston Faculty edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku be an possibility within the first spherical?

If Ezeiruaku checks effectively athletically on the NFL Scouting Mix he may rise from an early second-round choice to a possible late first-round decide. At 6-foot-2, 248 kilos, Ezeiruaku is equally constructed to Inexperienced, however is he as quick and explosive because the Marshall star? That’s what we’ll discover out in Indianapolis. Whereas Inexperienced led the nation with 17 sacks, Ezeiruaku was second with 16.5 and three pressured fumbles.

Professional Soccer Focus gave Ezeiruaku a 90 general defensive grade with a 90.5 move rush grade. His 18.1% move rush win charge must be interesting to Tampa Bay, which wants one other influence move rusher reverse Yaya Diaby.

Is Antwaun Powell-Ryland A Poor Man’s Donovan Ezeiruaku?

Virginia Tech edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland – Picture by: USA At the moment

If the Bucs don’t draft an edge rusher early, Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland could possibly be an possibility within the center rounds. Tampa Bay may use one other move rusher that may get to the quarterback with better regularity as the surface linebacker place, which totaled simply 12 sacks in 2024.

Powell-Ryland has drawn come comparisons to Boston Faculty’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, as each are 6-foot-2 and round 250 kilos. Ezeiruaku had 80 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and three pressured fumbles final yr for Boston Faculty, whereas Powell-Ryland additionally lived within the backfield with 16 sacks, 19 tackles for loss and 43 stops, along with three pressured fumbles.

It is going to be fascinating to see how completely different the athletic testing is between the 2 similar-sized edge rushers in Indy. If Powell-Ryland, who began his school profession at Florida, can impress with better-than-expected numbers he may shoot up draft boards, as he’s at present the No. 130 ranked general prospect, in response to PFF.

Is Oluwafemi Oladejo A Day 2 Edge Rusher?

One of many gamers who actually stood out on the Senior Bowl was UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo, who is a good athlete and performs with pace and keenness. He was moved from inside linebacker to edge rusher final yr to make room for Carson Schwesinger to start out.

Oladejo has good dimension at 6-foot-3, 250 kilos and has a chiseled physique. He’s quick and bodily, however nonetheless must study the nuances of turning into a move rusher with some restricted expertise. Oladejo had 4.5 sacks final yr together with 14 tackles for loss. He’s ranked No. 136 general prospect in response to PFF, but when he lights it up athletically, he may sneak into late Day 2.

The Bucs need assistance at each inside linebacker and out of doors linebacker and Oladejo has expertise at each. It is going to be fascinating to see how a lot curiosity Tampa Bay has in Oladejo on the Mix, and which place the staff thinks he’s the perfect match at.

How Is Shavon Revel’s ACL Restoration Going?

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. – Picture courtesy of ECU

East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel noticed his promising 2024 marketing campaign minimize quick after three video games as a consequence of a torn ACL. He seemingly gained’t run or do a lot athletic testing in Indianapolis in consequence, which is disappointing as it might enjoyable to see how briskly he’s. Revel seems to be quick sufficient on tape, and has excellent dimension at 6-foot-3, 195 kilos. But will he meet these measurables on the Mix or will he be nearer to 6-foot-1?

The largest factor that Revel wants in Indy is evident medical exams. If his ACL is therapeutic as anticipated he ought to go within the second spherical. PFF has Revel rated because the fifth-rated cornerback within the 2025 NFL Draft and the No. 35-rated prospect general. He had an 84 grade in his shortened senior season and an 81.5 grade final yr when he broke up 13 passes, had an interception and a sack.

Revel is a bodily cornerback and had a pair of interceptions, together with a pick-six, and two move breakups earlier than his knee damage. The Bucs like lengthy cornerbacks and Revel must be on their radar.

Is Nohl Williams Quick Sufficient To Play Exterior Cornerback?

Cornerback Nohl Williams had 5 interceptions and 10 move breakups in three seasons at UNLV earlier than transferring to California in 2023. There he had 9 extra INTs and 15 extra move breakups for the Golden Bears, together with an FBS-high seven picks final yr, considered one of which was returned for a landing. Williams was beforehand featured in Pewter Report’s preliminary 2025 7-Spherical Bucs Mock Draft again in January.

Williams is an absolute playmaker within the secondary and is at all times across the ball. He had three pressured fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries, together with a pair he returned for touchdowns in 2023. However is he quick sufficient to play cornerback within the NFL? Or will a gradual 40-time, similar to 4.6 or increased, power him to maneuver to security on the subsequent stage.

The Bucs want extra takeaways on protection, particularly within the secondary the place the unit solely produced six interceptions final yr. Williams is a bona fide ballhawk and will assist Tampa Bay. However is that at exterior cornerback, within the slot or at security? How he checks athletically may decide that.

How Excessive Can Defensive Again Jordan Hancock Rise In Indy?

Ohio State defensive again Jordan Hancock is recent off a nationwide championship and has some work to do in Indianapolis. He’s at present ranked because the No. 246 general prospect within the 2025 NFL Draft, in response to Professional Soccer Focus, which is a seventh-round decide. However in actuality he’s thought to be a better Day 3 defensive again.

Hancock had three interceptions, together with a pick-six, during the last couple of seasons at Ohio State, along with 13 move breakups. He’s a prepared tackler and blitzer (2.5 sacks), and may lay the wooden, evidenced by 4 pressured fumbles during the last two years.

Hancock seems to be lots quick on tape, and if the athletic testing backs that up he may even rise to Day 3 as a consequence of his versatility. At 6-foot-1, 195 kilos, Hancock has ultimate dimension and the power to play within the slot or at both security place. The Bucs may use one other slot defender and a security.

Why Is Linebacker Cody Simon Not Ranked Greater?

Ohio State ILB Cody Simon and DB Jordan Hancock – Picture by: USA At the moment

Ohio State inside linebacker Cody Simon is at present ranked because the No. 10 inside linebacker within the 2025 NFL Draft, in response to Professional Soccer Focus. PFF has Simon as the present No. 166 prospect, which is a fifth-round grade. That appears awfully low for a linebacker that was No. 18 in school soccer final yr, in response to PFF with a 87.8 grade.

At 6-foot-2, 235 kilos, Simon has NFL dimension and he seems to be quick and athletic on tape. The testing on the NFL Scouting Mix will inform us extra, however he was playmaker for the nationwide champion Buckeyes staff that had 112 tackles, seven sacks, seven move breakups, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration in 2024.

Simon undoubtedly must be on the Bucs’ radar as a middle-round prospect. Can he climb to Day 2 with a terrific efficiency on the Mix?

Is Linebacker Jay Higgins A Good Sufficient Athlete?

The Bucs want linebackers that may cowl, and Iowa’s Jay Higgins was the most effective within the nation during the last two years in that space. He had 4 interceptions and 5 move breakups final yr, incomes a ridiculous 91.4 PFF protection grade and allowed a passer ranking of simply 57.2, which ranked thirtieth within the nation.

The All-American linebacker has good dimension at 6-foot-2, 232, and is kind of a tackler, evidenced by 171 tackles in 2023, which led the nation, and 124 stops final yr, along with 3.5 profession sacks. However there are some severe questions on how briskly Higgins is and if he’s a great athlete to start out within the NFL.

If Higgins surprises on the Mix he may rise from being a late-round decide to maybe a fourth-rounder initially of Day 3 as a consequence of his manufacturing and protection instincts.

How Are Savion Williams’ Arms In Indy?

TCU vast receiver Savion Williams is predicted to be some of the talked about athletic freaks on the Mix. Ranked because the eightieth general prospect in response to PFF, Williams can shoot up draft boards into the second spherical if he shows nice fingers in Indianapolis in the course of the receiver drills and the gauntlet. He had simply as many drops – eight – as he had contested catches in 2024.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Williams has unimaginable dimension, pace and athleticism, however he wants higher focus when catching the ball and to refine his route working abilities. Is Williams really a large receiver on the rise, or is he simply an athlete taking part in soccer? Williams had 60 catches for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns final season, and leaves TCU with simply 137 profession catches for 1,655 yards (12.1 avg.) and 14 TDs.

Williams was additionally used successfully as a wildcat QB as a consequence of his athleticism and ran 51 occasions for 322 yards (6.3 avg.) and 6 extra scores. The Bucs may use extra dimension, expertise and depth at vast receiver, and Williams has a novel skillset.

How Quick Is Vast Receiver Tre Harris?

Ole Miss WR Tre Harris – Picture by: USA At the moment

Tre Harris transferred to Ole Miss in 2023 after hauling in 65 passes for 935 yards (14.4 avg.) and 10 touchdowns at Louisiana Tech as a sophomore. He grew to become the Rebels’ downfield menace, catching 54 passes for 985 yards (18.2 avg.) and eight TDs in 2023, after which had 60 receptions for 1,030 yards (17.2 avg.) and 7 scores in simply eight video games final yr.

At 6-foot-3, 210 kilos, Harris has ultimate NFL dimension. He’s had almost similar PFF grades of 89.7 and 88.5 over the previous two seasons. However there are some questions as to how briskly and agile Harris is as a result of he’s a little bit of a protracted strider. If he can run within the low 4.4s or higher or he may transfer as much as the second spherical. A time of 4.55 or later may push Harris into Day 3, although.

Tampa Bay may use one other vast receiver to bolster the depth chart and Harris can be a super slot in Josh Grizzard’s scheme, which is predicated on the Rams offensive system that Liam Coen put in final yr. Harris has drawn comparisons to Rams receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua.