Analyzing Buccaneers 2025 NFL Draft Wants

It’s time to assemble round and dirt off the thermometer, Bucs Nation. The draft wants temperature verify returns as soon as once more!

The Buccaneers enter 2025 in a comparatively secure place with good cap flexibility, a wholesome boon of younger expertise, few precedence free brokers, and a decently positioned first-round choose. Nevertheless, the defensive aspect of the ball is on a lot shakier floor than the offensive aspect and as such calls for reinforcements on the subject of each starters and depth.

Free company, which opens in lower than 2 weeks, will trigger some probably vital ebb and stream in these preliminary temp checks, however it’s all the time sensible to determine a baseline upon which to function. You’ll be able to’t assume a sure free agent will likely be out there or keen to come back aboard, and as such a staff can exert far more management over their draft prep course of.

Let’s get into it.

Quarterback

Temperature: Cool

Baker Mayfield will enter the ultimate yr of his contract in 2026 however he could anticipate an extension after this upcoming marketing campaign if he continues his borderline top-10 play. If that occurs, nonetheless, you possibly can anticipate the Bucs will care for him.

In order of now, any signal-caller discussions in Tampa Bay will likely be centered on backups. Kyle Trask is a free agent after 4 years of straight chillin’ on the bench, and no person is aware of precisely how good of a participant he’s. You’d assume bringing him again as QB2 can be pretty cheap, however he would possibly wish to go someplace with extra alternative if such a spot exists.

The staff additionally has Michael Pratt as a observe squad man, who they reportedly wished to draft final yr earlier than they finally signed him from Inexperienced Bay. They could simply straight-up exchange Trask with him as the first backstop.

Regardless, it looks like a place that may doubtless take low precedence within the draft. One other late Day 3 waiver like Max Brosmer from Minnesota is likely to be intriguing.

Working Again

Temperature: Chilly

Bucky Irving emerged as a revelation in 2024, showcasing attainable celebrity potential as he finally advanced into an offensive centerpiece. His future is attractive, although we’ll see how dropping a top-tier offensive coordinator like Liam Coen impacts that trajectory.

Regardless, the 22-year-old Irving would be the unquestioned No. 1, with Rachaad White serving as an upper-tier change-of-pace possibility (a task wherein he’s better-suited). Sean Tucker additionally flared to life right here and there in a approach that ought to have the Bucs feeling nice about their high 3 choices within the backfield.

White is within the final yr of his deal and doubtless gained’t stick round if Irving continues to ascend, so which will create a gap for subsequent season however doubtless gained’t pressure the staff’s hand an excessive amount of for now.

Drafting anybody right here appears fairly unlikely except it’s a late Day 3 identify for one thing like kick returns.

Emeka Egbuka

Photograph by Steve Limentani/ISI Images/Getty Photos

Broad Receiver

Temperature: Heat

The Bucs receiving room has been among the many NFL’s gold normal for practically a decade now. Mike Evans has constructed a Corridor of Fame profession and continues to dominate in his 30s, however it’s arduous to know when the decline could start. It sadly will likely be sooner reasonably than later in some capability.

Chris Godwin has been the staff’s bonafide right-hand man, a implausible 1b to Evans’s 1a regardless of numerous vital accidents, largely just lately final yr’s ankle dislocation. The 29-year-old’s free company standing is definitely the largest offseason headline for the staff, and his choice will play a big hand within the draft concerns.

With Godwin, receiver will doubtless nonetheless be on the radar as an ember, however it turns right into a grease hearth with out him. Jalen McMillan, a 2024 third-rounder, actually got here on down the stretch so there’s some stage of expectation with him, however bumping him right into a hypothetical No. 2 function leaves a significant sore spot behind him.

Trey Palmer, who the Bucs drafted in 2023, has actually not proven a lot, and Sterling Shepard is a tenacious however unreliable veteran with a checkered damage historical past. Free company just isn’t ripe with choices at current, so it’d require using some draft capital.

With all that in thoughts, Bucs followers ought to familiarize themselves with names throughout the spectrum. First-round choices may embrace greater names like Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State or Matthew Golden from Texas. Jalen Royals from Utah State and Jaylin Noel from Iowa State are Day 2 choices that stand out.

Mason Taylor

Photograph by Gus Stark/LSU/College Photos through Getty Photos

Tight Finish

Temperature: Lukewarm

Cade Otton took an enormous step ahead because the staff’s No. 1 tight finish when requested to shoulder a much bigger load and needs to be firmly entrenched in that place. He’ll doubtless by no means be a deadly menace, however he handles being an auxiliary possibility fairly properly and has improved as a blocker, too.

Behind Otton, Payne Durham and Devin Culp are attention-grabbing younger gamers who flashed in restricted alternatives, and Ko Kieft continues to stay round as a blocking specialist.

Usually, I’d checklist this as a “cool,” however we’re additionally staring down probably the most fruitful tight finish crops of the final decade so it feels ill-advised to not even contemplate it. If there’s somebody who Jason Licht and Co. love as a weapon for Mayfield, you possibly can simply make a two-tight finish offense work.

Within the high 3 rounds, you’ll see a plethora of intriguing names like Michigan’s Colston Loveland, LSU’s Mason Taylor, Bowling Inexperienced’s Harold Fannin Jr., and Texas’s Gunnar Helm.

Offensive Deal with

Temperature: Chilly

Tristan Wirfs is a high 5 offensive deal with on a Corridor of Fame trajectory who’s locked into Tampa for the following 5 years. Luke Goedeke has became a high 10 proper deal with who’s going to get his big-money extension very quickly.

The Bucs are fully set on the bookends for the foreseeable future, and on high of that they’ve a good-quality swing man in Justin Skule to again them each up. There will likely be no main funding right here of any type.

Inside Offensive Line

Temperature: Heat

Now, the inside is a barely completely different story.

Although the unit noticed a lot enchancment because of the event of Cody Mauch, the insertion of the promising rookie Graham Barton at heart, and the superbly okay play of Ben Bredeson, the staff will nonetheless must do some repairs.

Will they maintain Bredeson, who performed on a one-year prove-it deal? He was fantastic however replaceable, so the staff would possibly maintain him for a paltry payment however proceed to hunt out an improve or at the least some competitors. Robert Hainsey ought to have alternatives elsewhere to be a beginning heart, which leaves the backup spot to Barton unfilled.

As such, there’s a good probability you would possibly see one other draft choose to proceed reinforcing the offensive trenches. If a starter at left guard is what the staff desires, a late Day 2 choose like Georgia’s Tate Ratledge would doubtless match what the staff desires in each play type and demeanor.

Day 3 names could embrace Joshua Grey from Oregon State or Wisconsin’s Joe Huber, or maybe the compulsory smaller-program identify when speaking about Bucs’ line prospects like Jackson Slater of Sacramento State.

T.J. Sanders

Photograph by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

Defensive Line

Temperature: Heat

The Bucs have been reportedly poised to take Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton final yr earlier than Graham Barton fell gift-wrapped into their laps, and never a lot has modified between at times to counsel they’d view the place as something apart from upgradable.

Calijah Kancey is an rising star go rusher if he can keep wholesome, which has been a bit problematic, and Vita Vea continues to be a top-tier nostril deal with however just isn’t getting any youthful as he enters his age-30 season. Former high choose Logan Corridor has made some gradual enhancements however stays common at greatest with too many stretches of absenteeism.

Will Gholston, a profession Buc whose understated but constant contributions needs to be praised, is just about staring down the top at 34 years outdated. Greg Gaines is a replacement-level backup nostril whose presence is pretty inconsequential.

In a draft with so many high quality defensive tackles and 4i-technique varieties, it appears doubtless they may maintain some on their radar all through the three days. Spherical one could also be wealthy contemplating seemingly extra outstanding wants and matches on the protection, however chances are you’ll wish to watch somebody like Oregon’s Derrick Harmon.

Day 2 could yield a greater match with names like South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders or Ole Miss’s J.J. Pegues. Rounds 4-7 may provide names like Jordan Phillips of Maryland or Warren Brinson from Georgia.

Donovan Ezeiruaku

Photograph by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe through Getty Photos

Edge Rusher

Temperature: Sizzling

Tampa merely should enhance its go rush, there isn’t a excuse, and as such it needs to be in rivalry for the staff’s most urgent want. Todd Bowles himself acknowledged Tuesday throughout his media session, expressing frustration with the unit and a want to see extra 4-man rush productiveness and fewer reliance on blitzing (which is basically saying one thing when Bowles desires to ship fewer guys).

Yaya Diaby is an effective participant and logged a few of the greatest stress numbers of any edge defender final yr, however it translated into solely 4.5 sacks. He wants to enhance his ending means to be a real menace. Chris Braswell, a 2024 second-rounder, confirmed some upside however sat behind former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka approach an excessive amount of. The latter ensured his exit from Tampa after failing to indicate any substantive improvement with regard to his go rush – he recorded simply 15 sacks in 4 seasons (66 video games).

This spot, as soon as once more, needs to be a high two-round precedence. Keep watch over names like Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced, Tennessee’s James Pierce, and Boston Faculty’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, in addition to LSU’s Brayden Swinson, Ole Miss’s Princely Umanmielen, and Michigan’s Josaiah Stewart.

Inside Linebacker

Temperature: Sizzling

One may argue off-ball linebacker could also be simply as dire of a necessity as edge on the subject of Bowles’s scheme. Tampa noticed huge points up the center when Sir’Vocea Dennis went down with damage, as Okay.J. Britt obtained constantly uncovered as a bottom-tier all the pieces and Licht scraped the underside of the barrel with names like Deion Jones and J.J. Russell.

Lavonte David remained good, however clearly (and understandably) outdoors of his prime, and his future continues to be undecided. Dennis confirmed some potential however he’s suffered notable accidents in each of his first two seasons.

Beginning linebacker could really feel like extra of a free company add given how a lot Bowles calls for from the place, however there are nonetheless Day 2 choices to watch like Ole Miss’s Chris Paul Jr., UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger, Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin, or South Carolina’s Demetrius Knight. Day 3 would possibly provide names like Oregon’s Jeffrey Bassa or UNLV’s Jackson Woodard.

Cornerback

Temperature: Sizzling

Accidents precipitated extra points within the secondary final season than pure expertise, however “the best ability is availability” is an aphorism that continues to be pointedly apt.

And Jamel Dean embodies that completely…or horribly, relying in your perspective I suppose. When he’s really taking part in wholesome, Dean is usually a excellent participant – however the issue is that the primary half is nearly by no means true. He’s didn’t play a full season in 6 years and sometimes struggles to complete video games he does get banged up in.

Zy Alexander

Photograph by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Photos

With the flexibility to avoid wasting main cap house by buying and selling or chopping him, Dean appears destined for the chopping block because the Bucs in all probability go on the hunt for a brand new beginning outdoors nook reverse Zyon McCollum – who began 2024 excellently, however then obtained damage and seemingly forgot the right way to play.

If the Bucs additionally don’t deliver again Bryce Corridor, who broke his leg early within the yr, the cabinet is totally naked proper now. Additions will completely come through free company; to what extent, we are going to quickly discover out. Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk can’t stay as your major backups.

Within the draft, each single spherical will likely be on the desk on the subject of defensive again, and Licht would possibly even do his traditional double dip – he’s accomplished that at nook twice up to now.

Day 1 choices may contain Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison or East Carolina’s Shavon Revel. Day 2 will likely be loaded with a area that doubtless contains Ole Miss’s Trey Amos, Iowa State’s Darien Porter, and LSU’s Zy Alexander. Day 3 upside performs would possibly encompass Cobee Bryant from Kansas, Nohl Williams from California, or Jordan Hancock from Ohio State.

Security

Temperature: Lukewarm

The Bucs’ safeties suffered from accidents all yr lengthy as properly, even perhaps worse than at cornerback however with higher depth to compensate. Bowles needs to be applauded on this space for working via the continuously revolving door that noticed Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, Christian Izien, and Tykee Smith all miss prolonged time. Getting contributions for Kaevon Merriweather and Mike Edwards and nonetheless being okayish was spectacular.

It’s arduous to think about this room’s damage luck presumably being any worse, so the ground is fairly excessive. Whitehead won’t return after having his possibility declined, however it looks like Smith, who stood out as a rookie, will likely be Winfield’s major working mate with Merriweather, Izien, and Edwards all doubtless nonetheless round.

As such, in a reasonably shallow security class, you may not see a lot motion right here come draft weekend. Proper now, you possibly can guess fairly good cash the primary two days will give option to way more urgent issues, so that you’re as an alternative taking a look at Day 3 depth lotto tickets like Virginia’s Jonas Sanker or Alabama’s Malachi Moore.

Ballot
What place is at the moment the Bucs’ largest draft want?

12%

Inside Linebacker

(1 vote)

8 votes whole

Vote Now