What number of Bucs would you are taking in the event you had been making an attempt to win now? For a lot of who grew up in my era, we had been in a position to put this train to the take a look at by the long-lasting online game collection Madden. Madden at all times featured a re-draft course of that put each present participant right into a draft pool. Chad Reuter of NFL media put forth his personal seven spherical mock draft utilizing present NFL gamers. Listed here are the Bucs who made the minimize:
First Spherical – Quarterback Baker Mayfield
Baker stans who put on Pewter shall be over the moon to listen to Reuter has the swaggy playcaller staying in Tampa Bay going fifteenth general to the Bucs. Not even a fantasy mock draft can maintain the 2 sides from going by their present contract negotiations. Reuter’s considering on the location:
“Mayfield has become the heart and soul of the Buccaneers franchise. I can’t picture him anywhere else.”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Second Spherical – Left Sort out Tristan Wirfs
Wirfs isn’t the primary Bucs participant off the board, neither is he the primary sort out. Not solely does Mayfield go one spherical forward of him, fellow tackles Penei Sewell (thirty third general), Trent Williams (thirty seventh) and Jordan Mailata (53rd) all get chosen in entrance of the previous 2020 first rounder. Reuter has him going 59th general to the Browns noting each his improbable expertise alongside along with his rising missed time because of damage.
“Wirfs has missed some games due to injury in his career, but he’s become one of the top pass protectors in the league when his spikes are laced up.”
Fifth Spherical – Extensive Receiver Emeka Egbuka
It takes three rounds for the following Bucs participant to come back off the board. Egbuka will get paired with Matthew Stafford in Arizona for the Cardinals on this various actuality. He’s the nineteenth receiver taken off the board. Placing him with Stafford is a artistic coupling. Stafford has a historical past of working nicely with the Egbuka’s archetype, beforehand placing up monster seasons with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Rueter’s tackle the choice:
“Matthew Stafford should quickly find a connection with Egbuka, as Baker Mayfield did last year with Mike Evans out of the lineup.”
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka Picture by: USA As we speak
Fifth Spherical – Defensive Sort out Vita Vea
Vea is the eleventh inside defensive lineman off the board, going to the Giants within the fifth spherical. It’s simply two picks after Egbuka is chosen. If solely the sort of article held sway in contract negotiations, it might assist the massive man web the contract extension he’s in search of. Reuters makes the choice for New York to assist them fill the real-life void they created after they traded away Dexter Lawrence.
Seventh Spherical – Security Antoine Winfield Jr.
After reaching the height of his powers in 2023, Winfield is a late spherical choice in Reuters’ train and the tenth security chosen. One was chosen within the first spherical (Kyle Hamilton), three within the fourth (Xavier McKinney, Nick Emmanwori, Derwin James), three within the sixth (Jalen Pitre, Talanoa Hufanga, Kevin Byard) and two forward of him within the seventh (Jessie Bates, Budda Baker).
Winfield lands in a spot with particularly low transferring prices, staying within the Bay with Baker. Reuters’ justification for his choose:
“Winfield was born to play safety for Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay — and he is coming off a second Pro Bowl season in 2025.”
Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
With simply 5 gamers taken in seven rounds, it appears like Rueter believes the Bucs lack a mean stage of high-end expertise. However I imagine he might have missed just a few gamers. Luke Goedeke actually would get taken in an actual re-draft. He has 19 tackles taken on this train, however no Goedeke. I’d personally have him over a minimum of two of the chosen tackles together with Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taylor Moton.
And taking a look at 32(!) edge rushers going forward of Yaya Diaby appears like a small oversight. Laiatu Latu will get chosen and his 61 pressures final yr are behind Diaby’s 2024 and 2025 seasons and his 8.5 sacks final yr and 12.5 over the previous two seasons are simply 1.5 and 1.0 forward of Diaby. Maybe extra curious is the inclusion of Montez Sweat and Cameron Jordan, each of whom Reuter takes off the board fifth spherical.
Bucs Picks
Along with Mayfield and Winfield staying put, Reuters made the next alternatives for the Bucs:
WR Nico Collins – Second RoundLB Devin Lloyd – Third RoundC Tyler Linderbaum – Fourth RoundDT Jordan Davis – Fifth RoundEDGE Nick Herbig – Sixth Spherical
The Collins choice is absolutely apt, as he offers the big-bodied slant/deep menace that was just lately vacated by Mike Evans’ departure. Lloyd was a free agent this offseason and there was no public chatter linking him to Tampa Bay. However he is an ideal match for a Todd Bowles protection. Davis “replaces” Vea who went 10 picks forward, offering the huge nostril who can create a numbers benefit in opposition to the run that Bowles likes to make foundational to his scheme.
Herbig is my favourite choose. His cross rush effectivity is particular. And as a lot as I like that choose, I’m not an enormous fan of the Linderbaum choice. Whereas he is excellent run blocker, he’s restricted as a cross protector, and I want a cross first offensive line.
