Pewter Report 2025 7-Spherical Bucs Mock Draft 3.0

The 2025 Bucs offseason is right here and it’s time for Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Spherical Bucs Mock Draft 3.0 – offered by Stroll-On’s Sports activities Bistreaux.

Make sure you tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Present to debate the third Bucs mock draft dwell at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 13 on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.

Tampa Bay confirmed some enchancment within the 2024 common season, profitable 10 video games and a fourth straight NFC South championship – the third beneath head coach Todd Bowles. However the Bucs couldn’t advance previous the NFC Wild Card spherical, dropping a house playoff sport to the Commanders, 23-20.

The staff didn’t have almost the quantity of pending free brokers that it did in 2024, they usually had been capable of re-sign all three of their starters who had been set to discover free company in left guard Ben Bredeson, broad receiver Chris Godwin and linebacker Lavonte David.

The Bucs want to signal three gamers to contract extensions this offseason if doable – proper sort out Luke Goedeke, cornerback Zyon McCollum and tight finish Cade Otton, as all three are getting into contract years in 2025.

Free company simply started, and the staff addressed a few urgent wants along with re-signing the above three together with reserve defenders Anthony Nelson and Greg Gaines and backup quarterback Kyle Trask. The Bucs signed edge rusher Haason Reddick to exchange Joe Tryon-Shoyinka reverse Yaya Diaby. Additionally they signed punter Riley Dixon to supply consistency on particular groups, in addition to reserve inside linebacker Anthony Walker and reserve cornerback Kindle Vildor

Taking all of this into consideration, here’s a take a look at the staff’s personnel wants, listed so as of significance.

Bucs Personnel Wants
Inside Linebacker

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and LB Lavonte David – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lavonte David joins SirVocea Dennis as the one present starters. Dennis, noticed his second yr in Tampa Bay lower brief by a season-ending shoulder harm in Week 4, made a powerful impression early on in protection and as a blitzer. However given his penchant for being injured, the Bucs want so as to add at the very least yet one more high quality inside linebacker and did that with veteran Anthony Walker, who is best in protection than both Ok.J. Britt or J.J. Russell.

Britt, who signed with Miami, lacks the athleticism to be a starter and was supplanted within the beginning lineup on the finish of the season by Russell, whom the Bucs haven’t elected to re-sign. Veteran Deion Jones, 30, was already re-signed to an inexpensive, one-year deal, however he’s not a lock to make the roster.

Simply because that is the Bucs’ prime want doesn’t imply that this would be the staff’s first-round decide. Tampa Bay used the fifth total decide on inside linebacker Devin White in 2019, and whereas he helped the staff win Tremendous Bowl LV in his second season, his play fell off significantly in his remaining two years in Tampa Bay. Of the 4 Professional Bowl inside linebackers this yr, just one – Baltimore’s Roquan Smith – was a first-rounder.

Cornerback

The Bucs moved on from Carlton Davis III the third final yr. His large wage didn’t match his lack of interceptions, and Davis struggled to remain on the sphere with quite a few accidents over the previous couple of seasons. Tampa Bay was fortunate to discover a commerce companion in Detroit and obtain a third-round decide for Davis. Jamel Dean is in the same scenario, as he has only one decide in two years and has missed a complete of 9 video games over the previous two seasons. And Dean missed the second half of the playoff loss to Washington, which proved to be pricey.

Chopping or buying and selling Dean would save the staff almost $8.3 million in cap room, however that hasn’t occurred but. The cornerback market has exploded in free company and Dean’s cap hit of $15,136,941 may very well be thought of a discount proper now. When wholesome, Dean is a high quality starter, however the Bucs want a extra dependable cornerback sooner fairly than later.

If Tampa Bay strikes on from Dean, the Bucs will want one other starting-caliber cornerback to exchange him and pair alongside Zyon McCollum. That might come within the 2025 NFL Draft with a premium decide. Bucs G.M. Jason Licht has solely spent one first-round decide on a cornerback and that didn’t prove properly, as Vernon Hargreaves III was a bust in 2016. Tampa Bay has had higher success drafting cornerbacks within the center rounds like Davis (second spherical, 2018), Sean Murphy-Bunting (second spherical, 2019) and Dean (third spherical, 2019).

The Bucs might use at the very least two extra gifted cornerbacks behind McCollum on the depth chart. Bryce Corridor may not return from a damaged leg he suffered in Week 1, and Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk confirmed they aren’t starting-caliber gamers of their restricted enjoying time in 2024. The Bucs want to significantly improve the cornerback room.

Security

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and NCB Tykee Smith – Photograph by: USA At this time

Tampa Bay has one of the gifted safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr., who was a bona fide playmaker throughout his first 4 years in Tampa Bay till this previous yr when accidents value him eight video games in the course of the common season. Winfield ought to return with a vengeance in 2025 and be again to his common playmaking self. However the Bucs want one other playmaker on the different security place. Jordan Whitehead was an enormous disappointment in his return to Tampa Bay on a two-year deal after a two-year absence and the staff declined his 2025 possibility, making him a free agent.

The Bucs spent a third-round decide on Tykee Smith final yr and he began 14 video games at nickelback however may also play sturdy security if Todd Bowles desires to go that route. Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather don’t make sufficient performs to ideally crack the beginning lineup, though each are high quality reserves with Izien providing a number of flexibility.

The Bucs might very properly draft a security within the center rounds, or double up on the cornerback place with one in all them enjoying within the slot and shifting Smith to sturdy security. Smith and Mike Edwards, who’s a free agent and will or could not return as a reserve possibility, had been third-rounders, and Whitehead was a fourth-rounder.

Extensive Receiver

Bucs WR Chris Godwin and GM Jason Licht, picture by: Cliff Welch P/R

The Bucs plans to re-sign Chris Godwin this offseason turned a actuality. Godwin turned 29 in February however proved to be a super slot in Liam Coen’s new offense earlier than struggling a season-ending ankle harm in Week 7. His return provides new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard the staff’s three prime three receivers once more in 2025 with Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan. However the Bucs want one other starting-caliber receiver for the No. 4 spot in case accidents strike the receiver place once more, in addition to for the long run as Evans is getting into a contract yr and turns 32 in August.

Trey Palmer may very well be on the outs with the group after underwhelming in 2024 and dropping the WR3 function to McMillan throughout his rookie season. He performed no higher than apply squad receivers Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett. Veteran Sterling Shepard was elevated to the function of a starter for some time with Evans and Godwin out, however he turns 31 this yr and had too many pricey drops to return.

Search for the Bucs to draft a much bigger physique at broad receiver to affix the combo in 2025. Tampa Bay has too many 190-pound receivers, and Grizzard’s offense would thrive with larger receivers just like the 220-pound Evans and the 205-pound Godwin.

Outdoors Linebacker

Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photograph by: USA At this time

The Bucs are pleased with Yaya Diaby, who enters his third season, as one starter at outdoors linebacker. Whereas Diaby’s pressures had been up – he completed with 65, which was the ninth finest amongst edge rushers – his sacks had been down. Diaby had 7.5 sacks as a rookie and simply 4.5 sacks final yr.

Newly signed Haason Reddick represents a buy-low play with a ton of upside. He was one of the disruptive cross rushers within the NFL from 2020-2023 and nonetheless confirmed loads of burst and bend to win the excessive facet final yr in restricted motion for the Jets. That’s a high quality the staff has not had since earlier than Shaq Barrett suffered a torn Achilles in 2022. However the deal continues to be for only one yr and carries a good quantity of uncertainty. Jason Licht has proven a capability to each construct for the current and the long run and will look to double down on the place.

That might imply there may be nonetheless an excellent likelihood that the Bucs spend one other premium decide on an out of doors linebacker. Licht has hit on a number of defensive tackles within the NFL Draft through the years however has struggled to discover a stud edge rusher able to changing into a double-digit sacker. Noah Spence, a 2016 second-round decide, flamed out shortly, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, a first-round decide in 2021, has not lived as much as expectations. Diaby, a third-round decide in 2023, has been an excellent participant, however the jury continues to be out on 2024 second-rounder Chris Braswell, who has been gradual to develop.

The contracts of Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson had been up, and the staff opted to have Nelson return as a reserve outdoors linebacker as soon as once more whereas letting JTS stroll in free company. The Bucs even have Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez beneath contract, however each are thought of reserves and will not be locks to make the staff in 2025.

Defensive Sort out

Bucs DTs Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Logan Corridor – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have two of the perfect defensive tackles in soccer in Professional Bowler Vita Vea, who recorded a career-high seven sacks in 2024, and Calijah Kancey, who led the staff with 7.5 sacks in his second yr in Tampa Bay. Logan Corridor, the staff’s prime decide in 2022, had a breakout yr with 5.5 sacks as a reserve and enters a contract yr in 2025.

Regardless of having three high quality defensive tackles, the Bucs would have drafted Illinois defensive sort out Johnny Newton with the No. 26 decide final yr if offensive lineman Graham Barton was off the board. G.M. Jason Licht believes in having high quality depth at defensive sort out, and Vea turns 30 in 2025. Tampa Bay re-signed Greg Gaines for an additional yr for depth, however the staff may transfer on from Will Gholston, who turns 34 in July.

If the fitting defensive sort out is there in the fitting spherical and he’s the perfect participant accessible, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Licht and head coach Todd Bowles the pull set off and draft one other one this yr. This yr’s draft class is loaded at defensive sort out and Tampa Bay may lean into that place and make the most of the depth there.

Bucs’ 2025 NFL Draft Picks

The Bucs at the moment have six picks within the 2025 NFL Draft. They traded their sixth-round decide and cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Lions final yr in alternate for Detroit’s third-round decide, which was used on broad receiver Jalen McMillan. The Bucs didn’t obtain any compensatory draft picks this offseason.

Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Spherical Bucs Mock Draft sequence is offered by Stroll-On’s Sports activities Bistreaux – with three places within the Tampa Bay space in Wesley Chapel off I-75, Midtown Tampa down the road from Raymond James Stadium and Lakeland. Obtain the FREE Stroll-On’s Rewards app and get a FREE order of mozzarella logs.

2025 7-Spherical Bucs Mock Draft 3.0 By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo
Spherical 1 – Boston School OLB Donovan EzeriuakuSenior • 6-2, 248

The Bucs begin the draft by trying to make a energy stronger. Even with Haason Reddick within the fold on his one-year deal, the staff appears to make sure they’re four-deep on the sting with the number of Donovan Ezieruaku, theoretically pairing him with Chris Braswell to verify it doesn’t matter what a part of the rotation is on the sphere, they need to have a strong cross rush pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

Whereas Ezeiruaku isn’t very tall, his 34-inch arms are above common, and he makes use of them to maintain tackles off his body. That not solely helps him as a cross rusher but additionally provides him the power to carry the sting as a run defender higher than most sub-250-pound edge rushers.

Ezeiruaku was one of the productive cross rushers in school soccer final yr, posting 16.5 sacks, 60 pressures and 20 quarterback hits. Whereas his burst isn’t elite, he has nice bend and a mess of cross rush strategies together with cross chops, club-rips, ghost strikes, long-arms and spin strikes. He additionally has the foot pace and agility to vary path and arrange inside strikes by profitable excessive facet earlier than crossing face.

Donovan Ezeiruaku can win in nearly any method you would need. Plus the BEND. pic.twitter.com/zPwaKW4pQd

There are some questions on his play energy so the Bucs might present an excellent developmental path by having him play on the second staff behind Yaya Diaby and Reddick his first yr whereas he develops. The Eagles employed this technique with Nolan Smith in 2023, enjoying him behind Reddick, and in 2024 Smith was one in all their finest cross rushers down the stretch final yr after Reddick’s departure within the 2024 offseason.

Donovan Ezeiruaku’s Defensive Statistics2021: 21 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks,  2022: 61 tackles, 15 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, 3 FFs2023: 53 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 FFs2024: 80 tackles, 21 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 3 FFs

The Bucs have publicly said they’re searching for ballhawks and particularly cross rushers who can end. Ezeiruaku checks these packing containers totally with eight pressured fumbles and 30 profession sacks. The tape and the talents again up that manufacturing, plus he would give them a physique sort past 2025 they don’t actually have with Diaby and Braswell.

Spherical 2 – East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr.Redshirt Senior • 6-2, 194

The Bucs proceed so as to add to their protection with an enormous, lengthy, bodily nook with the most effective upsides on this draft class in East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. He likes to dictate phrases from the second receivers attempt to launch off the road. Revel has a powerful understanding of methods to use the sideline to his benefit and to scale back angles whereas his plus energy and to drive his opponent the place he desires them to go.

Regardless of being a bigger nook, his pace and fluidity out and in of his breaks provides him the do-it-all means to sq. off with any sort of receiver who strains up throughout from him. Whether or not that be a big conventional break up finish receiver, or a smaller, shiftier route-runner who creates house with glorious footwork, Revel can shut down anybody. Revel is a powerful, aggressive participant who enjoys supporting within the run sport. He’s a sound tackler who has a profession missed sort out price beneath 6%.

With 12 cross breakups, three interceptions and 20 defensive stops in simply 855 snaps in school, he’s the consummate playmaker with elite bodily traits and one of many highest ceilings on this draft. His measurables test the entire packing containers the Bucs historically search for in beginning nook.

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr will certainly be talked about lots within the upcoming weeks… regardless of coming off a torn acl, he’s considered one of many prime corners on this class attributable to his measurement and instruments to work with… pic.twitter.com/Yjto1abKy2

Shavon Ravel’s Defensive Statistics2022: 8 tackles 2023: 29 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT, 13 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 TD2024: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 1 TD

However given the truth that Tampa Bay is more likely to transfer off of 1 oft-injured nook in Jamel Dean, they might draw back from Revel as he’s coming off of a torn ACL. However that harm could also be what drives a first-round expertise into the second spherical the place his upside may very well be definitely worth the danger.

Spherical 3 – Oregon ILB Jeffrey BassaSenior • 6-1, 232

The Bucs might use some fluidity and athleticism in the midst of their protection. Jeffrey Bassa, a former security can deliver these abilities to the desk. Of the entire linebackers on this draft Bassa is likely one of the finest at masking working backs out of the backfield. That’s the most effective indicators for means to develop protection abilities on the second stage. He confirmed his potential as a protection ‘backer on the Senior Bowl when he picked up a crosser creating off of play-action behind him and coated him up the far sideline and ending by breaking apart the cross.

He’s an aggressive participant who may be weaponized downhill. In 2023 Bassa was used as a cross rusher over 100 occasions, producing 27 pressures and he’s a fast nearer on performs to the flat and on toss/sweep/outdoors zone runs to the perimeter. He can sift by site visitors to get to the ball provider. And when he will get coated up by blockers, he can preserve guys off of his body and make tackles whereas engaged.

Bassa is a positive tackler with good kind and persistently drags ball carriers down. However his processor is a bit slower than you prefer to as he has to see run performs develop earlier than he triggers. And he does lack the ball manufacturing one may count on for a former security. Nonetheless his fluid hips and seamless transitions throughout a number of planes make for an intriguing athlete who can contribute on late downs instantly whereas he develops his run defending instincts.

Actually loved watching Bassa play in house/protection and loved his detailed reply much more after I requested him about it. https://t.co/F8FAz8lZD9

Jeffrey Bassa’s Defensive Statistics

2021: 48 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 PBU  2022: 62 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 INTs 2023: 72 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 PBU2024: 54 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, 2 FF

The Bucs might use Bassa in a specialised function throughout his rookie season as he develops right into a full-time starter down the road. He would offer an injection of athleticism into the linebacker room and doubtless initiatives finest at Mo (Moneybacker) linebacker spot as Lavonte David’s eventual alternative.

Spherical 4 – Maryland WR Tai FeltonSenior • 6-1, 183

Tai Felton is an fascinating prospect who would most likely be getting extra buzz if not for a Week 5 harm that he performed by for the remainder of the season. He was one of the productive receivers in all of school soccer by the primary 4 weeks of the season, averaging 10.25 catches, 150 yards, 1.25 touchdowns and 4.31 yards per route run.

After that time, Felton’s catch price dropped 14%, his yards per catch dropped by 5.2 and his yards per route run dropped by 2.8. However scouting the pre-injury Felton makes me assume there is a chance to discover a receiver with larger upside than his draft inventory would have you ever imagine. That’s not dissimilar to how the Bucs had been capable of draft Jalen McMillan within the third spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Felton has extra burst than lengthy pace, creating room early within the route. That is evidenced by the monitoring information gleaned from the Senior Bowl, the place he led all receivers in attendance in acceleration. He pairs that explosive decrease half energy with spectacular contact stability to make defenders miss after the catch whereas creating extra yards.

Felton is extra of a linear athlete and struggles working routes that ask him to win after the route stem. He provides too many steps to comebacks and rounds his routes on digs, however is at his finest on slants, curls, posts and go/fades. This makes him lower than ideally suited for a slot function, however he ought to work properly as a fringe menace.

His ball monitoring is average-at-best, and he struggles to play by contact, which limits his upside. However he can develop right into a strong WR3 if he can regain his pre-injury explosiveness. Felton is the definition of a series mover. His stop-start means reveals up as each a route runner and together with his YAC.

Felton was third within the nation in first down receptions final season (57). pic.twitter.com/OSajf26Psy

Tai Felton’s Defensive Statistics

2021: 5 catches, 51 yds, 10.2 avg2022: 23 catches, 309 yds, 13.4 avg, 2 TD2023: 48 catches, 723 yds, 15.1 avg, 6 TD2024: 96 catches, 1,124 yds, 11.7 avg, 9 TD

Felton is extra bodily and offers higher after the catch abilities than Trey Palmer and will slot into the WR4 spot with an added bonus as a particular teamer who might earn a returner function. He’s a super WR4 as a rookie and will finally develop right into a WR3 with WR2 being his absolute ceiling.

Spherical 5 – Virgina S Jonas SankerSenior • 6-0, 206

Jonas Sanker examined as an elite athlete on the mix, with an unofficial 9.54 Relative Athletic Rating from Kent Lee Platte’s system. And on movie, it reveals. He has a fast and explosive set off. Add in lengthy arms and good method and you’ve got the makings of a strong tackler who generally is a web plus as a run defender from the second stage.

However what has me very involved in Sanker is his soccer IQ. He’s fast to course of, sift and make his strategy to the ball. That led him to an extremely spectacular 9.06% cease price in 2024. Sanker is a unbelievable cross rusher with an nearly 50% profession strain price. It’s because he performs with a reckless abandon and performs at 100%.

The place Sanker can get uncovered is in his lateral mobility. His hips are a bit stiff and it’s no shock he skipped the agility drills on the NFL Scouting Mix, which helped keep his excessive RAS rating. When he will get into the slot in opposition to twitchy, fast short-area receivers, he can battle to maintain up and stop separation. However as a field security who can burst and blow up, Sanker is a wonderful possibility.

Think about me a Jonas Sanker fan. pic.twitter.com/TFqB0SmQTG

Jonas Sanker’s Defensive Statistics

2021: 5 tackles  2022: 63 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBUs, 2 INTs, 1 FF, 1 FR 2023: 107 tackles, 4 TFLs, 11 PBUs, 3 FFs, 2 FRs2024: 98 tackles, 9 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PBUs, 2 FRs

Sanker might finally fill a powerful security function attributable to his measurement, soccer I.Q. and explosiveness. Till then he would offer athletic depth and particular groups worth to Tampa Bay.

Spherical 7 – South Carolina DT Tonka HemingwayRedshirt Senior • 6-3, 284

Tonka Hemingway is a compact, gap-slipping defensive sort out. He has sufficient lateral mobility that he can play a flexible function throughout the road as a heavy finish or three-technique. His size provides him the power to maintain offensive linemen off his body as a one-gapper and he has the presence of thoughts to maintain his eyes within the backfield, so he’s continuously shifting in the direction of the ball.

His eyes additionally assist him enhance his ball manufacturing as he continuously will get his arms within the air to deflect passes on the line of scrimmage. Between that and his preliminary burst Hemingway is a real hole penetrator, however he lacks refinement. He sometimes depends on his get-off and enjoying half man to get vertical into the pocket and when he will get squared up and locked down, he will get his arms as much as attempt to nonetheless have an effect on the play.

Hemingway’s measurement and anchor are questionable, and he struggles to carry up in opposition to double-teams. And he lacks a cross rush plan that features counters. This results in a boom-or-bust playstyle. However his motor helps him decide up extra performs late within the rep as a chaser.

#SouthCarolina DL Tonka Hemingway. 6’3 288.

Constantly sharp w/ method. Fluid athlete. Has some pop in his arms. GREAT engine. Had an excellent week at East-West Shrine Bowl. Riser. pic.twitter.com/axhNv6CdvX

Tonka Hemingway’s Defensive Statistics

2020: 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBUs, 1 FF  2021: 6 tackles2022: 33 tackles, 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 FRs 2023: 32 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 PBUs, 7 PBUs, 2 FRs2024: 25 tackles, 4 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 FRs, 1 FF

With Logan Corridor getting into a contract yr, Hemingway can be a developmental backup 3-technique to probably substitute him in 2026. He might begin his profession as DT5 or DT6 on the depth chart and show to be an improve over gamers like C.J. Brewer and Mike Greene, however finally wind up as DT3 with extra added measurement and energy.

Watch Pewter Report’s LIVE Mock Draft Present 3 Thursday, March 13 At 8:30 pm ET

What did you consider Pewter Report’s third official 2025 7-Spherical Bucs Mock Draft? Tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Present to debate the third Bucs mock draft LIVE at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 13 on thePewterReportTV YouTube channel. Carry your feedback and questions for Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo!