The Bucs have had several exciting draft classes over the past few years. 2020’s class produced All-Pros Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr. in the first two picks. The 2022 class didn’t look great after year one, but heading into year three second-round pick Luke Goedeke was recently named one of Pro Football Focus’ 32 best tackles.

Third-round pick Rachaad White is entering his second year as a starter and is considered one of the best pass-catching backs in the league. Both fourth-round picks, tight end Cade Otton and punter Jake Camarda, are now starters as well. And fifth-round pick Zyon McCollum looks to be translating the impressive physical gifts that made him one of the most athletic players to enter the draft process into a starting role for himself as well.

Last year’s draft class had some exciting players as well. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, offensive guard Cody Mauch, receiver Trey Palmer and undrafted free agent defensive back Christian Izien were all starters by the end of their rookie campaigns.

Each of those draft classes featured position groups of varying qualities overall. But how do those players and position groups stack up against each other?

We recently got a glimpse as former Pewter Reporter and current Lead Draft Analyst for Pro Football Focus Trevor Sikkema produced a list of his Top 10 prospects for each position group from the last three years. And the Bucs had a couple of their draft picks make the list.

Two Bucs Featured As Best Prospects

DT Calijah Kancey

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay’s 2022 first-round pick Calijah Kancey ranked sixth among all defensive tackles over the past three years for Sikkema. Kancey, the 19th pick overall last year was the second defensive tackle taken. Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter, who was taken 10 picks prior, was first on Sikkema’s list. Green Bay’s Devonte Wyatt and Philly’s Jordan Davis, both taken in the first round in 2022 also ranked higher than Kancey, as did Washington’s Jer’Zhan Newton and Seattle’s Byron Murphy from this year’s draft.

Kancey had an impressive rookie campaign and is poised to become one of the best pass rushing defensive tackles in the NFL this season. He recorded four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits and 34 pressures. PFF gave him a 63.4 pass rush grade and a 12.5% pass rush win rate on true pass rush sets.

And while he had a low run defense grade from PFF, his tape is littered with some really impressive reps.

Calijah Kancey with the quick rip and the strong TFL finish. Shout out to Logan Hall catching the lean and slipping off it quickly as well. pic.twitter.com/3w73jGFj3Z

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) June 4, 2024

Despite Kancey’s strong rookie season it’s hard to argue with his ranking based off of limited NFL results for the group. Carter had an impressive first year as well on his way to six sacks and two forced fumbles. Wyatt barely played in 2022 but stepped-up last year with 45 pressures and 5.5 sacks. Davis only compiled 2.5 sacks and played far fewer snaps than Kancey, but graded out as a better player from PFF over his first two seasons when including his run-stuffing ability.

C Graham Barton

Bucs OL Graham Barton – Photo courtesy of Duke

This year’s first-round pick Graham Barton ranked fourth on Sikkema’s list of interior offensive lineman and second among this year’s draftees behind Troy Fautanu. Fautanu was taken six spots ahead of Barton by the Steelers. Also ahead of Barton was 2022 first-rounder Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore’s center, and 2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski, a guard in Tennessee.

Linderbaum has developed into one of the best interior linemen in the NFL ranking seventh last year among all centers with a 78,3 overall grade from PFF. Skoronski had a rough rookie year as one part of a terrible Titans offensive line.

Each year’s draft class is unique with its own individual positions of depth. For the Bucs to secure not one, but two players who rank so highly among several draft classes is a testament to general manager Jason Licht and his staffs consistent ability to find talent.