The 2026 Bucs offseason is here and it’s time for Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 1.0 – presented by Jorgensen Law P.A. Be sure to tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Show to discuss the first Bucs mock draft live at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 25 on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.

Todd Bowles returns as Tampa Bay’s head coach in 2026 despite a collapse from a 6-2 start that saw the team finish 8-9 and lose the NFC South division to Carolina. Bowles made several changes to his coaching staff, including replacing offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard with former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

The Bucs don’t have a lot of free agents worth re-signing this offseason outside of future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans, who turns 32 in August, and possibly starting tight end Cade Otton depending on his price tag. Free agent running back Rachaad White will be leaving Tampa Bay for more opportunities elsewhere in 2026.

Legendary Lavonte David is expected to retire at age 36, which will leave a void at the inside linebacker position.

Tampa Bay should be active in free agency adding new players to the roster without having to invest much in re-signing the team’s own players as a result. Taking this into consideration, here’s a look at the Bucs’ personnel needs heading into the offseason.

Bucs Personnel Needs

Inside Linebacker

With Lavonte David expected to retire, the Bucs have just two inside linebackers under contract in 2026 in starting middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who is entering a contract year, and undrafted free agent Nick Jackson, who spent the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad.

Tampa Bay desperately needs an upgrade at inside linebacker in terms of talent, as well as adding more capable bodies for depth. Dennis is replaceable, and the Bucs would be wise to add a veteran in free agency, spend a premium pick to get another inside linebacker, and then draft another one for developmental depth.

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: USA Today

Outside Linebacker

Haason Reddick was a bust after notching just 2.5 sacks while making $14 million in 2025. He won’t be re-signed. The Bucs have to admit that Chris Braswell, the team’s second-round pick in 2024, is a bust after he’s totaled just 2.5 sacks in two seasons. He needs to be replaced on the roster.

Markees Watts is strictly a special teamer and is also headed for free agency. The Bucs spent a fourth-round draft pick on David Walker, but he’s a virtual unknown after tearing his ACL during the first week of training camp. While loaded with promise, the team can’t bank on Walker being a factor in 2026 because he has yet to prove himself on the gridiron.

Tampa Bay is in desperate need of a stud, alpha edge rusher opposite Yaya Diaby, who is an ideal No. 2 outside linebacker and is entering a contract year in 2026.

Tight End

If the Bucs re-sign starter Cade Otton in free agency, the tight end position is somewhat solidified in 2026. Payne Durham will be entering a contract year, while Devin Culp enters his third season as a seldom-used third-string tight end. Ko Kieft is a free agent and offers little value outside of playing on special teams.

The Bucs could use a more dynamic pass-catching tight with the ability to block. Otton is average at best, and was more palatable as a starter when he was on a cheap rookie contract. If both Otton and Kieft depart in free agency, Tampa Bay will only have two tight ends under contract in the 2026 offseason.

Defensive Tackle

Vita Vea’s production slipped a bit at age 30, but he’s still a formidable starter at nose tackle. Vea, now 31, is entering a contract year and the team needs to plan for the future by finding his eventual replacement in case he’s not re-signed.

Logan Hall, the team’s top pick in 2022, will likely be let go via free agency as he never panned out and lived up to his draft billing. There is a chance he returns on a cheap, one-year deal if his market bottoms out in free agency. Calijah Kancey is a very good, effective player with his backfield penetration ability. But Kancey has missed 22 games due to injuries in his first three seasons while only suiting up for 29.

Tampa Bay needs to prioritize adding another talented defensive tackle via the draft, too. Elijah Roberts can replace Hall, but the Bucs need to try to find an upgrade over Greg Gaines and ultimately find another starting-caliber defensive tackle in case Vea’s career winds down quickly or Kancey continues to get injured. Rookie Elijah Simmons showed some promise, and the team has high hopes for practice squad rookie defensive tackle Jayson Jones, who missed most of the season with a torn biceps muscle.

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

Cornerback

There is a good chance the Bucs part ways with cornerback Jamel Dean leave via free agency unless he takes a significantly team-friendly deal. Despite having his best season in Tampa Bay, Dean was forced to take a pay cut in 2025 and may be ready to move on to greener pastures. While the Bucs drafted Benjamin Morrison in the second round to replace the oft-injured Dean, no cornerback was more injured last year than the Notre Dame prospect who battled hamstring injuries all season and only played in 10 games with three starts.

Combine that with the fact that Zyon McCollum regressed despite cashing in on a $16 million per year contract extension, and the Bucs’ outside cornerback position could use another starting-caliber player to throw into the mix – just in case Morrison isn’t that guy and/or McCollum continues to falter.

Jacob Parrish thrived at nickelback for the team as a rookie and got some experience playing outside in emergency situations. Veteran Kindle Vildor is a free agent and not expected to return in 2026. Josh Hayes is a reserve cornerback only as he specializes as a gunner on special teams.

Bucs’ 2026 Draft Picks

Tampa Bay currently has all seven of its own draft picks in 2026. Any compensatory draft picks will be determined by the NFL prior to the NFL Draft.

Round 1: No. 15 overall
Round 2: No. 46 overall
Round 3: No. 77 overall
Round 4: No. 116 overall
Round 5: No. 153 overall
Round 6: No. 193 overall
Round 7: No. 229 overall

Pewter Report’s 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft series is presented by Jorgensen Law P.A. Need a personal injury attorney or legal help with workers’ comp or social security? Turn to Jorgensen Law P.A. Attorneys Spencer and Grady Jorgensen are huge Tampa Bay fans and Pewter Report readers with a law office located in St. Petersburg, Fla. They are the champions of the injured and disabled.

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Pewter Report’s 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 2.0

By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo

ROUND 1 – Texas A&M OLB Cashius Howell
Senior • 6-2, 248

This draft class has a few interesting pass rushers at the top of the class. Not the least of which is Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, who led the SEC with 11.5 sacks last season. Howell has the bend and change-of-direction skills to create havoc in the pocket. With 25 sacks and 119 pressures over the last three years, Howell has a proven track record of getting into the backfield and bringing down the quarterback.

Howell would be a direct replacement on the field – and stylistically – for Haason Reddick, who was signed to a one-year, $14 million contract in 2025, to be a finishing speed rusher. But Reddick didn’t pan out, finishing the season with just 2.5 sacks.

Howell finished 2025 with an 81.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and posted his third consecutive season with a pass rush grade north of 90. He finished in the 93rd percentile in pass rush win rate, 75th percentile in pressure rate and 97th percentile in sack conversion rate among all qualified edge rushers in college football.

Cashius Howell’s Defensive Stats
2021: 6 tackles
2022: 22 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, PBU, FR
2023: 28 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, PBU, FF
2024: 40 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, 7 PBUs, 1 INT, FF
2025: 31 tackles, 14.0 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 6 PBUs, FF

Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Maria Lysaker

As a shorter, leaner edge his physique is similar to that of former Buccaneer Shaq Barret. And by drafting Howell and pairing him with Yaya Diaby, Tampa Bay would be attempting to recreate the Super Bowl pairing of Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Howell has the burst/get-off, speed up the arc, and bend to threaten the outside and force quarterbacks to step up in the pocket where Diaby, Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey can condense the pocket. And his ability to react and re-route inside when tackles overset gives him a legit counter to threaten both inside and outside. If there is a knock on Howell it is that his frame is maxed out and he has short arms, believed to be around 30 inches in length.

Howell also fits Todd Bowles’ scheme, with plenty of experience dropping into coverage (145 coverage reps in the past two years), and has the athleticism to work in space. However, his ability to defend the run isn’t the strongest as he doesn’t post many tackles and has one of the lowest run stop rates in the draft class.

ROUND 2 – Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez
Senior • 6-1, 233

Few players have experienced as pronounced of a Senior Bowl bump as Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who was the talk of the town from the first practice. If he can sustain that bump through the NFL Scouting Combine and pro day segments of the draft season he could end up here in the second round, where he was originally seen as more of a late Day 2/early Day 3 player.

With inside linebacker as the biggest need for the Bucs, they would be justified in pouncing on a playmaker of Rodriguez’s caliber. The former quarterback/offensive weapon has proven to be an excellent playmaker on defense and downright turnover machine. Since becoming a starter in 2024 Rodriguez has 10 forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered and four interceptions.

He has the size, strength and speed to work as a middle linebacker, pushing to start over SirVocea Dennis. The Bucs could also try Rodriguez as a potential replacement for Lavonte David, should David decide to retire, where his play-making ability can really shine as a hunt and chase rover.

Jacob Rodriguez’s Defensive Stats
2021: 1 tackle
2022: 29 tackles, 3 TFLs, FF
2023: 32 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBUs, INT, 2 FFs, FR
2024: 127 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 3 FFs, 2 FRs, TD
2025: 128 tackles, 11 TFLs, 1 sack, 6 PBUs, 4 INTs, 7 FFs, 2 FRs, TD

Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nirmalendu Majumdar

Rodriguez is an explosive athlete with a nose for the ball and excels working in a two-gap system where he can seek and destroy. He is a strong communicator who is comfortable in space as a coverage ‘backer. In one-on-one passing drills with running backs at the Senior Bowl, Rodriguez showed an ability to match athletes in space and a high I.Q. to read two-way go’s and not lose his coverage assignment. He also had a fantastic rep using his strength to knock a back to the ground as he tried to stem.

And Rodriguez can be a plus part of a pass rush plan stepping down onto the end of the line and winning the edge as well as blitzing through the A or B gap. With his intelligence, instincts and plenty of physicality, Rodriguez is an instant starting linebacker for Todd Bowles.

ROUND 3 – Pittsburgh ILB Kyle Louis
Junior • 6-0, 224

Remember when I said “few” players had as big of a Senior Bowl bump as Jacob Rodriguez? Well, the exception to that rule would be Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis. His performance in the one-on-one coverage matchups with running backs may have been the best a linebacker has ever put up in in Mobile. With the 2025 Bucs linebacker group one of the worst coverage units in the NFL, Tampa Bay could use better coverage skills in this area.

Louis would bring those skills in bunches as a coverage ‘backer who is comfortable in space with plenty of speed to match up with athletic backs and a mean streak to play physical with tight ends. Louis has 10 sacks in the past two years to go with his six interceptions, showing he works well going both forwards and backwards, weaponizing his speed against quarterbacks.

Double-dipping at linebacker is a strong strategy in a draft class that is seen as weaker overall, but deep at linebacker, helping the Bucs to rebuild a position group that has struggled for three consecutive years.

Kyle Louis’ Defensive Stats
2023: 19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs
2024: 101 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, 3 PBUs, 4 INTs, FF, TD
2025: 81 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 3 PBUs, 2 INTs, FF, 2 FRs

Pittsburgh ILB Kyle Louis – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Charles LeClaire

Louis’ size is a concern, as he may struggle to match the physicality required to stack and shed blockers and play successfully at the line of scrimmage. But his speed and demeanor give him a shot to beat blockers to spots and take down running backs with sound technique. At worst, he can be a rotational chess piece in dime as an overhang ‘backer who can work as a matchup against more o unique offenses in the NFL.

ROUND 4 – Western Michigan OLB Nadame Tucker
Senior • 6-3, 250

Nadame Tucker was another Senior Bowl riser, and as such, after we had Tucker in the fifth round of our initial 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft, we have moved him up a whole round here in our latest version. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Tucker is another dart throw at finding the swooper to compliment Yaya Diaby’s pocket denter role.

The Bucs have plenty of room for dart throws in their edge room, as Diaby is the only proven commodity who should have a guaranteed spot on the roster in 2026. With 2024 second-round pick Chris Braswell failing to earn playtime or producing in his limited reps, 2025 fourth-round pick David Walker coming off of a torn ACL and seventh-year veteran veteran Anthony Nelson having a hard ceiling, the Bucs need multiple edge rushers to find roles as pressure generators. Tucker fits that bill.

After failing to find playing time at Houston, Tucker blew up in 2025 at Western Michigan recording 61 pressures and finishing in the 99th percentile in pass rush win rate and 98th percentile in pressure rate. Tucker exceled in multiple facets of the game in 2025 upon transferring, posting an 85th percentile tackle-for-loss rate and 98th percentile stop rate in addition to his excellent pass rushing profile.

Nadame Tucker’s Defensive Stats
2022: 1 tackle
2023: 7 tackles, 1 TFL
2024: 2 tackles
2025: 55 tackles, 21 TFLs, 14.5 sacks, PBU, 4 FFs

He plays low to the ground and uses his leverage to anchor and power through tackles. Tucker explodes off the snap from a two-point stance like a compressed spring being released and he has the speed up the arc to create nightmares for quarterbacks who get deep into their dropback. He is always in attack mode and plays with a chip on his shoulder.

He offers the speed the Bucs have been trying to find in the late rounds and undrafted free agents over the past several years with more power than those previous players. Tucker could team up with Cashius Howell in a rotation to provide a one-two punch of every down pass rushing speed off the edge, as well as giving the Bucs a more athletic depth piece.

ROUND 5 – Boise State OL Kage Casey
Junior • 6-5, 311

The depth of the Bucs’ offensive line was extremely stressed in 2025. One injury to left tackle Tristan Wirfs and the team made several adjustments to their starting lineup to cover. Later injuries to guards Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch forced the team to look elsewhere to find solutions with practice squad players like Mike Jordan and Dan Feeney. Ultimately, pressure allowed on the interior became the kryptonite to quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense. Late in the season the team found a potential long-term backup at tackle in Ben Chukwuma, an undrafted free agent in 2025, but Tampa Bay could still use help on the interior.

Kage Casey played left tackle at Boise State and was a three-year starter there, but a lack of foot speed profiles him more as a guard at the NFL level. Still, having the experience on the outside could be something the Bucs like as they try to build greater depth along their offensive front.

Kage Casey’s Offensive Stats
2022: 5 games, 40 snaps, 0 pressures allowed
2023: 14 games, 801 snaps, 27 pressures allowed
2024: 14 games, 947 snaps, 6 pressures allowed
2025: 13 games, 942 snaps, 10 pressures allowed

Casey has strong leg drive and is a better run blocker than he is as a pass protector. When he can weaponize his natural lean as a part of a double team or on the move in wide zone, Casey can power defenders off the ball. On a linear path he can build a head of steam. The Bucs could leverage that by using him as a puller and getting him out in front on screens. And if the team keeps their gap-based scheme of the past two seasons he can work well on duo blocks.

As a pass protector if Casey can get his mitts on defenders, he has a fighter’s chance to maintain control and hold off the rush and redirect. He’s far from a finished protect, but there is enough athleticism combined with his effort and attitude for him to develop as one of Kevin Carberry’s projects.

ROUND 6 – Missouri DT Chris McClellan
Senior • 6-4, 323

With Logan Hall and Greg Gaines free agents, and Calijah Kancey’s reliability in question, the Bucs could use cheap depth along their defensive front. Chris McClellan provides a big presence with some pass rushing skills to help as a depth player. He’s been a strong run defender who can condense the pocket and set stunts to create opportunities for those around him.

McClellan, who played his first two years at Florida, has posted run stop rates north of 8% in each of the last two seasons and a PFF run defense grade 70.9 in 2024 and 75.2 in 2025. He’s not the greatest athlete in the world, but his hip fluidity and strength profile make him an intriguing Day 3 flier, as he had some good practices at the Senior Bowl.

Chris McClellan’s Defensive Stats
2022: 23 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, FR
2023: 23 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack
2024: 39 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, FF
2025: 48 tackles, 8 TFLs, 6 sacks, 2 PBUs

McClellan’s size would make him a potential backup for nose tackle Vita Vea, but he has enough bend in his hips to pair with his power profile. He can play the nose, 1-technique or kick to the three-technique spot occasionally. His strength shows up when he gets one-on-ones against centers, and if he finds an offensive lineman playing too upright he will walk them back to the quarterback’s lap.

ROUND 7 – Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek
Senior • 6-6, 240

Outside of pending free agent Cade Otton, the Bucs tight end group totaled just two catches, 17 yards and one touchdown. And the team may also lose its best blocking tight end in Ko Kieft, who is also a set to hit free agency. The NFL is moving more and more to 12 and 13 personnel, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson used two tight ends at one of the highest rates in the league last year. Finding a high-end blocking tight end who can grab a ball here and there could give the Bucs an element that their offense was missing last year.

Ohio State used tight end Will Kacmarek as a quasi-sixth offensive lineman, trusting him to base block defensive ends all on his own. They also unlocked the best version of him in the passing game, reducing his average depth of target from almost 10 yards to just over five. That helped him to the highest catch rate of his career (88%). Tampa Bay could see Kacmarek as their version of Jackson Hawes – a big blocking tight end who forces defenses to get into base personnel in an effort to unlock the deep-shot play-action passing game.

Will Kacmarek’s Offensive Stats
2022: 20 receptions for 264 yards (13.2 avg.)
2023: 22 receptions for 243 yards (11 avg.), 2 TDs
2024: 8 receptions for 86 yards (10.8 avg.)
2025: 15 receptions for 168 yards (11.2 avg.), 2 TDs

Kacmarek lacks any yards after catch skills. He concerns himself with covering the ball and getting his shoulder down to absorb contact. He boxes out defenders at the point of attack, creating clear lanes for backs to gain plenty of yards. Kamcarek’s physical profile and high effort play style should also make him a prime candidate for a special teams role in Tampa Bay like Kieft was able to carve out.