The Bucs were active on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, trading away starting cornerback Carlton Davis III, adding cornerbacks Bryce Hall and Tavierre Thomas and signing strong safety Jordan Whitehead. Yet Tampa Bay still has needs on defense heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. Finding a starting-caliber outside linebacker to replace Shaq Barrett and adding more depth in the secondary, defensive line and at inside linebacker could be on the to-do list later this month.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht nearly had an all-defensive draft in 2019, selecting five defensive players in a row before selecting kicker Matt Gay in the fifth round and wide receiver Scotty Miller in the sixth round and ending that draft with defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. After doing an All-Offense Mock Draft for the Bucs on Monday, let’s examine what an all-defensive mock draft would look like for head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles in 2024.

Pewter Report takes a stab at it, doubling up at cornerback and outside linebacker to bolster the secondary and the pass rush, while also adding depth at defensive tackle, safety and inside linebacker.

The Bucs certainly have some glaring needs on offense, especially at left guard and needing an upgrade at center. Tampa Bay has secondary needs at wide receiver, running back and tight end where depth could be added and improved. Pewter Report is not condoning an entire draft of defensive players – merely just showcasing what it could – or would – look like.

Bucs All-Defense Mock Draft

Round 1 – Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers

There is a chance that Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse and UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu are off the board by the time Tampa Bay selects in the first round. So in an all-defense mock draft, the Bucs turn to Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the No. 26 overall selection. Wiggins is very athletic and would provide depth in 2024 while he adds weight and muscle and eventually supplants the oft-injured Jamel Dean as a starter in 2025.

Wiggins’ length, ridiculous 4.28 speed and coverage ability would make him a Top 10 cornerback if not for his slender, 173-pound frame. But Todd Bowles prefers taller, longer cornerbacks and at 6-foot-1, Wiggins has decent height and a knack for breaking up passes. He recorded 21 career pass breakups as a two-year starter for the Tigers.

Wiggins only recorded three interceptions, but two came against North Carolina’s Drake Maye, including a 98-yard pick-six in 2022 in the ACC Championship Game. He also had a 46-yard pick-six against Florida Atlantic in 2023. Wiggins is a very competitive cornerback and had one of the most memorable defensive plays last year when he tracked North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton down at the goal line after a 64-yard run to force a fumble and prevent a touchdown. Wiggins was one of four cornerbacks to formally interview with Tampa Bay at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Round 2 – Western Kentucky OLB Marshawn Kneeland

Tampa Bay finally addresses outside linebacker in the second round with Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland. At 6-foot-3, 267 pounds, Kneeland is a slightly undersized, yet faster version of Cameron Jordan. With impressive physicality and an aggressive mindset, Kneeland would pair well playing opposite YaYa Diaby in Tampa Bay.

While Kneeland’s 12 career sacks, which include 4.5 sacks in 2021 and 2023 are cause for concern as a pass rusher, Jordan had only 16 career sacks at Cal from 2007-2010, including a career-high six in 2009. Yet the eight-time Pro Bowler has had six seasons with double-digit sacks in his 13-year New Orleans career.

Kneeland is coming off impressive performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash and tested well athletically. The Bucs like athletic edge rushers such as Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and Kneeland is another one for Todd Bowles defense. Tampa Bay met with Kneeland formally at the Combine and will have him in for a Top 30 visit in April.

Round 3 – Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro

The Bucs go back to Clemson in the third round to bolster the defensive tackle position with Ruke Orhorhoro. Vita Vea turned 29 in February and Logan Hall has underwhelmed as the Bucs’ first pick in 2022. Despite drafting Calijah Kancey in the first round last year, adding another defensive tackle to the mix early in the 2024 draft makes a lot of sense. Especially considering that Will Gholston is 32 and is likely done in the NFL.

Orhorhoro was a three-year starter for the Tigers and posted a career-high five sacks in 2023 after notching four the previous season. With quickness and strong hands, Orhorhoro has notched eight tackles for loss in each of the last three seasons at Clemson and lives in the backfield.

His 4.89 time in the 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4, 294 pounds speaks to Orhorhoro’s athleticism. In fact, Orhorhoro is the 17th-most athletic defensive tackle prospect in the draft since 1987, which is better than the RAS scores turned in by both Hall and Kancey. Orhorhoro would challenge Hall for playing time immediately and can play all three downs with his stoutness in run defense and pass rushing ability. He had a formal interview with Tampa Bay during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Round 3 – Georgia SS Tykee Smith

The Bucs address the safety and nickel position with their second pick in the third round by drafting Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles knows the Bulldogs program quite well given that his son, Troy, is a sophomore linebacker in Kirby Smart’s defense. The Bucs met with Smith formally at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Smith has impressive 4.46 speed, but is not the best athlete. Instead, he’s an instinctive, physical, hard-nosed football player. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he began his college career at West Virginia, where he started two years before transferring to Georgia where he won back-to-back national championships and lost just two games in three seasons.

Smith is a ballhawk, evidenced by his eight interceptions in college, including four his senior season. He also notched 212 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown between West Virginia and Georgia. The Bucs need more takeaways on defense and interceptions in the secondary. Smith could contend for the starting nickelback job and offer immediate depth at strong safety as a rookie.

Round 4 – Colorado State OLB Mo Kamara

Despite drafting Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland in the second round, the Bucs come back and select another edge rusher in the fourth round in Mo Kamara. Tampa Bay had luck with one undersized outside linebacker from Colorado State in Shaq Barrett, so why not add another one? The 6-foot-1, 248-pound Kamara is almost identical to Barrett in size, and ran a 4,57 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Kamara is a pass-rushing terror, notching 29.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss in five seasons with the Rams. He had 21.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including a career-high 13 last year. While Kneeland brings size and physicality to Todd Bowles’ defense, Kamara brings speed, quickness and sack production.

With Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson both in the final year of their contracts, and Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez unproven, the Bucs double up at outside linebacker given the importance of the position in Bowles’ defense. Not only would Kamara fight for a roster spot as a rookie, he could very well fight for playing time, too. Kamara had an informal interview with Tampa Bay in Indianapolis.

Round 6 – Tulane CB Jarius Monroe

As the Bucs have found out too many times over the years with the oft-injured Sean Murphy-Bunting, Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean, Todd Bowles can never have enough good cornerbacks. Despite drafting Clemson’s Nate Wiggins in the first round, the Bucs come back and grab another cornerback on Day 3 in Tulane’s Jarius Monroe.

Monroe is a long, athletic, 6-foot-1, 204-pound cornerback who is highly competitive and a vocal leader. He starred in the East-West Shrine Bowl where he was named the Defensive MVP after notching a fourth quarter interception in the game. He needs to cut down on penalties, but his ball skills make him an intriguing Day 3 pick for Tampa Bay.

After recording several interceptions at Nicholls State, Monroe transferred to Tulane where he helped turn the Green Wave into a Top 20 program. He notched three interceptions in each of his two seasons in New Orleans and broke up 18 passes. Monroe could contribute on special teams while he develops and could eventually be a No. 3 cornerback on the Bucs defense.

Round 7 – Washington ILB Edefuan Ulofoshio

The Bucs end the draft by addressing the inside linebacker spot with the selection of Washington’s Edefuan Ulofoshio. Todd Bowles places an emphasis on speed and athleticism at the linebacker position, and Ulofoshio was one of the more athletic linebackers at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran a 4.56 and posted a 39.5-inch vertical along with a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump.

On the field, the 6-foot, 236-pound Ulofoshio played six seasons at Washington, including a COVID year, and recorded 251 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight pass breakups, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. His best season came as a senior when he helped the Huskies reach the national championship game, notching 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles a forced fumble and a pick-six.

The Bucs have a history of drafting Washington defenders, including Vita Vea, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and signing defensive tackle Greg Gaines. Adding another athletic Huskies defender like Ulofoshio not only adds competition to the inside linebacker mix that already includes K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell and SirVocea Dennis, but also aids Tampa Bay’s special teams.