Last week was one of the busier weeks in the offseason with the NFL Combine in full swing. All 32 teams had scouts and front-office executives in Indianapolis looking to gather more information on the 2024 NFL Draft class, one of which being the Bucs.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and assistant GMs John Spytek and Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Teams like Tampa Bay now have a better idea of how to approach draft day, which is now less than two months away. Free agency will still be a large determining factor in addressing which positions to target, although they made some major headway by re-signing wide receiver Mike Evans to a two-year deal.

Next on the agenda will be re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield and free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. if he is not franchise-tagged, and both could be done by the end of this week.

If each move is made, it solidifies that two of the biggest team needs are the interior offensive line and edge rusher. The offensive line will be looking to replace the Aaron Stinnie/Matt Feiler combination as both are pending free agents. While Robert Hainsey has held down the center position for two years and will be getting a pay bump, a few high-end prospects could serve as a big long-term upgrade.

Finding a talented edge rusher will be a more difficult task as many of the top pass rushers could be gone by the time the Bucs are on the clock in the first round. It will be an area the team will need to add young talent to, especially after recently releasing outside linebacker Shaq Barrett. With this all in focus, PewterReport.com looks at the latest mock drafts and what they have in store.

ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson

After recently releasing Shaquil Barrett, the Bucs are now in need of young pass-rushers. Rookie YaYa Diaby was the only Tampa Bay edge rusher with more than five sacks last season. Robinson ran a blazing 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at 6-3 and 254 pounds, and that type of get-off speed and explosiveness shows up frequently on his tape. But he has traditionally been a pressures-over-sacks prospect, as he finished with four sacks but an 18% pressure rate (fourth-best in the FBS) last season. Robinson will likely be a situational pass-rusher early in his career, but he has the potential to develop into a larger role.

No. 57 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Oregon WR Troy Franklin

The Buccaneers re-signed Mike Evans on Monday, but they still need youth in that position group. Franklin is explosive and serves as a true “best player available” approach here.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

With Mike Evans agreeing to re-up, there is no longer a pressing need at wideout, so the Bucs can focus their attention on cornerback, selecting the technician from Alabama in this simulation.

The 33rd Team’s Marcus Mosher

Duke OL Graham Barton – Photo by: USA Today

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Duke OL Graham Barton

One of the NFL’s worst-kept secrets is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to upgrade the interior of their offensive line.

Graham Barton is arguably the best interior offensive line prospect in this class despite spending most of his career at left tackle. Barton could be a Day 1 starter at center for Tampa Bay.

No. 57 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell

Tankathon.com

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Duke OL Graham Barton

No. 57 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa

No. 89 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama WR Jermaine Burton

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Duke OL Graham Barton

With Mike Evans agreeing on Monday to a new contract to stay with the team, Tampa Bay’s focus shifts here to bolstering the offensive line. Barton played tackle at Duke but has the skill set, feet, and strength to man any of the interior spots. Whether he lands at center or guard, the former Blue Devils standout gives the team a much-needed boost up front and will help whoever ends up playing quarterback for the team in 2024.

Barstool Sports’ Steven Cheah

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson

Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have been meeting with a lot of Offensive Linemen, especially Interior Offensive Linemen. Looking at their line, they are pretty set at Left Tackle (Tristan Wirfs), Right Tackle (Luke Goedeke), and Right Guard (Cody Mauch). But Robert Hainsey hasn’t been as steady as they’d hoped for at Center and Left Guard is a question mark with Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie both being only adequate starters.

With JPJ, they’d get position flexibility with a guy who could play both Center or Guard. He’s only a one year starter, but it was a helluva year and he should be a Day 1 pick. The Bucs make sense here.

Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse

Shaq Barrett was let go, while Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has been a disappointment. Here’s a young end to go with YaYa Diaby. Verse recorded 41 tackles, nine sacks and two passes batted in 2023. He had a great start to open 2022, showing pass-rush ability and speed around the corner in a dominant performance versus LSU while recording three sacks and seven tackles. In 2022, Verse totaled 47 tackles and nine sacks. He displayed functional strength, athleticism, and a steady drive. In 2021 playing for Albany, Verse recorded 10 tackles for a loss, four sacks and 22 tackles. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has a good motor and upside.

No. 57 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Kansas State G Cooper Beebe

Kansas State G Cooper Beebe – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay adds some interior offensive line talent.

Beebe (6-4, 322) played some snaps at tackle, but mostly was at guard for the Wildcats. The latter is his best fit for the NFL. Team sources said they liked Beebe’s 2022 tape more than what they saw in 2023. They shared they felt Beebe lost some intensity in his play. He is limited athletically and faces some issues with speed and quickness. However, he has power and can be productive in the ground game. Beebe looks like a future NFL starter.

No. 89 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Notre Dame LB Marist Liufau

The Bucs take some linebacker depth.

The 6-foot-2, 239-pound Liufau impressed team sources in 2023, recording 44 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. As a first-year starter in 2022, he collected 51 tackles, an interception, .5 sacks and a pass defended. Liufau missed the 2021 season with an injury. Pro evaluators said they love how Liufau is extremely fast and athletic. They labelled his instincts as good but not great, but noted he is very violent and can play stacked or rush the quarterback. They shared they feel Liufau is a different kind of player with an exceptional skill set. He has three-down starter ability and upside for the NFL.

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling

No. 26 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Duke OL Graham Barton

The Bucs need upgrades at both left guard and center, so why not spend their top pick on a guy who can play either position?

Barton can actually line up anywhere on the offensive line, and though the majority of his experience is at tackle, his best fit at the next level will be inside. Whether he ends up at center or guard, he would be an ideal fit for Tampa Bay, and it’s unlikely he’d make it to their second-round pick.

No. 57 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Minnesota S Tyler Nubin

Minnesota S Tyler Nubin – Photo by: USA Today

The last time the Bucs spent a second-round pick on a Golden Gopher safety, it worked out pretty well.

It’s unfair to assume that Nubin will follow in Antoine Winfield Jr.’s footsteps as a first-team All-Pro, but he’s got the same versatility and playmaking instincts that have made Winfield arguably the best safety in the game right now. Nubin is an absolute ballhawk in coverage, and brings just as much value in the box as a run defender.

No. 89 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Penn State EDGE Adisa Isaac

As expected, the Bucs are moving on from veteran Shaq Barrett this offseason, and they’ve already declined the fifth-year option for 2021 first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

That leaves them in search of a long-term solution opposite rookie sensation YaYa Diaby at outside linebacker, and an early pick should be spent in that direction. Isaac played in the shadow of Chop Robinson in Happy Valley, but he’s a talented edge defender in his own right, and has the skill set to be a fantastic fit in Todd Bowles’ defense.

No. 126 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Kentucky LB Trevin Wallace

No. 203 – Tampa Bay Bucs: South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis

No. 244 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Tulane CB Jarius Monroe

No. 255 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Idaho WR Hayden Hatten