As the Tampa Bay Bucs continue with their pre-draft preparation, the team will now be hosting players for Top 30 visits in late March and early April. These visits allow Tampa Bay to bring in players for private meetings at the team facility so the Bucs’ brass can get a better idea of who the draft prospect is in a less time-crunched setting than the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine. Teams are allowed to schedule 30 of these visits.

Players who live or played college ball within 50 miles of the team facility do not count against these 30 visits. This bodes well for the Bucs because Florida is a prep football mecca and have Florida, UCF and USF within that range, allowing them to bring in a plethora of players without reducing their Top 30 number.

Teams use these visits for various reasons, and these visits can be used as a smokescreen to make other teams think they are high on a player. Just because a player is not hosted does not mean a team is not high on them. Last year the Bucs spent a first-round pick on defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and didn’t even bring him in for a Top 30 visit, which was a smokescreen of a different kind.

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

Teams like the Bucs can also use Top 30 visits to get to know a less-heralded prospect who is projected to go late in the draft, or establish a rapport with a potential undrafted free agent that could aid the team when it comes to recruiting that player following the draft.

One of the most critical components of these visits is the fact teams can use their own doctors to look into medical questions they may have about a player. This gives the team additional context on how comfortable they may be with actually selecting the player in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

Tampa Bay has also been using Zoom meetings to meet with NFL Draft prospects instead of just using Top 30 visits to get to know potential Buccaneers.

Here is a list of players who have reportedly visited the team on a Top 30 visit or have a Top 30 visit scheduled with Tampa Bay.

Bucs 2024 Top 30 Visits

Running Back

NEW Texas RB Jonathan Brooks – NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Tampa Bay is hosting Brooks for a Top 30 visit. Brooks, who is viewed by some as the top running back in the 2024 class, tore his ACL last fall and is awaiting a recheck of his medicals at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Wide Receiver

Florida State WR Keon Coleman – Photo by: USA Today

Florida State WR Keon Coleman – ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports that Coleman, a potential option for the Bucs at No. 26, will visit Tampa Bay. The Bucs also met with Coleman formally at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley – CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards reports that Corley, the top yards-after-catch receiver in all of college football last season, will visit the Bucs (and seven other teams) in April.

Tight End

Illinois TE Tip Reiman – Draft Network’s Justin Melo reports that Reiman, who ran a 4.64 at the NFL Scouting Combine and is viewed as a Day 3 pick, will visit Tampa Bay.

Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott – ML Football reports that Sinnott, who is moving up draft boards and had an informal meeting Tampa Bay at the NFL Scouting Combine, will visit the Bucs.

Offensive Line

Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler reported that the top center prospect in the NFL Draft had a Top 30 visit in Tampa Bay.

***NEW Wisconsin C Tanor Bortolini – Ryan Roberts reports that Bortolini had a Top 30 visit with Tampa Bay, making him the second center that the Bucs have had in for a meeting.

Outside Linebacker

Western Michigan EDGE Marshawn Kneeland – Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler reports that Kneeland, whom the Bucs met with formally at the NFL Scouting Combine, will visit Tampa Bay.

***NEW Florida State EDGE Jared Verse – NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Bucs hosted Verse, a mid-first-round pick, on a Top 30 visit.

Defensive Tackle

Texas DT Byron Murphy II – Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler reports that Murphy, who is a first-round caliber defensive tackle, has a Top 30 visit with the Bucs.

***NEW Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro – Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler reports that Orhorhoro, who is a Day 2 selection, has a Top 30 visit with the Bucs. Orhorhoro also had a formal interview with Tampa Bay at the Combine.

Inside Linebacker

Kentucky ILB Trevin Wallace – Photo by: USA Today

Texas A&M ILB Edgerrin Cooper – Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler reports that Cooper, who met with Tampa Bay informally at the NFL Scouting Combine, will visit the Bucs.

Kentucky ILB Trevin Wallace – ML Football reports that Wallace, who did not meet with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine, but played with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen at Kentucky, will visit Tampa Bay.

Clemson ILB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. – Aaron Wilson reports that the Bucs will be bringing in Clemson inside linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., son of the former Eagles linebacker, for a Top 30 visit.

Cornerback

Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report has the news that McKinstry, one of Alabama’s top cornerbacks, is meeting with the Bucs on a Top 30 visit.

Michigan CB Mike Sainristil – Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reports that the Bucs had a Top 30 visit with the Wolverines nickelback, who played primarily in the slot.

Safety

Air Force S Trey Taylor – Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reports that the Air Force safety/nickelback scheduled a visit with Tampa Bay on a Top 30 visit.

***NEW Georgia S Tykee Smith – NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Georgia safety/nickelback visited the Bucs. Smith had a formal interview with Tampa Bay at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Additional Visit Notes

• Arizona edge rusher Taylor Upshaw, the son of former Bucs first-round pick Regan Upshaw, is from Bradenton and will attend the Bucs’ local pro day, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. Upshaw had 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss last year with Arizona after spending four years at Michigan where he notched five sacks in his Wolverines career.

• UTEP inside linebacker Tyrice Knight will visit the Bucs when he attends the team’s local pro day in April, according to TDN’s Justin Melo. Knight had a great showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash.

• UCF guard Lokahi Pauole will take part in the Bucs’ local pro day in April, according to Matt Lombardo. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder has good size and quick feet in pass protection.

• UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee attended the Bucs’ local day on April 11, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.

• Central Michigan defensive tackle Jacques Bristol attended the Bucs’ local pro day on April 11, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. Bristol hails from Sarasota.

Bucs 2024 Combine Visit Tracker

Pewter Report has a comprehensive list of most of the draft prospects that Tampa Bay interviewed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis – either formally or informally. The list can be found on PewterReport.com by clicking here.