Pewter Report’s PR Roundtable
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A new Pewter Report Roundtable column on the Bucs debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough Bucs question. This week’s prompt: Who’s your Bucs draft crush – outside of Jacob Rodriguez? (Yes, we have to put that caveat in there because every Pewter Reporter loves Jacob Rodriguez)

Scott Reynolds: Akheem Mesidor Is My Favorite Pass Rusher This Year

I watched a ton of Texas Tech games this past season. I love All-American linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, and I want the Bucs to draft him. Heck, I want Tampa Bay to draft the entire Red Raiders defense because it was so good last year. The problem is that JRod is everybody’s Bucs draft crush this year, as every Pewter Reporter fell in love with his playing style when we were at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. So, the rule for this week’s PR Roundtable is to reveal another Bucs draft crush, and I’m going with Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor.

Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jerome Miron

I don’t care that he’s 25 years old, as I think he can make an instant impact in Tampa Bay because he’s a bit older and more mature physically and mentally as a result. If you’ve watched my Pewter Pulse videos this spring you know I’m a big believer in production, and nobody in this year’s draft has recorded more sacks than Mesidor, who had 35.5 in his collegiate career, including a team-high 12.5 sacks to lead the Hurricanes last year.

At 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, he’s two inches taller and nearly 20 pounds heavier than last year’s starter Haason Reddick, who was a free agent bust. Todd Bowles wants to get bigger and stouter up front, and Mesidor is no slouch against the run, either. He’s a former defensive tackle who shed 20 pounds to play edge rusher last year opposite Rueben Bain Jr. and he absolutely crushed it.

Mesidor has been tutored by Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who is Miami’s pass rush coach, and is all about ball. He has already adopted a professional mindset off the field and has a relentless motor on the field, giving maximum effort when it comes to stopping the run or even playing against the run. I think there is a pretty good chance that the Bucs come away with Mesidor, who has plenty of pass rush tools in his toolbag, in the first round. And if they do, I’ll be thrilled.

Matt Matera: R Mason Thomas To The Bucs Is A Great Fit

Bucs fans will love a player with the attitude, edge and tenacity that Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas plays with. Thomas, who is regarded as a second-round pick, has an explosive first step and is relentless getting after the quarterback. The way he takes pass rush angles is often used to his advantage. While undersized at 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, he keeps a low pad level as a result, and that helps him win his matchups against offensive tackles.

Tampa Bay could use Thomas’ mentality of Thomas more than his stature. Talking with him at the NFL Scouting Combine, Thomas has a relentless nature to his game. One sack isn’t enough for him – and neither is two. With the Bucs looking for a new, nasty attitude on defense, Thomas can bring it.

Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Kevin Jairaj

Thomas also has the speed to run the arc and get to the quarterback. The Bucs need a different style of player at outside linebacker to compliment Yaya Diaby’s power game. Overall Tampa Bay has to have a player that brings quickness on the outside to speed up the offensive tackle, quarterback and the passing play. Thomas can do this and bring more sacks to the table this season in Tampa Bay.

Adam Slivon: Gabe Jacas Can Make An Immediate Impact As A Pass Rusher

It is hard to go wrong with either pass rusher mentioned above. There is a lot to like about Akheem Mesidor and R Mason Thomas, but I will pivot and mention another edge rusher who caught my eye at the 2026 Senior Bowl – Illinois’ Gabe Jacas. Jacas, like Thomas, is considered a second-round prospect. In the event the Bucs draft another position at No. 15, the Fighting Illini product would bring a lot of juice.

Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Ron Johnson

Turning 22 years old next month, age is on Jacas’ side to continue developing his pass rushing arsenal. He has a high ceiling and rapidly developed throughout his time in college. In 2025, he topped out at 11 sacks and 12 games and went on a torrid finish to end the season.

At 6-foot-4 and 269 pounds, Jacas fits the mold of a bigger, more physical pass rusher who would ideally set the edge opposite Yaya Diaby. Having the chance to speak with him in Mobile, Alabama, I came away impressed with his maturity and self-scouting report about his biggest strengths and weaknesses.

“I got good speed, good power,” Jacas said. “I’m able to utilize my speed and power, I have really good hands. Very violent in the run game. Physical against tight ends, physical against tackles. I’m able to rush the passer very well. I think I’ve shown that week in and week out. Couple weaknesses, I would say to be consistent in my rushes. Creating more takeaways, creating more havoc plays. That’s just the name of the game.”

The Port St. Lucie, Florida native mentioned that he wants the Bucs to come and get him, and I would be on board with him being a Day 2 pick.

Bailey Adams: There’s Another Texas Tech Defender I Really Like

While the Bucs have more pressing needs at the inside and outside linebacker positions, we’ve also spent some time discussing defensive tackle as a more underrated need for Tampa Bay over the last couple of months. And that’s where one of my big draft crushes is. That’s former UCF standout-turned-Texas Tech star Lee Hunter.

The Bucs do have Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, and they did add A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches this offseason. There’s also 2025 draft pick Elijah Roberts, who showed some flashes as a rookie. But I don’t think Tampa Bay can – or will – ignore the defensive tackle position in this draft given the age and contract statuses of Vea, Robinson and Nunez-Roches as well as the injury concerns with Kancey.

That’s where my interest in Lee Hunter comes in. Tampa Bay could start the early stages of a youth movement in the defensive tackle room by adding the 6-foot-4, 320-pounder. After totaling 21.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and 55 pressures over three seasons at UCF, Hunter finished his career at Texas Tech in 2025 with his best-graded season, which included 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 26 pressures.

Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Ben Queen

Hunter is exceptionally strong against the run and has very good instincts as a run defender. He could stand to develop his pass rush ability a bit more, but his quickness and fluidity is very good for his size. Does that sound familiar at all?

I’m not saying Lee Hunter is Vita Vea or could have the same kind of career as Vea has put together for the Bucs, as Vea has become one of the top interior defensive linemen in franchise history. But there are some similarities between the two as prospects, and perhaps the best is still yet to come for Hunter as a pass rusher. The Bucs are clearly intrigued given their formal meeting with him at the NFL Combine and the fact that they had him in for a visit last week. And I’m intrigued, too.

Josh Queipo: Keyshaun Elliott Is A Late Round Gem

This linebacker class is being heralded as a great one. The hope is that the Bucs can take advantage of that in the early rounds and find someone to pair with Alex Anzalone and push both Christian Rozeboom and SirVocea Dennis to the bench. There is also the chance Tampa Bay could double up at inside linebacker. Both Rozeboom and Dennis are under contract for just 2026 and Anzalone is only under team control through 2027 – not to mention he’s over 30.

Arizona State ILB Keyshaun Elliott – Photo by IMAGN Images – Mark J. Rebilas

Boy do I hope they double up with a late-round selection, and I’d be pounding the table for that guy to be Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott. He’s everything you want in a box linebacker. Strong, instinctual and he loves to bring the hammer. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. He’s everything I want Missouri’s Josiah Trotter to be, he’s just more consistent at it.

You want your linebackers to be able to do that as the price of entry to get on the field at the NFL level. Then you need them to contribute to the passing game in one of two ways. Either they show plus coverage skills, or they can get after the passer. Elliott can do the latter. He had seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2025 and was at his best going forward as a wrecking ball. And while he’s not a plus in coverage due to average athleticism, he’s one of the smarter backers in this class and at least knows where to be.

To me he’s one of those unicorns who will be available on Day 3 but can probably start on day one. Go get him, Jason Licht. Here’s a more detailed write-up I did on Elliott last month.