The Bucs continued to build up their defense on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Clemson defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart in the fifth round at pick No. 155.

Capehart is a 6-foot-5, 313-pound tackle with some impressive traits. He ran a 4.85 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which is remarkable given his size. He uses that speed in his get-off, firing off the ball and engaging blockers with his long arms and significant power. He has violent hands and plays with a lot of physicality, and his massive wingspan helps him plug up running lanes with regularity.

Capehart does lose his gap integrity from time to time and lacks reliable secondary moves as a pass rusher. He didn’t play a significant share of snaps for the Tigers, which is part of the reason why his college production was pretty modest.

Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Ken Ruinard

Capehart was at Clemson for six years, and he totaled just 34 pressures, 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble over 57 games (12 starts) for the Tigers.

Capehart also ran into some off-field issues during his Clemson career. He was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and failure to exercise care while operating a motor vehicle in February of 2024, though the charges were eventually expunged after he completed a pretrial intervention program.

Despite the off-field incident, Capehart was known as a reserved and well-respected guy within the locker room. The Bucs clearly felt confident in the person as well as the player after their background work and conversations with the soon-to-be 24-year-old.

“DeMonte Capehart is just a freak of a big man,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s got rare ability for a guy his size to be able to manipulate other people against their will. I mean, he’s really gifted, especially when it comes to stopping the run. He’s way more athletic than you think. He’s still a maturing football player; I think his best football is ahead of him.

“They are getting someone who I think is a first-round talent. I’ve had a lot of first-round defensive linemen, and I think he’s a first-round talent even though he didn’t go in the first round. I’m really excited for him. I’m proud of him. He’s a very loyal kid. He’s grown and matured. He’s a great teammate, and I think he’s got a chance to play a long time.”

Tampa Bay met informally with him at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and brought him in for an official 30 visit during the pre-draft process. That’s part of the reason why Pewter Report had him as a Bucs Best Bet at defensive tackle for rounds 4-7.

Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Kirby Lee

Here’s what Scott Reynolds wrote about Capehart last week:

“The Bucs have a penchant for drafting athletic defensive linemen with high RAS scores (relative athletic scores), and Capehart had a 9.97 score out of a possible 10. At 6-foot-3, 313 pounds, Capehart has big, strong hands capable of knocking back offensive linemen, and ran an eye-opening 4.85 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, including a 1.72 time in the 10-yard split. While a great athlete for his size, Capehart didn’t always play up to his potential at Clemson, which is why he’s likely a Day 3 pick.

“Capehart, who had an official 30 visit with Tampa Bay, started the last three of his six seasons with the Tigers, but never totaled more than 21 tackles, playing next to defensive tackle Peter Woods and defensive end T.J. Parker. With just three career sacks, Capehart brings little pass rush to the table. Yet against the run he is quite capable of doing some real damage by shutting down running lanes and blowing up offensive linemen at the point of attack to disrupt zone runs. Should the Bucs draft him on Day 3, Capehart would be capable of playing nose tackle or the 4i/5-technique positions in Todd Bowles’ defense.”

Capehart is the ninth Clemson player to be drafted by the Bucs in their history and the first since Da’Quan Bowers in 2011. He is the lone former Tiger on the Tampa Bay roster right now.

In DeMonte Capehart, Bucs Add An Intriguing Piece To Their D-Line Rotation

Interior defensive line was potentially an underrated need for the Bucs coming into the draft, but they opted to spend their first three picks on edge rusher, inside linebacker and wide receiver, respectively. But Jason Licht wasn’t going to let the weekend end without adding another young lineman to the mix.

Ultimately, Licht and Tampa Bay opted to select DeMonte Capehart in the fifth round, and the former Clemson standout will now compete to fill out the room. Not to mention, with his extraordinary wingspan, he can also provide value on special teams, particularly on the field goal block team.

Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Ken Ruinard

The Bucs have two high-end starters in Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, plus they upgraded this offseason in swapping out Logan Hall for the bigger, nastier A’Shawn Robinson.

Further down the depth chart, Tampa Bay has Elijah Roberts, who showed promise as a fifth-round pick out of SMU a year ago.

The Bucs also brought back Rakeem Nunez-Roches this offseason, plus the team is high on Jayson Jones. So now, Capehart will presumably compete with Nunez-Roches and Jones for a depth role in 2026.

If the rookie can develop and eventually outperform his draft position, it could be a major help for Tampa Bay in the longer term. Vea, a two-time Pro Bowler, is 31 years old and in a contract year. Robinson is also 31 and on a one-year deal, while Kancey has had a hard time staying on the field over the first three years of his career and isn’t yet a lock to re-sign long-term, though the Bucs are expected to pick up his fifth-year option for 2027.

There’s some uncertainty on the Buccaneer defensive line beyond 2026, and while the team will likely need to consider spending a premium pick on the position in the 2027 Draft, the addition of Capehart does give them another intriguing young player who could figure into plans for the future in time.