The Bucs made Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton the team’s first-round pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

What do general manager Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles and Tampa Bay’s scouts have in store for Day 2? Which players will the Bucs be targeting in the second and third rounds? Let’s do some forecasting.

Entering Day 2, Tampa Bay has three draft selections coming up.

Bucs Remaining Draft Picks – Day 2
Round 2: No. 57 overall
Round 3: No. 89 overall
Round 3: No. 92 overall (from Lions)

Bucs Remaining Draft Picks – Day 3
Round 4: No. 125 overall
Round 6: No. 220 overall (compensatory pick)
Round 7: No. 246 overall

Bucs Day 2 Draft Targets

As I wrote about in Thursday’s SR’s Latest Bucs Draft Scoop insider column, defensive tackle is viewed as a pressing need – perhaps just as much as outside linebacker, although that may come as a surprise for some Bucs fans to hear. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of Tampa Bay’s top positions of need and some of the potential targets for the team on Day 2.

Defensive Tackle

Clemson DT Ruke Ohorhoro – Photo by: USA Today

There are still some real quality defensive tackles available who carry second-round grades. Illinois’ Johnny Newton figures to be long gone by No. 57, but Florida State’s Braden Fiske, Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro and Michigan’s Kris Jenkins could all be options. All three were formal interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine and Orhorhoro was also in for a Top 30 visit. Orhorhoro is a Bucs Best Bet. The Bucs are seeking an upgrade over Logan Hall as a rotational starter with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey to prevent a drop off in play when Vea or Kancey isn’t in the game.

Outside Linebacker

This is not a particularly good class of edge rushers, and five have already come off the board – UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse, Penn State’s Chop Robinson and Missouri’s Darius Robinson. The Bucs were not fans of either Robinson. So who’s left worth drafting on Day 2? Penn State’s Adisa Isaac had a formal interview with Tampa Bay at the NFL Scouting Combine and could be an option in the second round, in addition to Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland, who also had a formal interview and was in for a Top 30 visit.

Alabama’s Chris Braswell could also draw consideration in the second round. Colorado State’s Mo Kamara could be a third-round option, although he might be better suited to be a fourth-round pick. Kneeland and Kamara are Bucs Best Bets.

Secondary

The Bucs added several new players in the secondary during free agency, including starting strong safety Jordan Whitehead, outside cornerback Bryce Hall and slot cornerback Tavierre Thomas. But Todd Bowles’ defensive backfield could always use more talent and depth. If Michigan nickelback Mike Sainristil is still on the board at No. 57, he could be a Bucs target. Sainristil was in for a Top 30 visit and has Ronde Barber-esque instincts and ability in the slot. The Bucs also had a formal interview with Georgia safety Tykee Smith in Indy and had him in for a Top 30 visit. Both Sainristil and Smith are Bucs Best Bets.

Wide Receiver

Florida State WR Keon Coleman – Photo by: USA Today

This is a wide receiver-rich draft class and there are a ton of talented wideouts who could come off the board on Day 2. The Bucs have two studs in 1,000-yard receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. But in Liam Coen’s offense, the team will be using far more three receiver sets rather than two tight end sets, so WR3 is essentially a starter. Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley and Florida State’s Keon Coleman were both in Tampa Bay for Top 30 visits. Corley would be a dynamic fit in the slot. The Bucs also had a formal interview with Coleman, who is a Bucs Best Bet, in Indy.

Washington has a pair of receivers who are also in consideration with Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillen, both of whom were formal interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine. New Bucs receivers coach Bryan McClendon coached Oregon’s Troy Franklin and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey in college, and both could be good fits, in addition to Virgina’s Malik Washington, who is also a Bucs Best Bet.

Interior Offensive Line

Despite signing Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson in free agency and drafting Duke’s Graham Barton in the first round, the Bucs could still bolster the interior of their offensive line on Day 2. UConn guard Christian Hayes and Boston College’s Christian Mahogany could be options at left guard in the second or third round, in addition to Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe. If Jason Licht wants to keep finding small school gems, South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick could also be in play for left guard.

Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson is still available to open the second round, but it’s doubtful he’ll be around when the Bucs pick at No. 57. Kansas’ Dominick Puni could be targeted on Day 2 to play either guard or center, while Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini could be a center option that causes Barton to perhaps move to left guard. Powers-Johnson, Mahogany, Puni and Bortolini are all Bucs Best Bets.

Inside Linebacker

Kentucky ILB Trevin Wallace – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs could roll with Lavonte David, K.J. Britt, SirVocea Dennis and J.J. Russell at inside linebacker this year, or the team could draft a true replacement for Devin White this year with an eye toward replacing the 34-year old David in the near future. Tampa Bay brought in three inside linebackers for Top 30 visits in Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper, Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace and Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. The Bucs also interviewed Michigan’s Junior Colson formally in Indy along with North Carolina’s Cedric Gray. Wallace and Gray are Pewter Report’s Bucs Best Bets.

Running Back

If the Bucs wanted to increase the talent of the running back room and find a better complement to Rachaad White, there could be a couple of options on Day 2 for Tampa Bay – likely in the third round, though. USC’s MarShawn Lloyd was a formal interview at the Combine and the Bucs brought in Texas’ Jonathan Brooks, who is coming off a torn ACL, for a Top 30 visit. Lloyd is a Bucs Best Bet.

Tight End

Should Tampa Bay want to upgrade the talent at tight end, there are a couple of options available on Day 2. Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott was in for a Top 30 visit and gives off some Sam LaPorta vibes. The Bucs also had a formal interview with Florida State’s Jaheim Bell and Ohio State’s Cade Stover in Indy.

Other Bucs Draft Scoop

• If you are wondering why the Bucs drafted Duke’s Graham Barton over Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, I detail all of that in Friday’s Inside The Drafting Of Graham Barton insider column. So be sure to check that out. It turns it wasn’t even close. Barton is closer to being Ali Marpet 2.0 than Powers-Johnson is to being Jensen 2.0.

• Would Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson have been the Bucs’ pick at No. 26 if Graham Barton had already been off the board and drafted by another team? Nope. Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton is believed to have been Tampa Bay’s selection at No. 26 instead. That’s something I wrote about before the draft in my SR’s Latest Bucs Draft Scoop column on Thursday.

Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson – Photo by: USA Today

• If you noticed that Pewter Report barely even mentioned Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson in its four-month lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, you were quite observant. Looking at Robinson’s scant production despite tons of speed and athleticism, I‘be said many times that he looks like Joe Tryon-Shoyinka 2.0. The Bucs also viewed Robinson the same way. Jason Licht wasn’t going to get fooled again.

Robinson notched just 15 tackles in 12 games last year – FIFTEEN! – and had just four sacks. Five of those tackles and one sack came against Rutgers, and two of his other sacks came against UMass. Robinson didn’t record a single tackle in two of Penn State’s biggest games of the year versus Ohio State and Michigan.

Robinson, who was drafted by Miami at No. 21, lacks pass rushing instincts. That was evident on tape and he was not going to be considered at No. 26 by Tampa Bay. The Nittany Lions edge rusher was out-produced by fellow Penn State edge rusher Adisa Isaac, whom the Bucs like even better. Isaac could be targeted by the Bucs in the second round.

• The Bucs war room was in absolute shock over the Falcons’ selection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, especially after Atlanta signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a massive contract this offseason. There were some rumblings that the Falcons were high on Penix a few days before the draft, but it was initially thought of as pre-draft smoke.

It turned out not to be smoke, and now it begs the question for the Raheem Morris-led Falcons: “Can Michael Penix Jr. rush the passer?”

Because Atlanta turned down the chance to draft the first defensive end or defensive tackle to improve its pass rush, which desperately needs help, to draft a 24-year old quarterback who will likely be sitting on the bench behind Cousins for the next two years at least – barring an injury to the Falcons’ starter.

Pewter Report’s Remaining Bucs Best Bets

Bucs OL Graham Barton – Photo courtesy of Duke

With the first round completed and the Bucs and the rest of the league ready for Day 2 of the NFL Draft, only two of Pewter Report’s Bucs Best Bets are off the board so far.

Pewter Report nailed the selection of Duke’s Graham Barton, a Bucs Best Bet, and it will be interesting to see if he winds up at center replacing Robert Hainsey or becoming the team’s starting left guard and filling that gaping hole along the offensive line.

Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton was drafted by Dallas with the No. 29 overall selection.

With Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke at left and right tackle, respectively, Tampa Bay doesn’t need another offensive tackle. Yet Pewter Report was trying to identify tackles who were athletic enough to make the transition inside to the interior. Kansas’ Dominick Puni, who is viewed as a potential mid-round pick, can also play guard and center, and could be a target in the third or fourth round by the Bucs.

QB Rounds 1-3: South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler
QB Rounds 4-7: Tulane’s Michael Pratt

RB Rounds 1-3: USC’s MarShawn Lloyd
RB Rounds 4-7: Georgia’s Kendall Milton

WR Rounds 1-3: Florida State’s Keon Coleman
WR Rounds 4-7: Virginia’s Malik Washington

TE Rounds 1-3: Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott
TE Rounds 4-7: Illinois’ Tip Reiman

OT Rounds 1-3: Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton
OT Rounds 4-7: Kansas’ Dominick Puni

G Rounds 1-3: Duke’s Graham Barton
G Rounds 4-7: Boston College’s Christian Mahogany

C Rounds 1-3: Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson
C Rounds 4-7: Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini

OLB Rounds 1-3: Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland
OLB Rounds 4-7: Colorado State’s Mo Kamara

DT Rounds 1-3: Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro
DT Rounds 4-7: Auburn’s Marcus Harris

ILB Rounds 1-3: Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace
ILB Rounds 4-7: North Carolina’s Cedric Gray

CB Rounds 1-3: Michigan’s Mike Sainristil
CB Rounds 4-7: Arkansas’ Dwight McGlothern

S Rounds 1-3: Georgia’s Tykee Smith
S Rounds 4-7: Air Force’s Trey Taylor