Edge rusher is a gigantic need for the Bucs going into the 2026 NFL Draft. This makes it no surprise that the team has decided to look at a couple of the best prospects at the position that will still be available when the Bucs have their opportunity take players in the first or second round.

Tampa Bay has brought in Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas, per  James Simone and Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, according to JC Allen, for a top 30 visit. Each player met formally with the Bucs at the NFL Combine and this further shows how intentional they are about finding help on the edge despite adding an outside linebacker in free agency.

Talents Of Potential Bucs Prospects

R Mason Thomas is a Florida original growing up in Ft. Lauderdale. He’s a guy that plays with attitude and edge. It’s the tenacity of Thomas that Bucs fans will love. Thomas has an explosive first step and is relentless getting after the quarterback. The way he takes angles is often used to his advantage. While undersized, he keeps a low pad level because of it and helps him win his matchups. Thomas recorded 15.5 sacks in 23 games over the last two seasons.

His big year came in 2024 when Thomas recorded nine sacks, 23 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in 13 games. He was named second team All-SEC because of it. The next season in 2025 saw slightly less numbers with 6.5 sacks, 26 tackles, nine tackles for loss and another two forced fumbles. Despite slightly less production, Thomas was named first team All-SEC for his efforts.

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

Zion Young is a different type of player that also brings attention. The production (or lack thereof) at Missouri remains one of the biggest questions surrounding Young as a prospect. He was a real standout at Senior Bowl, showing he can play well against top competition.

He’s going to be an intriguing player to watch as far as stock goes in the coming weeks and months, as he is a classic case study in the realm of production (only 11.5 sacks in four years, including a career-high 6.5 in 2025) vs. traits.

Missouri Edge Rusher Zion Young – Photo by IMAGN Images – Denny Medley

Bucs Still Need To Add Pass Rushers

While its great that the Bucs are identifying what their needs are, they must continue to build out what they have at outside linebacker. Signing former Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad will help with that as he’s coming off of an 11 sack season.

But it shouldn’t just stop there. The Bucs still don’t have a number one outside linebacker that can take over a game. That have a good player that is better suited as the second edge rusher with Yaya Diaby, plus some really solid depth with Muhammad. Where there’s a wildcard in all of this is David Walker, who tore his ACL early in training camp and was out of the rotation.

If Walker can show value in his second season and but first bout of action, it pushes everyone down the line. Tampa bay would have Diaby as OLB1, Muhammad as OLB2, Walker as OLB3 and that makes Anthony Nelson OLB4 with Chris Braswell trying to hang on and make the roster.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has struggled to find a fit at edge rusher through the draft recently. Diaby has been their best of the bunch, though Braswell has been a bust and there’s other examples of picks by general manager Jason Licht that didn’t work.

Should the Bucs hit with Thomas or Young, it completely revamps the room. They’d likely slide in as a starter outside linebacker, but at worst could be third string or a situational edge rusher. That puts Nelson at fifth string, and if that’s the place the Bucs are a good spot.

There’s a long way to go in the draft process going into the 2026 season. Hopefully the Bucs find the correct player for the team.