The Bucs enter this offseason desperate for defensive help.

Fortunately for general manager Jason Licht and the front office, the opportunity to address the unit is ripe for the taking. Whether that is by acquiring a seemingly available Maxx Crosby from the Raiders or having the salary cap space to add outside linebacker and/or inside linebacker help, Licht has the resources to make a big splash to land an established star.

Right now, the big question is how close Tampa Bay is to contending and whether the team should be approaching this offseason as a reload or a rebuild. I would look at it through the former lens, considering how competitive the franchise has been in recent years and given the fact that they play in the NFC South. When assessing head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, it is no secret that it is now or never to get the group back on track.

It is not as bleak as you might think, with Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Yaya Diaby, Jacob Parrish, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Tykee Smith all in line to be starters next season. With over half of the defensive lineup presumably set and filled with good players, now it is time to find great players.

Can that actually happen through the 2026 NFL Draft?

Bucs Could Have Their Pick Of Defensive Players At No. 15

What stood out to me, and something that I went over in my latest Top 10 Takeaways video, is just how many quality defensive players there were at the 2026 Senior Bowl. From Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez to Central Michigan’s Nadame Tucker, there were no shortage of Day 2 and Day 3 players who elevated their draft stock.

While Rodriguez and Tucker would be fine selections to don the red and pewter, they are not players who will be off the board by the time the Bucs pick at No. 15. That premium pick, unless utilized as part of a trade package, must net Tampa Bay a defensive star who would provide long-term star power and give the unit a physical, tough identity many have craved to see.

Determining who will be on the board when the team is on the clock is currently an interesting thought exercise, as the 2026 NFL Draft lacks much consensus outside of the first several picks. It is lining up to be a wild ride on April 23rd.

Nine of the 15 players listed above are on defense, which is a far cry from other recent drafts. For example, the 2024 NFL Draft did not have a defensive player drafted until 15th overall, when the Colts selected UCLA’s Laiatu Latu.

With draft analysts noting just how deep the outside linebacker and inside linebacker positions are this year, it is the perfect time for Jason Licht to potentially add one in the first round and double dip at each position as the draft goes on.

Still, the question remains.

Who would be that star?

A draft class is oftentimes only as good as its top pick. That player is expected to be the cornerstone and, for a team that has a set standard in what they want a Buccaneer to be, a lot has to line up from a character and talent perspective.

Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell Would Provide A Serious Jolt To Bucs’ Pass Rush

When it comes to players who could be potential stars and options for the Bucs, get to know the name Cashius Howell over the next couple of months.

While Miami’s Rueben Bain and Texas Tech’s David Bailey are projected to be gone by the time the Bucs pick, Howell is among the pass rushers expected to go around No. 15. When it comes to players who can make an impact, there is a lot to like about the Texas A&M product.

Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jerome Miron

To that end, it is worth pointing out what Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema had to say about him. Sikkema had Howell going to Tampa Bay in his latest mock draft.

The Buccaneers’ lack of pass rush was a major reason why their defense fell flat down the stretch of the 2025 season. Howell earned elite 90.0-plus PFF pass-rush grades in each of the past three seasons, and he would immediately be Tampa Bay’s best pass rusher. 

Howell is coming off an 11.5-sack season for the Aggies, reaching that mark in just 13 games. At 6-foot-2 and about 248 pounds, he is an explosive pass rusher who spent two seasons with the program. He transferred in from Bowling Green, where he spent three seasons and recorded 9.5 sacks during the 2023 season. His first step puts opposing quarterbacks in a panic, displaying the bend and ability to turn the corner to close pockets.

While Howell might not be the most polished player entering the next level, he could follow a path similar to Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV. It took McDonald time, but he has since emerged as a quality pass rusher, recording 18 sacks over the last two seasons. Howell has plenty of traits that would inject juice to the Bucs’ pass rush, which is needed more than anything. Listening to him talk, it is clear there he has “a chip on the shoulder mentality” after being overlooked.

This one minute and 19 seconds of his highlights is well worth your time.

The Bucs Drafting Ohio State ILB Sonny Styles Makes Too Much Sense

If you have watched one lick of Bucs football in recent seasons, you know just how dire of a need inside linebacker is.

Tampa Bay’s defense has been a frustrating watch more often than not, with the middle of the field being arguably the most glaring weakness. Lavonte David has long held it down, but his play continued to slip last season. At 36 years old, David is far removed from being what he was earlier in the decade and could very well decide to retire this offseason.

Pairing that with the fact SirVocea Dennis had an up-and-down third season, and it is time to find a new defensive leader to lead the room.

Enter Sonny Styles.

Ohio State LB Sonny Styles – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Adam Cairns

Styles started as a safety at Ohio State, coming in as a five-star recruit. After once roaming the defensive backfield, he bulked up into a 6-foot-5, 243-pound intimidating linebacker who has kept much of his athleticism.

He started all 16 games for the Buckeyes during their 2024 National Championship season, recording 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. That was followed up by another impressive season in 2025, one where he recorded 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and a sack in 14 games.

Styles will enter the league and be one of the more athletic, toolsy linebackers around. He fits the run well and is a versatile piece to the puzzle when it comes to coverage. Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo kicked off his offseason scouting reports by going over his game, reaching this conclusion about how Styles would fit Todd Bowles’ defense and whether or not he is worthy of a first-round selection.

The Bucs have lacked athletic players at linebacker for two straight seasons, and that has had a cascading effect that has hurt multiple facets of the defense. Styles would immediately bring the movement skills necessary to make multiple parts of this defense click.

Styles is currently projected as a first-round pick by most media draft sites, and likely a Top 15 pick. Based purely on his tape, I would feel comfortable taking him in this range if I were in the Bucs’ war room.

As Queipo mentioned, drafting him would give Bowles a sigh of relief in having a linebacker who would check a lot of boxes and wear a lot of hats. That in turn would make life easier on the backend, giving safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith more leeway in roaming and not being forced to help mask weaknesses.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Styles would be more than just drafting another Devin White, who some might think of when seeing him and noting his first-round pedigree. He is someone who could provide a similar immediate impact but have long-term staying power with an elite ceiling.

The question is not about whether or not the Bucs should target a defensive star in 2026, but through which avenue and who will be available when their pick arrives. Cashius Howell would be a ready-to-go edge presence, while Sonny Styles appears more than capable of stepping into the heart of the defense and owning it. There are plenty of names to consider, but Howell and Styles are among the best options at landing a premier talent in the 2026 NFL Draft.