Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston – Photo by: USA Today

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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds answers your questions from the @PewterReport X account this week in the Bucs Mailbag. Submit your question to the Bucs Mailbag each week via X using the hashtag #PRMailbag.  Here are the Bucs questions we chose to answer for this week’s edition.

QUESTION: Trevor Sikkema mentioned the team is interested in Maxwell Hairston. What are the chances the Bucs take him in the first round? Also do you think there’s a possibility they take Derrick Harmon?

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston – Photo by: USA Today

ANSWER: First of all, is there a chance that the Bucs take either Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston or Oregon’s Derrick Harmon? Yes, there is certainly a chance. Tampa Bay needs a starting-caliber cornerback at either nickelback if Tykee Smith moves to strong safety as expected to replace Jordan Whitehead, or at outside cornerback to challenge Jamel Dean. The Bucs could also use another high-quality defensive tackle to put into the rotation with starters Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, as top reserve Logan Hall is coming off a 5.5-sack season and is entering a contract year.

I could see the Bucs drafting a cornerback in the first round this year more than I could a defensive tackle, but either could be a real option depending on how the first round plays out prior to Tampa Bay picking at No. 19. In last week’s SR’s FAB 5 column, I listed three cornerbacks and one defensive tackle who could be first-round surprise picks by the Bucs. Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was one of them, along with Ole Miss’ Trey Amos and East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. The defensive tackle I listed was Toledo’s Darius Alexander.

Hairston, Revel and Alexander all had formal interviews with Tampa Bay at the NFL Scouting Combine in addition to official 30 visits. Amos came in for an official 30 visit, but it’s unknown if he interviewed with the team in Indianapolis or not. Pewter Report is unaware of the Bucs meeting with Harmon at either the team facility on a 30 visit or in Indy for a formal or informal interview.

Hairston was the fastest player at the Combine, running a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash. He checks the ballhawk box with six interceptions over the past two seasons, including a trio of pick-sixes. I think he has a good chance of being the Bucs’ pick at No. 19, as Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema, a Pewter Report alum, suggested.

QUESTION: If Mike Green is available at No. 19 do the Bucs take him? He seems to have a higher consensus grade than Donovan Ezeiruaku. I’m aware of the reported personal issues. For me would be hard to pass up on Green and his upside.

ANSWER: There’s no doubt that Marshall’s Mike Green is one heck of an edge rusher. And I’ve seen him rank higher in quite a few mock drafts this offseason. But is he really a better edge rushing prospect than Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku? I’m not so sure.

A quick look at the tale of the tape between Green and Ezeiruaku shows nearly identical size and statistics for both players. The edge that Ezeiruaku has is that he played against a higher level of competition at Boston College, an ACC school, than Green did at Marshall, which is a Sun Belt Conference school.

Ezeiruaku notched sacks against the likes of Florida State (2), Missouri (1), Michigan State (2), Western Kentucky (3), Virginia (1), Syracuse (2), North Carolina (2) and Pittsburgh (3.5) last season. Green recorded sacks against Stony Brook (1.5), Virginia Tech (2), Ohio State (1), Appalachian State (2.5), Georgia Southern (1), Louisiana-Monroe (2), Southern Miss (3), Coastal Carolina (2), James Madison (1) and Louisiana (1).

Green is also more of a one-year wonder with 4.5 sacks at Marshall in 2023. Ezeiruaku had a down year in 2023 with just two sacks and two forced fumbles, but had 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles the year prior in 2022. Ezeiruaku also notched 10 more QB hits in 2024 than Green did, despite trailing him by just half a sack.

Both players are talented and deserving of being selected in the first round, but the Bucs may be hesitant to pull the trigger on Green due to past sexual assault allegations. Tampa Bay formally interviewed both Green and Ezeiruaku at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the BC product has impeccable character. If I had to pick a player for Tampa Bay, it would be Ezeiruaku, and I think there’s a good chance Atlanta selects Green at No. 15.

QUESTION: What would it take for the Bucs to trade up to get Travis Hunter? Two first-rounders or three?

Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter – Photo by: USA Today

ANSWER: Hey, I know Tampa Bay needs a cornerback, but I’m not sure mortgaging the future to trade up to get Colorado’s Travis Hunter is worth it. To answer your question, it very well might take three first-round picks to move up from No. 19 to No. 2 where Cleveland picks – assuming that Tennessee will take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. There is no doubt that Hunter is the best cornerback in this year’s draft, but that would be an incredibly high price to pay, especially given how good Jason Licht, Todd Bowles and the Bucs’ brass have become at drafting.

Trading multiple first-round picks – likely three – would rob Tampa Bay of two future starters who could be had with those other first-rounders. At 6-foot, 188 pounds with plenty of speed, Hunter is worth a Top 5 pick for sure. And there’s no doubt that he could help the Bucs because of his ballhawking ability and knack for tight coverage.

Hunter also brings the added bonus of being a stud receiver who could pinch hit on offense for a limited number of snaps after being a two-way player at both cornerback and receiver at Jackson State and Colorado. That talent won him the Heisman Trophy, an honor he definitely deserved. There’s no doubt that Hunter could help the Bucs, but the cost to attain him would be too great. If the Bucs were picking in the Top 10, such a trade up might make more sense and not be as costly, but moving up as many as 18 spots would indeed mortgage the future for Tampa Bay.

QUESTION: Hey SR, when visiting Tampa, what are your “must do’s” to get the best Buccaneers experience in addition to seeing a game? Been a fan for 30 years, rarely miss a game (on TV), been to Raymond James Stadium once in 2013 and want to return this season. Hoping you have some “pro tips” for me.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANSWER: Tampa Bay’s 2025 regular season schedule will be out in May, shortly after the NFL Draft. Once it comes out, I would try to plan a trip for either the Bucs’ annual creamsicle game or a home prime time game – if there is one. The Bucs do such an amazing job decking the stadium out in orange and playing music from the 1970s and 1980s. Maybe you’ll be the good luck charm the team needs to finally win a game in the throwback Bucco Bruce uniforms? Or maybe you’ll help Tampa Bay win in prime time? That was something that didn’t happen last year, as the team was 0-5 at night, including the home playoff loss to Washington.

I would also suggest taking a tour of Raymond James Stadium, which I believe includes access to the famous Bucs pirate ship. You can sign up for a daily tour or a private tour by clicking here.

Make sure you stop by the lobby at One Buccaneer Place at the AdventHealth Training Center to see the statues of Super Bowl XXXVII legends Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, John Lynch, Simeon Rice, Shelton Quarles, Mike Alstott, Brad Johnson and of course head coach Jon Gruden. You can also snap some pics with both Lombardi Trophies from the 2002 and 2020 seasons as well.

When in Tampa, a trip to the Busch Gardens theme park is always fun, and if you want to catch some college football on Saturday before the Bucs game, make sure you eat at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. There are three Tampa Bay-area locations in Midtown Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Lakeland and they have TVs galore with all of the games on, plus a fantastic menu.