The 2025 Bucs offseason is here and it’s time for Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft – presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.

Be sure to tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Show to discuss the first Bucs mock draft live at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 23 on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.

Tampa Bay showed some improvement in the 2024 regular season, winning 10 games and a fourth straight NFC South championship – the third under head coach Todd Bowles. But the Bucs couldn’t advance past the NFC Wild Card round, losing a home playoff game to the Commanders, 23-20.

The team doesn’t have nearly the amount of pending free agents that it did in 2024 with the contracts of only three starters – wide receiver Chris Godwin, inside linebacker Lavonte David and left guard Ben Bredeson – expiring.

Tampa Bay currently has just over $2.6 million in salary cap space, but can create over $40 million more in cap room with some restructures – and perhaps the release or trade of underachieving cornerback Jamel Dean, which would free up $8,284,941.

The Bucs would also like to sign three players to contract extensions this offseason if possible – right tackle Luke Goedeke, cornerback Zyon McCollum and tight end Cade Otton, as all three are entering contract years in 2025.

Free agency comes before the NFL Draft, so there is a chance that the team will address some pressing needs with veterans before attempting to fill those needs with rookies in 2025. The expectation is that Godwin will be re-signed to a multi-year deal this offseason and that Bredeson could be back on another one-year deal with a slight raise. David is contemplating either retiring or returning for a 14th year during the offseason.

Taking all of this into consideration, here is a look at the team’s personnel needs, listed in order of importance.

Bucs Personnel Needs

Inside Linebacker

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and KJ Britt and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As it stands right now, the Bucs’ lone returning starting-caliber player at inside linebacker is SirVocea Dennis, who saw his second year in Tampa Bay cut short by a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4. Dennis made a strong impression early on in coverage and as a blitzer, but given his penchant for being injured, the Bucs need to add at least two more quality inside linebackers.

One could be Lavonte David, who turned 35 on January 23, if he doesn’t retire, but it’s doubtful that K.J. Britt, who was a starter for most of the season, returns. Britt, who is entering free agency, lacks the athleticism to be a starter and was supplanted in the starting lineup at the end of the season by J.J. Russell, who is slated to be a restricted free agent and could return on a one-year deal to compete for a roster spot. Veteran Deion Jones, 30, was already re-signed to a cheap, one-year deal, but he’s not a lock to make the roster.

Just because this is the Bucs’ top need doesn’t mean that this will be the team’s first-round pick. Tampa Bay used the fifth overall pick on inside linebacker Devin White in 2019, and while he helped the team win Super Bowl LV in his second season, his play fell off considerably in his final two years in Tampa Bay. Of the four Pro Bowl inside linebackers this year, only one – Baltimore’s Roquan Smith – was a first-rounder.

Outside Linebacker

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs are happy with Yaya Diaby, who enters his third season, as one starter at outside linebacker. While Diaby’s pressures were up – he finished with 65, which was the ninth-best among edge rushers – his sacks were down. Diaby had 7.5 sacks as a rookie and just 4.5 sacks last year. The Bucs will be looking for an alpha edge rusher this year, perhaps acquiring a veteran in free agency or via trade to be a true No. 1 outside linebacker, as Diaby right now is a solid No. 2 pass rusher.

If the team is unsuccessful in that approach prior to the draft, there is a good chance that the Bucs spend another premium pick on an outside linebacker. Bucs general manager Jason Licht has hit on several defensive tackles in the NFL Draft over the years, but has struggled to find a stud edge rusher capable of becoming a double-digit sacker. Noah Spence, a 2016 second-round pick, flamed out quickly, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, a first-round pick in 2021, has not lived up to expectations. Diaby, a third-round pick in 2023, has been a good player, but the jury is still out on 2024 second-rounder Chris Braswell, who has been slow to develop.

The contracts of Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are up, and while JTS won’t be back, Nelson could return as a reserve outside linebacker once again. The Bucs also have Marcus Watts and Jose Ramirez under contract, but both are considered reserves and are not locks to make the team in 2025. There is a very good chance that Tampa Bay could spend another premium pick on an outside linebacker in 2025 – even if the team lands a veteran in free agency – perhaps as high as the first round.

Cornerback

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs moved on from Carlton Davis III the third last year. His big salary did not match his lack of interceptions, and Davis struggled to stay on the field with numerous injuries over the past couple of seasons. Tampa Bay was lucky to find a trade partner in Detroit and receive a third-round pick for Davis. Jamel Dean is in a similar situation, as he has just one pick in two years and has missed a total of nine games over the past two seasons. And Dean missed the second half of the playoff loss to Washington, which proved to be costly. Cutting or trading Dean would save the team nearly $8.3 million in cap room.

If Tampa Bay moves on from Dean, as expected, the Bucs will need another starting-caliber cornerback to replace him and pair alongside Zyon McCollum. That could come in free agency or in the 2025 NFL Draft with a premium pick. Bucs G.M. Jason Licht has only spent one first-round pick on a cornerback and that didn’t turn out well, as Vernon Hargreaves III was a bust in 2016. Tampa Bay has had better success drafting cornerbacks in the middle rounds like Davis (second round, 2018), Sean Murphy-Bunting (second round, 2019) and Dean (third round, 2019).

The Bucs could use at least two more talented cornerbacks behind McCollum on the depth chart. Bryce Hall might not return from a broken leg he suffered in Week 1, and Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk showed they are not starting-caliber players in their limited playing time in 2024. The Bucs need to seriously upgrade the cornerback room.

Safety

Bucs safeties Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has one of the most talented safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr., who was a bona fide playmaker during his first four years in Tampa Bay until this past year when injuries cost him eight games during the regular season. Winfield should return with a vengeance in 2025 and be back to his regular playmaking self. But the Bucs need another playmaker at the other safety position. Jordan Whitehead was a huge disappointment in his return to Tampa Bay on a two-year deal after a two-year absence. Complicating matters is that Whitehead fractured some vertebrae in his neck in a January car accident, which could put his 2025 season in jeopardy.

The Bucs spent a third-round pick on Tykee Smith last year and he started 14 games at nickelback, but can also play strong safety if Todd Bowles wants to go that route. Tampa Bay can’t rely on Whitehead to return to his playmaking form from the 2020 season next year, and Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather don’t make enough plays to ideally crack the starting lineup.

The Bucs could very well draft a safety in the middle rounds, or double up on the cornerback position with one of them playing in the slot and moving Smith to strong safety. Smith and Mike Edwards, who is a free agent and may or may not return as a reserve option, were third-rounders, and Whitehead was a fourth-rounder.

Wide Receiver

Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs plan on re-signing veteran receiver Chris Godwin this offseason. Godwin turns 29 in February, but proved to be an ideal fit in Liam Coen’s new offense before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7. His return would give Coen his top three receivers again in 2025 with Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan. But the Bucs need another starting-caliber receiver for the No. 4 spot in case injuries strike the receiver position again, as well as for the future as Evans is entering a contract year and turns 32 in August.

Trey Palmer could be on the outs with the organization after underwhelming in 2024 and losing the WR3 role to McMillan during his rookie season. He played no better than practice squad receivers Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett. Veteran Sterling Shepard was elevated to the role of a starter for a while with Evans and Godwin out, but he turns 31 this year and had too many costly drops to return.

Look for the Bucs to draft a bigger body at wide receiver to join the mix in 2025. Tampa Bay has too many 190-pound receivers, and Coen’s offense thrives with bigger receivers like the 220-pound Evans and the 205-pound Godwin.

Defensive Tackle

The have two of the best defensive tackles in football in Pro Bowler Vita Vea, who recorded a career-high seven sacks in 2024, and Calijah Kancey, who led the team with 7.5 sacks in his second year in Tampa Bay. Logan Hall, the team’s top pick in 2022, had a breakout year with 5.5 sacks as a reserve and enters a contract year in 2025.

Despite having three quality defensive tackles, the Bucs would have drafted Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton with the No. 26 pick last year if offensive lineman Graham Barton was off the board. G.M. Jason Licht believes in having quality depth at defensive tackle, and Vea turns 30 in 2025. The Bucs can re-sign Greg Gaines for another year for depth, but the team might move on from Will Gholston, who turns 34 in July.

If the right defensive tackle is there in the right round and he’s the best player available, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Licht and head coach Todd Bowles the pull trigger and draft another one this year. This year’s draft class is loaded at defensive tackle and Tampa Bay might lean into that position and take advantage of the depth there.

Bucs’ 2025 NFL Draft Picks

The Bucs currently have six picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. They traded their sixth-round pick and cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Lions last year in exchange for Detroit’s third-round pick, which was used on wide receiver Jalen McMillan. The Bucs are not expected to receive any compensatory draft picks this offseason.

Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft series is presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – with three locations in the Tampa Bay area in Wesley Chapel off I-75, Midtown Tampa down the street from Raymond James Stadium and Lakeland. Download the FREE Walk-On’s Rewards app and get a FREE order of mozzarella logs. And try Walk-On’s famous wings with the NEW Southern Bourbon sauce and earn 100 points.

2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft
By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo

Round 1 – Marshall OLB Mike Green
Redshirt Sophomore • 6-4, 248

The Bucs need an outside linebacker with some juice off the edge in 2025 to complement Yaya Diaby’s powerful bull rushes. Think Shaq Barrett in his prime. Marshall edge rusher Mike Green would be a fantastic addition at No. 19 overall for Tampa Bay. The 6-foot-4, 248-pound Green is a redshirt sophomore who exploded on to the scene with a nation-leading 17 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2024. That was a huge leap from 4.5 sacks in his first season at Marshall in 2023 since transferring from Virginia during the 2022 season.

Green has very good speed-to-power ability and brings the fight to offensive tackles. He had six multiple-sack games in 2024 during his breakout season and lived in the backfield. Granted, it was against largely inferior competition, but Green did notch a sack against national champion Ohio State and also had a pair of sacks against Virginia Tech.

Green is a physical presence at the line of scrimmage with great bend, hard-hitting hands and speed to close and finish, according to FOX NFL analyst Brian Baldinger, a former NFL offensive lineman. He plays with a sense of urgency and hustle and is tough against the run, evidenced by 23 tackles for loss last year. Green lived in opposing backfields in 2024.

Green didn’t drop into coverage too much at Marshall, and the Thundering Herd coaching staff was wise to keep him rushing the quarterback where his skills were best put to use. If Tampa Bay addresses outside linebacker in free agency, the team could draft a cornerback in the first round instead, and then select another edge rusher on Day 3.

Mike Green’s Defensive Statistics
2021: 4 tackles, TFL, sack
2022: Transferred from Virginia to Marshall
2023: 43 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, FF
2024: 84 tackles, 23 TFLs, 17 sacks, 3 FFs, FR, 2 PBUs

The up-and-coming Green has shot up Pro Football Focus’ draft board from a possible second-round pick to the No. 11 overall prospect. There is a chance he may not even be on the board at No. 19 for Tampa Bay if he has a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl. The Pewter Report staff will be on hand in Mobile, Ala. to scout Green in person. Stay tuned to our coverage on PewterReport.com and PewterReportTV YouTube channel.

Round 2 – Ole Miss ILB Chris Paul Jr.
Junior • 6-1, 235

Tampa Bay has the need for a faster, more athletic inside linebacker capable of starting as a rookie in 2025. The team should turn the page on free agent K.J. Britt, who struggled mightily in coverage and was one of Pro Football Focus’ worst-rated linebackers in the NFL last season. Even if 35-year old Lavonte David returns to Tampa Bay the needs to get younger and faster at the position for the long term. Ole Miss’ Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. would be an ideal fit due to his varied skill set.

Paul began his career at Arkansas, where he was a two-year starter before hitting the transfer portal for the opportunity to play on a more star-studded Ole Miss defense and play for a nationally-ranked team. Paul notched six sacks in two years with the Razorbacks and showed that he can be an effective blitzer. Armed with sideline-to-sideline speed and the agility and range to drop into coverage, Paul is one of the better all-around linebackers in a weak linebacker draft class.

When Paul got to Ole Miss he added four pass breakups and an interception to his career stats, but also managed to record 3.5 sacks while blitzing. Paul’s tackle total increased each year as his instincts were honed with more experience, climbing from 62 to 74 to 88 during his final season with the Rebels. What stands out about Paul aside from his speed his the pop in which he tackles. Paul is not a drag-down tackling linebacker and brings a lot of force upon contact.

Chris Paul’s Defensive Statistics
2021: 1 tackle
2022: 62 tackles, 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, FF, FR
2023: 74 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, PBU
2024: 88 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, FR, 4 PBUs, INT

As a three-year starter in the SEC, Paul is battle-tested and ready to start in the NFL. He likely won’t get out of the second round, and would be an ideal early Day 2 pick for the Bucs. Paul has the ability to play the Mike middle linebacker role in Todd Bowles’ scheme or the Mo weakside linebacker spot, which has been manned by Lavonte David since 2019.

Round 3 – Kansas CB Mello Dotson
Senior • 6-1, 190

Tampa Bay will likely be moving on from oft-injured cornerback Jamel Dean, who has just one interception over the past two season. With the Bucs recording just seven interceptions on defense, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles would be best suited to find more ballhawks for the defensive backfield. Kansas’ Mello Dotson certainly fits the bill and has enough size and length to play in Bowles’ scheme at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.

Dotson notched 12 interceptions at KU, including nine over the past two seasons. Four of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, which speaks to Dotson’s playmaking ability and his high level of anticipation in zone and tight man coverage. Dotson is pretty good tackler in coverage and against the run and does not shy away from contact. He could stand to bulk up a bit to 195 pounds at the next level, but has enough size to be effective and warrant a Day 2 selection.

Dotson is not quite a feast-or-famine cornerback, but he’s not exactly a shutdown cornerback either. He allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 56% of their passes in his direction, which is pretty good. But he did allow four touchdowns in 2024 and two in 2023 against five interceptions in 2024 and four picks in 2023.

Mello Dotson’s Defensive Statistics
2020: 2 tackles
2021: 24 tackles, FF, FR, PBU, INT
2022: 54 tackles, TFL, 6 PBUs, 2 INTs
2023: 48 tackles, 3 TFLs, sack, 11 PBUs, 4 INTs, 2 TDs
2024: 49 tackles, 1 TFL, FF, FR, 7 PBUs, 5 INTs, 2 TDs

Dotson, who totaled 25 pass breakups in his KU career, was a four-year starter for the Jayhawks and brings a lot of experience to the table. He would be a candidate to start right away in Tampa Bay, and his natural ball skills would be a welcome sight as interceptions were hard to come by last year.

Round 4 – California CB Nohl Williams
Senior • 6-1, 200

The Bucs go cornerback back-to-back in the 2025 NFL Draft due to the need for increased talent and quality depth at the position. After selecting KU’s Mello Dotson with the team’s third-round pick, the Bucs draft Cal’s Nohl Williams in the fourth round to kick off Day 3. Once again, the emphasis is placed on finding more ballhawks that can create more takeaways.

Dotson had 12 career interceptions for the Jayhawks, but Williams had 14 picks in five seasons in college – the first three were at UNLV before transferring to Cal. Williams led college football with seven interceptions, including a pick-six against Miami’s Cam Ward, last year, in addition to nine pass breakups. He showed a nose for the ball in also breaking up a career-high nine passes last year and totaling 25 pass breakups in his college career for the Rebels and Golden Bears.

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Williams has good size and is a very good tackler and a willing defender in run support. He made big strides in coverage last year, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 48.5% of their passes. Williams went up against some quality opponents last year, including Miami, SMU, Pittsburgh, Auburn and Stanford and fared incredibly well during his senior season.

Nohl Williams’ Defensive Statistics
2020: 25 tackles, FR, PBU, INT
2021: 33 tackles, 4 PBUs, INT
2022: 40 tackles, TFL, FF, FR, 5 PBUs, 3 INTs
2023: 53 tackles, 2 TFLs, FF, 2 FRs, 6 PBUs, 2 INTs
2024: 52 tackles, TFL, FF, 9 PBUs, 7 INTs, TD

Williams could compete with Dotson for a starting job in Tampa Bay due to his experience as a four-year starter. Like Dotson, Williams is strictly an outside cornerback without much slot experience. But he does bring some kick return ability to Tampa Bay. He did average 27.6 yards per return on 12 kickoff returns, including a touchdown, during his All-American season.

Round 5 – Georgia G Dylan Fairchild
Junior • 6-5, 315

The Bucs use a Day 3 pick on Georgia guard Dylan Fairchild to continue to bolster the interior offensive line. Tampa Bay drafted guard Elijah Klein in the sixth round last year, and Fairchild and Klein could battle Ben Bredeson, last year’s starter, for the team’ starting left guard position if Bredeson is re-signed in free agency. If Bredeson isn’t re-signed, it’s all the more reason to add to the competition with the selection of Fairchild in the fifth round this year.

Fairchild was on Georgia’s back-to-back national championship teams, but was not a starter until the 2023 season when he started 10 games at left guard. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman started all 13 games last year for the Bulldogs and was regarded as the team’s best offensive lineman, earning second-team All-American honors.

Fairchild only allowed one sack, which came last year, as he earned an 87 pass protection grade from Pro Football Focus and a 71.8 run block grade. Fairchild excelled in Georgia’s zone blocking scheme with a 76.6 PFF grade, but struggled a bit with a 59 PFF grade in gap runs. He’s not the most versatile lineman, as he’s only taken snaps at left and right guard, but he does have starting potential and would be a solid Day 3 pick by the Bucs to add quality depth at the guard position.

Round 7 – Memphis WR Roc Taylor
Senior • 6-3, 215

There is a very good chance the Bucs could draft a wide receiver earlier than waiting until the seventh round to do it. This is a pretty deep receiving class, especially in the middle rounds, but Memphis’ Roc Taylor could be a Day 3 sleeper. Taylor has good size at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, and Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen would like another big-bodied receiver in a room that is full of 190-pound receivers outside of Mike Evans (225), Ryan Miller (220) and Chris Godwin (205).

Taylor, who has drawn some comparisons to San Francisco’s Jauan Jennings, who is 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, has good tackle-breaking ability and a knack for making yards after the catch. While Taylor does a good job making contested catches, he only scored seven touchdowns in four seasons with the Tigers, including just two as a senior. He did finish with nine 100-yard games at Memphis and two more with at least 90 yards receiving.

Roc Taylor’s Receiving Statistics
2021: 8 catches, 117 yards (14.6 avg.)
2022: 20 catches, 225 yards (11.3 avg.), TD
2023: 69 catches, 1,083 yards (15.7 avg.), 4 TDs
2024: 66 catches, 950 yards (14.4 avg.), 2 TDs

Taylor’s build and play style might also resemble that of Rams receiver Puka Nakua, who is 6-foot-2, 212 pounds and was not the fastest receiver coming out in the 2023 NFL Draft, running a 4.57. That could be where Taylor’s 40-yard dash time comes in, which would be faster than Jennings’ 4.72. Yet Taylor did record 16 catches of 30 yards or more during his time at Memphis, which shows that he’s fast enough to make plays in the passing game.