The 2025 Bucs offseason is here and it’s time for Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 2.0 – presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.

Be sure to tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Show to discuss the second Bucs mock draft live at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 13 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 new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard the team’s three 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 Grizzard’s offense would thrive 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 2.0
By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo

Round 1 – Bucs Trade For Bengals Edge Rusher Trey Hendrickson
9-Year Veteran • 6-4, 270

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs send their 2025 first-round pick, No. 19 overall, along with their third-round pick, No. 83 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals’ 2025 second-round pick, No. 49 overall, and their sixth-round pick, No. 193 overall.

As Scott Reynolds has previously advocated, the Bucs are in need of a true force off the edge opposite Yaya Diaby to help elevate the Bucs’ pass rush. A premier edge rusher would allow Todd Bowles’ defense to win with a four-man pass rush more often and help him scale back his need to blitz. Hendrickson is a four-time Pro Bowler who is coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons with the Bengals. When Bowles can disguise his creative blitz packages out of superfluity rather than bring them out of necessity, he is at his best.

Picking at No. 19, there is no guarantee that the Bucs would be able to select a game-wrecking, blue-chip edge rusher like Mike Green. If the Bengals and the 30-year old Hendrickson are at an impasse regarding the contract extension he is seeking, the Bucs could swoop in and offer a package that essentially allows the Bengals to move up a round to No. 19 overall at the front end of the draft and pick up a third-rounder, too.

From the Bucs’ perspective, they would get a proven pass rusher in Hendrickson and still have two picks in the top 51, in addition to keeping six picks overall by picking up a missing sixth-round pick in exchange for giving up a third-rounder.

Depending on the trade chart you subscribe to, the net value of Hendrickson is equivalent to the 30th overall pick in the draft (Jimmy Johnson chart), or the 62nd overall pick (Spielberger/Fitzgerald chart), or the 48th overall pick (Queipo/DeDiminicantanio chart). That’s fair value for a guy who has led the NFL in sacks over the past two years. With needed upgrades at each level of the defense, Hendrickson gives Tampa Bay an immediate known high-end quantity at the first level who shows no signs of slowing down at age 30.

Round 2 – East Carolina CB Shavon Revel
Redshirt Senior • 6-2, 188

The Bucs continue to add to their defense with a big, long, physical corner with one of the best upsides in this draft class in East Carolina’s Shavon Revel. He loves to dictate terms from the moment receivers try to release off the line. Revel has a strong understanding of how to use the sideline to his advantage and to reduce angles while his plus strength and to drive his opponent where he wants them to go.

Despite being a larger corner, his speed and fluidity in and out of his breaks gives him the do-it-all ability to square off with any type of receiver who lines up across from him. Whether that be a large traditional split end receiver, or a smaller, shiftier route-runner who creates space with excellent footwork, Revel can shut down anyone. Revel is a strong, competitive player who enjoys supporting in the run game. He’s a sound tackler who has a career missed tackle rate under 6%.

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr will definitely be talked about a lot in the upcoming weeks… despite coming off a torn acl, he is regarded as one of the top corners in this class due to his size and tools to work with… pic.twitter.com/Yjto1abKy2

— RealBucsTalk (@RealBucsTalk) January 24, 2025

Shavon Ravel’s Defensive Statistics
2022: 8 tackles 
2023: 29 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT, 13 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 TD
2024: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 1 TD

With 12 pass breakups, three interceptions and 20 defensive stops in just 855 snaps in college, he is the consummate playmaker with elite physical traits and one of the highest ceilings in this draft. His measurables check all of the boxes the Bucs traditionally look for in starting corner.

But given the team is likely to move off of one oft-injured corner, they may shy away from Revel as he is coming off of a torn ACL. But that injury may be what drives a first-round talent into the second round where his upside could be worth the risk.

Round 2 – UCLA ILB Carson Schwesinger
RS Junior • 6-2, 225

There are two types of linebackers needed in a Todd Bowles system. Lavonte David has successfully embodied the do-it-all, coverage second-level role for years. The other skillset needed is a downhill, reckless abandon style player who can create havoc and disruption as a mugged-up blitzer. Perhaps no other linebacker in this year’s draft can play that role better than UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger.

Few linebackers in this draft work downhill and keep off blocks as well as UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger. A downhill player with plus athleticism. pic.twitter.com/2NUYsCiaDO

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) February 12, 2025

The quick, athletic Schwesinger generated 18 pressures and four sacks on just 62 pass rushes last year. That’s a 29% pressure rate and a 6.5% sack rate. He has plenty of twitch and burst on a frame that has room to add weight without losing his ability to move. His last year at UCLA was his first as a full-time starter and he posted a very impressive 7.6% missed tackle rate. He has a quick trigger that helps him get into opposing backfields quickly.

Carson Schwesinger’s Defensive Statistics
2022: 15 tackles, 1 TFL
2023: 12 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack
2024: 136 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 INTs, 3 PBUs, 1 FF

In coverage, he is best getting to the flats to blow up screens and help root out return/whips, quick outs and stick routes. These are all staples of what Bowles looks for in his David accomplice. Explosive, good eye-discipline and high football IQ. Schwesinger is a toolsy ‘backer with good instincts and a high football I.Q. in the Bowles mold.

Round 4 – Louisville CB Quincy Riley
Redshirt Senior • 5-10, 192

Tell me if you’ve heard this before. The Bucs sorely need ball production. Enter Louisville’s Quincy Riley. Ball production is the name of his game. With 25 passes defensed and five interceptions in the past two seasons, Riley creates plays. He lacks the prototypical length the Bucs look for in perimeter corners. The average height and arm length of Tampa Bay’s last four drafted starting corners is 6-foot-1 and 31.75 inches. Riley misses the height average by over three inches, but his arm length is close at 31.375 inches.

But the Bucs may use Riley to swap some chess pieces around the board. If Tampa Bay moves on from Jordan Whitehead at strong safety, Riley could be brought into the fold as a slot defender, allowing the Bucs to move Tykee Smith to safety opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. Smith, Christian Izien and Riley are all 5-foot-10, so the Louisville cover corner fits the bill for the role. And Riley has the chops to give the Bucs outside versatility if injuries creep up and force them to dip into depth. He saw most of his college action playing outside cornerback.

Great rep from CB Quincy Riley.

Patient, no panic, contest the back shoulder. pic.twitter.com/rwtTqAxSY1

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 28, 2025

Quincy Riley’s Defensive Statistics
2020: 14 tackles, TFL, 4 PBUs, 2 INTs
2021: 33 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 9 PBUs, 5 INTs
2022: 27 tackles,1 TFLs, 1 sack, 3 INTs, 2 PBUs, 1 TD
2023: 49 tackles, 2 TFLs, 3 INTs, 12 PBUs
2024: 33 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 INTs, 13 PBUs, 1 FF

Riley, who had seven interceptions and 13 pass breakups at his previous stop at Middle Tennessee from 2020-21, is at his best in zone where he can keep his eyes in the backfield and play the ball. This gets him to the ball before receivers and aids him in his ball production. His closing speed is impressive as he has quick feet and smooth hips. All of this would play up in a Cover 3-heavy system like the Bucs run.

Riley struggles to be consistent with his tackling technique and his aiming points can be off. This would be something that may turn off the Bucs’ brass along with his size. Tampa Bay struggled with tackling throughout much of last season and may not want to add a player with a career 18.5% missed tackle rate.

Round 5 – UNLV WR Ricky White III
Senior • 6-1, 190

Two years ago, the Bucs selected a speedy wideout who could win vertically downfield with speed and ball tracking. Trey Palmer had a solid rookie campaign but fell down the depth chart last year despite ample opportunity to cement himself as an up-and-coming threat for a team that lost both of its starting receivers to injury. Mike Evans will be 32 this upcoming season and is publicly talking about retirement in the near future. Tampa Bay will eventually need someone who can move into his role as a perimeter receiver that can win downfield.

Ricky White is a player in that mold who is worth a similar dart throw. His career yards per catch average in college is 14.8 and he has 20 catches on throws of 20+ air yards in the past two seasons. While he isn’t expected to run a blazing 40-yard dash, general consensus is he will register somewhere in the mid 4.4’s, it’s his ball tracking and ball-winning abilities down field that put him more in the mold of a Josh Palmer. Since 2023, White has caught seven of his 13 downfield contested catch opportunities.

Ricky White’s Receiving Statistics
2020: 10 catches, 223 yards (22.3 avg.), TD 
2022: 51 catches, 619 yards (12.1 avg.), 4 TDs
2023: 88 catches, 1,483 yards (16.9 avg.), 8 TDs
2024: 79 catches, 1,041 yards (13.2 avg.), 11 TDs

While he lacks Evans’ size, his overall profile meets that of other X receivers, and he has spent over 70% of his snaps in college out wide with incredible efficiency as a dynamic part of UNLV’s offense. He registered 2.93 yards per route run last year and 3.83 the year prior when he racked up over 1,400 yards. He has also proven to be explosive after the catch.

Ricky White is a playmaker with the ball in his hands, turning these 12 yard plays into 30 plus plays regularly.

He is going to be a great Z receiver at the next level, pair him with an alpha and watch him cook. pic.twitter.com/2IZPFhmItd

— Jeremy (@PopesFFH) January 21, 2025

White doesn’t have the smoothest transitions at the top of his stem, especially against man coverage, and is most comfortable working deep-breaking routes like posts, corners or deep digs against zone. But that skillset plays perfectly for a Bucs offense that, while fantastic last year, lacked a truly consistent deep, field-stretching threat.

Round 6 – Louisville DT Thor Griffith
Redshirt Senior • 6-2, 320

Thor Griffith, who spent his final college season at Louisville, is a tough-as-nails nose tackle who lives to drive offensive linemen backwards. He keeps his eyes in the backfield to make sure he is constantly working to the ball. His best tool is his leverage as he consistently drives up and into opponents’ chests. Pairing that initial contact that he initiates more often than not with a strong leg drive ensures he plays forward more than backwards.

Griffith’s game has some additional nuance to it. He is smart, evidenced by his Harvard background, and displays good feel for how interior linemen want to attack him. Yet he isn’t able exploit a leaner with a quick arm-over or just twisting his frame to reduce surface area and slip past guards or centers trying to get horizontal displacement with him.

Thor Griffith is a former wrestling standout and thrower earning Freak’s List honors for a sub 5 40 and 45x rep on the bench press. @thorgriff elite testing numbers are supplements to high motor film showing ability to counter and burst through blocks with unique short area qks pic.twitter.com/GZq3AwWcxj

— Shane Coughlin (@Shane__Coughlin) July 28, 2024

Griffith’s athleticism may shoot him up draft boards once there is official testing on him. He made Bruce Feldman’s “The Freaks List,” which ranks the Top 100 most athletic players in football. He made the list due to a sub-5.0 second 40-yard dash time and a 45-repetition bench press of 225 pounds. No defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL draft over 300 pounds matched Griffith’s reported 40 time.

His blend of physicality, I.Q. and athleticism make Griffith a tantalizing developmental project to learn under Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey.

Thor Griffith’s Defensive Statistics
2021: 31 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 1 FF
2022: 46 tackles, 12 TFLs, 5 sacks
2023: 55 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 FF
2024: 21 tackles, 6 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 FF

Round 7 – California ILB Teddye Buchanan
Senior • 6-2, 236

California’s Teddye Buchanan brings more size than most linebackers in this draft. The measurements above were verified at the East-West Shrine Bowl, where Buchanan had a good week impressing scouts and draft media members. Buchanan starred at UC Davis from 2020-23 before transferring to Cal for his senior season.

I remain very impressed with Cal LB Teddye Buchanan.

Had a great weekend at the Shrine Bowl.

Rams like to bring simulated pressures and blitz a LB. Had 25 pressures last year with the Golden Bears. pic.twitter.com/3FOsi6NzF4

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) January 28, 2025

In addition to his pass rushing aptitude – Buchanan had nine career sacks – which would play up in Todd Bowles’ system, he is a sure tackler who can bring down playmakers in space. In five collegiate seasons he never had a missed tackle rate over 10%. Buchanan is a smart player with a high football IQ. He understands route development behind him which makes him an effective hook defender.

His long speed is limited, which means he may not be the best seam or pole runner in a Tampa 2 defensive call, but he works effectively in hooks, flats and against screens. Buchanan has shown a clear understanding of spatial awareness throughout his career, constantly putting himself near the ball as evidenced by his eight interceptions and 11 pass breakups in college.

Teddye Buchanan’s Defensive Statistics
2020: 19 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
2021: 74 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 4 PBUs
2022: 44 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 INTs, 5 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR
2023: 72 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs
2024: 114 tackles, 12 TFLs, 5 sacks, 4 PD, 2 FFs

He has a quick trigger and can drive to the ball well with good trigger/burst. His best trait may be his ability to find and exploit creases to get himself into the backfield quickly. However, Buchanan struggles to shed blocks when offensive linemen are able to climb to him and he can get engulfed at times.

Buchanan has primarily played the Mike role, which would make him a strong complement to Lavonte David this year and a possible complement to someone like Carson Schwesinger in the future. His play is best the closer to the line of scrimmage he gets. As he drops deeper, he can panic and start to become more frenetic in his movements. His athletic testing will most likely show up as more average than great, which will hurt his draft stock. Still, his tenacious play style will make him a factor on special teams as a rookie as he learns Tampa Bay’s defense.