With 23 unrestricted free agents and looming salary cap troubles, as Tampa Bay has the second-worst cap situation in the league (over by $54,833,921 per OverTheCap.com), this is perhaps the most challenging Bucs mock draft Pewter Report has ever done. Granted, a lot will change with Tampa Bay’s roster between now and April when our final Bucs mock draft will be released, so take this initial Bucs mock draft with a grain of salt.

The Bucs – and Pewter Report – are heading to Mobile, Alabama for the 2023 Senior Bowl this week, and we’ll have our second Bucs mock draft next week after the top all-star game concludes. But first, let’s look at Tampa Bay’s team needs before deciding which players Pewter Report thinks general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles will select in 2023.

Bucs’ Personnel Needs

Quarterback

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: USA Today

Former second-round pick Kyle Trask is the only quarterback under contract. But entering his third season, Trask has been slow to develop, and will now begin learning a second system after the team fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen and others. The Bucs want Tom Brady to return, but he’ll have a decision to make about whether he wants to retire or continue playing – in Tampa Bay or elsewhere. Just because this is the Bucs’ top need doesn’t mean they’ll draft a quarterback in the first round – or at all – as the team may turn to free agency for a QB.

Safety

Antoine Winfield Jr. and Nolan Turner are the only safeties currently under contract. Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal are unrestricted free agents. It’s likely at least two of those veterans return. The Bucs could certainly draft another safety and nearly selected Georgia’s Lewis Cine with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft a year ago. This year’s draft class has a good amount of quality safeties.

Edge Rusher

Tampa Bay’s two starters – Shaquil Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – return in 2023. But Barrett will turn 30 and is coming off a torn Achilles. Anthony Nelson, Carl Nassib and Genard Avery are all unrestricted free agents, and the Bucs would like to have at least two of them return. But the Bucs are worried that Tryon-Shoyinka might not live up to his first-round billing and will likely want to add another edge rusher. The 2023 NFL Draft is deep at Edge.

Cornerback

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

Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting are slated to be free agents, and Dean could be the top cornerback available in March. It will be tough for the Bucs to have two cornerbacks averaging a combined $28 million or more per year, as the team just re-signed Carlton Davis III last year to a three-year deal worth just over $14 million per season. If Dean returns, cornerback becomes less of a need because the team is still high on Zyon McCollum, a fifth-round pick from last year. This year’s draft class is very deep at cornerback.

Linebacker

Lavonte David will be an unrestricted free agent at age 33. The Bucs would like to re-sign him, but it will have to be for less than the $12.5 million he made last year. If David, who was the Bucs’ best and most consistent defender in 2022, doesn’t return then linebacker becomes a huge need in Tampa Bay. K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell and Ulysses Gilbert III are special teamers and reserves, and none of them have the athleticism and instincts to start and replace David. There are a few good linebackers in this draft class, but it’s not deep.

Interior Defensive Line

Tampa Bay has two starters under contract in 2023 in Vita Vea and Logan Hall, who was last year’s top pick. Hall was a reserve last year and needs to add about 20 pounds of muscle and bulk in order to be ready to start this season. But there are a host of other veterans who are slated for free agency, including Akiem Hicks, Will Gholston, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Pat O’Connor and Deadrin Senat. Some, but not all of those veterans will return. How high of a need defensive line is in this year’s draft will be predicated on how many veterans return. There are some decent defensive tackles, but it’s not a deep draft at the position.

Tight End

The Bucs will likely move on from veteran Cam Brate, who turns 32 this summer, in order to save $2 million in cap room. Seldom-used veteran Kyle Rudolph is a free agent and won’t return. Tampa Bay drafted two tight ends last year in Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, but will likely have to add two more this year. One could come in a very deep and talented draft at the tight end position.

Wide Receiver

Bucs WR Russell Gage – Photo by: USA Today

Mike Evans turns 30 in August and is entering a contract year, while Chris Godwin continues his road back from a torn ACL at the end of the 2021 season. Both combined for just nine touchdowns last year after totaling 19 together in 2021. Russell Gage signed a three-year, $30 million deal last year, but was a huge disappointment, averaging a pedestrian 8.4 yards per catch. The Bucs might move on from Gage this offseason, and if they do receiver becomes a huge need as Deven Thompkins, an undrafted free agent, would be the current No. 3. Julio Jones, Breshad Perriman and Scotty Miller are free agents and likely won’t return. This is not a deep draft at receiver.

Offensive Tackle

The Bucs have a huge decision to make regarding left tackle Donovan Smith, who is coming off his worst season and turns 30 this year. Smith is entering a contract year and Tampa Bay could save just under $10 million by trading or releasing him if he can be trusted after 12 penalties and six sacks surrendered in 2022. If the Bucs move on from Smith then tackle becomes a huge need. Top reserve Josh Wells is also a free agent and is coming off a torn patella and won’t be healthy until after the start of the 2023 season. The 2023 draft has a decent amount of quality tackles.

Running Back

The Bucs might entertain cutting Leonard Fournette, who turns 28 this year, to save over $3 million this offseason. Giovani Bernard is a free agent and won’t be back. That leaves just Rachaad White, who was in last year’s Pewter Report Bucs mock draft, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn on the roster. Look for the Bucs to add another running back with speed in April, as there are a fair amount of good runners in this year’s draft.

Bucs’ 2023 NFL Draft Picks

The Bucs currently have seven picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay traded its fourth-round pick to Jacksonville last year to trade up to select McCollum in the fifth round. The Bucs turned a seventh-rounder into a sixth-rounder by sending linebacker Grant Stuard to Indianapolis in August of 2022. Tampa Bay also gets the New York Jets’ seventh-round pick from the 2020 trade for defensive tackle Steve McLendon. The Bucs are expected to receive two additional compensatory picks – a fifth-rounder and a seventh-rounder – from the league later this spring.

Pewter Report’s 2023 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft is presented by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Try the new Fantasy Vibe flavor, which is a refreshing mix of mandarin orange and marshmallow, and the new crisp Lemon Lime. To find CELSIUS near you, visit CELSIUS.com and click on the store locator. To purchase CELSIUS online visit Amazon.com and click on the subscribe and save feature to save money and have CELSIUS shipped right to your door.

2023 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft

ROUND 1 – Boston College WR Zay Flowers
5-9, 182 • Senior

There’s a likely chance the Bucs would address a higher need on defense with their first-round pick than draft a receiver. But in a pass-first league, the Bucs could certainly use more explosiveness and touchdowns on a offense that averaged just 18.4 points per game. Tampa Bay has more personnel needs on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense, which is missing speed, is what needs to be fixed the most offseason. Mike Evans (14.6 avg.), who turns 30 in August and is entering a contract year, was the only Buccaneer to average over 10 yards per catch last year, which is awful.

As much as the Bucs missed Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet and future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski last year, what Tampa Bay’s offense might have missed the most was Antonio Brown’s speed and ability to separate. Flowers is one of the fastest, quickest receivers in this year’s draft class. His game is reminiscent of AB with a little bit of Tyler Lockett thrown in for good measure. Brown is 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, while Lockett is 5-foot-10, 182 pounds.

Brown put up Hall of Fame-caliber numbers in his career and helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV. All Lockett has done in the NFL is make the All-Pro team three times, and record 1,000 yards in each of his last four seasons, while averaging nine touchdowns per year over that span.

Flowers caught 200 passes for 3,056 yards (15.3 avg.) with 29 touchdowns playing in a less than average Boston College offense that had a lot of injuries and inconsistency at the quarterback position. Those numbers are very similar to the 249 career receptions for 3,710 yards (14.6 avg.) and 29 TDs that Lockett put up in college at Kansas State.

Flowers’ Receiving Stats
2019: 22 rec. 341 yards (15.5 avg.), 3 TDs
2020: 56 rec. 892 yards (15.9 avg.), 9 TDs
2021: 44 rec. 746 yards (17.0 avg.), 5 TDs
2022: 78 rec. 1,077 yards (13.8 avg.), 12 TDs

Flowers’ Rushing Stats
2019: 27 carries, 195 yards (7.2 avg.), 1 TD
2020: 11 carries, 41 yards (3.7 avg.), 1 TD
2021: 7 carries, 69 yards (9.9 avg.)
2022: 12 carries, 40 yards (3.3 avg.)

If the Bucs decide to move on from the disappointing Russell Gage this offseason, Flowers could step in as an immediate starting flanker (Z receiver) in Tampa Bay’s three-receiver sets. Pro Football Focus rates Flowers as the 19th-best prospect in the draft and the second-best receiver behind TCU’s Quentin Johnson and ahead of Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and USC’s Jordan Addison.

PFF writes: “Flowers is the best pure separator in the draft class. A defensive back just isn’t going to stick with him across on his route breaks unless they’re holding him. He racked up 1,077 yards and 12 scores in 2022.”

Flowers is one of the draft’s better deep threats with 12 deep catches per PFF, and 500 deep receiving yards. He does a great job of tracking the ball down the field on deep passes. The shifty receiver has the speed to take the top off the defense as well as the elusiveness to get plenty of YAC on short and intermediate routes.

Flowers does need to work on catching the ball cleaner, evidenced by an uncharacteristic nine drops last year. But he also won seven contested catches in 2022 and plays bigger and tougher than his 5-foot-9 size would indicate.

In a day and age when the transfer portal allows players (like Addison) the chance to leave their school for greener gas elsewhere, Flowers showed the loyalty and resolve to stick it out at Boston College, which has impressed NFL scouts. Flowers has a high level of maturity and is an NFL-ready receiver from the mental side of football, and that’s part of the reason why he’s the top pick in Pewter Report’s first Bucs mock draft.

ROUND 2 – Kansas State OLB Felix Anudike-Uzomah
6-3, 255 • Junior

The Bucs are disappointed that Joe Tryon-Shoyinka didn’t improve his sack numbers in his second season. The Bucs’ first-round pick in 2021 has recorded four sacks in each of his two seasons in Tampa Bay, and continues to miss opportunities to get the quarterback on the ground. Complicating matters is the fact that Shaq Barrett turns 30 and is coming off a serious Achilles tendon injury. Barrett only notched three sacks in eight games before his season-ending injury.

With Anthony Nelson, Carl Nassib and Genard Avery all free agents this year, it makes sense for the Bucs to add another outside linebacker with pass rushing production. Anudike-Uzomah (pronounced ann-you-DEE-kay you-ZAH-mah) was the Big XII Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 in helping K-State win the Big XII championship. He finished his Wildcats career with 20.5 sacks, with 19.5 of them coming in the last two seasons, in addition to 26.5 tackles for loss and a safety.

Anudike-Uzomah’s Defensive Stats
2020: 1 tackle, 1 TFL, 1 sack
2021: 36 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 11 sacks, 6 FFs
2022: 31 tackles, 11 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, 2 FFs, PBU

Anudike-Uzomah has shown the ability to get sacks in bunches, evidenced by three games with three sacks or more. What’s even more impressive is that he played in the B gap as a defensive lineman or lined up over the offensive tackle 211 times last year in K-State’s 3-4 defensive scheme. At 255 pounds, his ideal position is outside the tackle as an outside linebacker where he lined 452 times. Still, Anudike-Uzomah showed the tenacity and toughness to take on guard-tackle double teams in the trenches.

Anudike-Uzomah came to K-State as a 220-pound edge rusher and has added 35 pounds in college over the last three years. He has a frame to add another 5-10 more pounds in the NFL, too. Anudike-Uzomah can win with speed and power, and his skill set should translate well at the next level.

A feisty and tenacious pass rusher, Anudike-Uzomah has very good bend at the top of the arc and can turn the corner due to his agility. He rarely misses sacks, too. Anudike-Uzomah is a high-character defender, who gives top effort whether it’s rushing the passer, stuffing the run or in pursuit downfield. He has been mocked anywhere from the late first round to the late second round, and would be a steal at No. 50 for the Bucs.

ROUND 3 – Texas A&M CB Jaylon Jones
6-2, 205 • Junior

The Bucs might have the need to find a starting cornerback in this year’s draft if Jamel Dean leaves via free agency. Even if he returns, Tampa Bay would be wise to add another cornerback in the draft to replace Sean Murphy-Bunting, who is also a free agent in 2023. Jones is a tall, long cornerback that fits Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme.

Jones had his best year for the Aggies in 2022 where he was rarely challenged by opposing quarterbacks. In fact, he was targeted only 19 times in 10 games compared to 60 targets the year prior. That’s part of the reason why Jones didn’t record an interception and only broke up two passes. Jones surrendered just 10 catches for 94 yards last year and no touchdowns, which is incredible. Opposing quarterbacks only completed 52.6% of their passes against the Aggies’ top cover corner.

Jones’ Defensive Stats
2020: 30 tackles, 6 PBUs, INT
2021: 35 tackles, TFL, 4 PBUS, 2 INTs
2022: 33 tackles, TFL, 2 PBUs, FR

Jones is a physical, hard-hitting cornerback that has been battle-tested in the SEC where he’s faced some of the top receivers in college football from LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Auburn. He’s a willing tackler in run support and has the type of mentality to thrive in a Todd Bowles defense.

ROUND 5 – Tulane RB Tyjae Spears
5-10, 190 • Senior

The Bucs could use some more speed in the backfield and another runner in case the team decides to make Leonard Fournette a salary cap casualty after a disappointing season. Rachaad White is an elusive, slippery runner, but Spears is faster and more dynamic. His lack of ideal size will probably push the Senior Bowl participant to Day 3, but former Memphis running back Kenny Gainwell, who was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round in 2021, is a perfect comp.

Spears really emerged as a weapon for the Green Wave as a junior and was a catalyst for Tulane’s 12-2 season and the 46-45 Cotton Bowl win over USC. The slashing runner has incredible vision and an uncanny ability to slip tackles and break tackles despite his smallish, wiry build.

Spears finished his collegiate career with 15 100-yard games, including eight straight to end his time at Tulane. He topped 200 yards twice, including a 17-carry, 205-yard (12.1 avg.) day against the Trojans in the Cotton Bowl where he scored a career-high four touchdowns.

Spears’ Rushing Stats
2019: 32 carries, 192 yards (6.0 avg.), TD
2020: 37 carries, 274 yards (7.4 avg.), 2 TDs
2021: 129 carries, 863 yards (6.7 avg.), 9 TDs
2022: 229 carries, 1,581 yards (6.9 avg.), 19 TDs

Spears’ Receiving Stats
2019: 5 rec., 133 yards (26.6 avg.), TD
2020: 2 rec., 30 yards (15 avg.)
2021: 19 rec., 145 yards (7.6 avg.)
2022: 22 rec., 256 yards (11.6 avg.), 2 TDs

Spears is a dynamic play-maker capable of playing on all three downs due to his exceptional ability to run routes and catch the ball, evidenced by 48 career catches for 564 yards (11.8 avg.) and three touchdowns. Last year Spears gained 1,052 yards after contact, which ranked sixth in the FBS, and had 21 runs of 15 yards or more, which ranked 18th. His 63 forced missed tackles was 34th in the nation.

Equally adept at zone and gap running schemes, Spears is an elusive weapon that would be a perfect complement to White in Tampa Bay’s backfield. He’s the second speedy weapon added to the offense in Pewter Report’s Bucs mock draft.

ROUND 6 – Jackson State ILB Aubrey Miller Jr.
6-2, 225 • Senior

The Bucs might have a more pressing need to draft a linebacker earlier than Day 3 if Lavonte David isn’t re-signed. We’re operating under the premise that David will return to Tampa Bay because they can’t afford to lose him in free agency. Regardless, David is 33 and the Bucs will need to find an eventual replacement. K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell and Ulysses Gilbert III haven’t shown they can be anything more than special teamers.

Miller, who will be participating in the Senior Bowl, was a two-year stud playing for Deion Sanders at Jackson State after transferring from Missouri. He racked up 226 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, six forced fumbles and recovered three fumbles for the Tigers.

Miller’s Defensive Stats
2021: 109 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, FF, FR
2022: 117 tackles, 12 TFLs, 2 sacks, 6 PBUs, 5 FFs, 2 FRs

Miller is a tough, hard-nosed linebacker who loves to play downhill where his physicality can take over at the line of scrimmage. But he also has enough athleticism and agility to thrive in pass coverage where he earned a 91.9 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. Miller made 14 stops in coverage and only allowed QBs to complete 58.3% of their passes against him.

With his brute force playing style, Miller could help the Bucs on special teams while transitioning to defense at the NFL level during his rookie season. A good week in Mobile and he could see his stock rise past the sixth round where he’s drafted by Tampa Bay in this Bucs mock draft.

ROUND 6 – West Virginia DT Dante Stills
6-3, 289 • Senior

The Bucs add another young defensive tackle to the mix with Stills, who racked up 53 tackles for loss and 24.5 sacks in five years at West Virginia. Due to the COVID year in 2020, Stills returned for his super senior season in 2022 where he added some necessary size to go from 280 pounds to 289.

Stills will likely need to add an additional 10 pounds to anchor against the run at the NFL level, but he’s an outstanding run defender to begin with. He earned a 90.3 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus for the 2022 season due to his high motor and relentless style of physical play.

Stills’ Defensive Stats
2018: 14 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 FFs
2019: 26 tackles, 14 TFLs, 8 sacks, PBU
2020: 35 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 PBUs, FR
2021: 36 tackles, 15 TFLs, 7 sacks, INT, FF
2022: 26 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, PBU, 2 FFs, FR

Stills adds another athletic defensive lineman in the mold of Logan Hall to Tampa Bay’s D-line room. The Bucs want to increase their sack total in 2023 and Stills’ tenacity as pass rusher and ability to penetrate can certainly help. Stills will turn 24 in December, which makes him an older defender in this year’s draft. That’s part of the reason he’ll be a Day 3 pick and lands in the sixth round of this Bucs mock draft.

ROUND 7 – Iowa S Kaevon Merriweather
6-0, 211 • Senior

Tampa Bay could have a big need at safety depending on what happens in free agency, so the Bucs might not be able to afford to wait until the seventh round to address the position. But if two out of three – Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal – are re-signed, adding a playmaker like Merriweather in the seventh round would be a steal.

Merriweather was a bit of a late bloomer at Iowa, but ended his Hawkeyes career with a bang with five takeaways, including a pair of defensive touchdowns. At 6-foot, 211 pounds he has ideal size to play safety in Todd Bowles’ scheme and could contribute on special teams as a rookie.

Merriweather’s Defensive Stats
2019: 5 tackles, PBU
2020: 23 tackles, PBU
2021: 42 tackles, 4 PBUs, INT
2022: 47 tackles, 2 TFLs, 3 INTs, 3 PBUs, FF, FR, 2 TDs

Merriweather is well versed at playing deep safety (717 snaps), box safety (639 snaps) and lining up in the slot (447 snaps) over the last three years, according to Pro Football Focus, so his versatility is a big plus. The two-year starter would be a great way to cap off Pewter Report’s initial Bucs mock draft.