The Bucs’ offseason is here and the 2024 NFL Draft will be here before too long. The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl has concluded, and now it’s time for the Pewter Report 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 2.0 – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report.

Coming off a 9-8 season and a third straight NFC South championship, Tampa Bay has plenty of needs and has several star players slated for free agency next month in March. The Bucs are also expected to part ways with 31-year old edge rusher Shaq Barrett this offseason, as well as let starting inside linebacker Devin White walk in free agency.

Tampa Bay is hopeful to re-sign pending free agents like quarterback Baker Mayfield, Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., legendary inside linebacker Lavonte David and kicker Chase McLaughlin. This Pewter Report 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 2.0 is operating under the premise that those five stars return in 2024.

Bucs Personnel Needs

Outside Linebacker

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs found a third-round gem in YaYa Diaby, who led the team with 7.5 sacks during his rookie season despite not being a starter until mid-November. But Tampa Bay is expected to part ways with Shaq Barrett, whose production dipped to just 4.5 sacks at age 31 while coming back from a torn Achilles tendon. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, a former first-round pick is entering a contract year and the team is not expected to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2025 season.

The Bucs need another athletic pass rusher who can start opposite Diaby in 2024. Anthony Nelson is a good rotational rusher and is strong in run defense. Tampa Bay has two promising young edge rushers in Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez, but neither appears ready to start, and both must beat out veteran reserve Cam Gill first.

Interior Offensive Line

The Bucs could use an upgrade at left guard and center this year. Veteran free agent Matt Feiler wasn’t the answer and was benched for backup Aaron Stinnie, who played slightly better in the run game, but is also a free agent. Tampa Bay drafted right guard Cody Mauch in the second round and he showed some real promise and has one guard spot locked down. The team could also consider moving him to center in 2024. The Bucs could draft another guard or sign a value guard in the second wave of free agency.

At center, the Bucs have gotten average play from Robert Hainsey over the last two years as a fill-in for injured starter Ryan Jensen. At age 33, Jensen’s career is over due as he’s officially retired due to his devastating knee injury during the 2022 training camp. Hainsey is a smart, tough player, but lacks the power and tone-setting attitude that Jensen brought to the offensive line. The Bucs could draft a center to compete with Hainsey, sign one in free agency or move Mauch to the pivot post.

Strong Safety

Saints TE Taysom Hill and Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs’ play at strong safety has taken a step back since losing Jordan Whitehead in free agency after the 2021 season. Mike Edwards and Keanu Neal weren’t the answer last year, and neither was Ryan Neal this season. The Bucs may tinker around with moving Christian Izien from nickel cornerback to strong safety, which is where he played at Rutgers, or roll with Kaevon Merriweather in his second year with the team.

But adding another safety who can play in the box as well as rotating to centerfield for competition would be ideal. Zyon McCollum played some safety in the playoffs, but mostly at free safety with Antoine Winfield Jr. in the box.

Tight End

In terms of strength of position, tight end might have been the weakest in Tampa Bay last year. It was certainly the youngest and most inexperienced with a pair of second-year players in Cade Otton and Ko Kieft atop the depth chart, along with rookie Payne Durham. All three players are Day 3 picks and the Bucs could use an upgrade in talent in the tight end room.

None of the Bucs’ tight ends are real weapons in the passing game, nor is any one of them an exceptional blocker. Tampa Bay made do at tight end this year, but could certainly due better in 2024 with a more talented starter to supplant Otton, who might be better as TE2.

Running Back

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Rachaad White was the wire-to-wire starter at running back this year for the Bucs, and he excelled in that role as the season went on. While he finished with 990 yards rushing and was 10 yards short of his first 1,000-yard season, White did top 1,500 yards in both rushing and receiving, and was the league’s fourth-most productive back. The Bucs need more depth at the running back position, as White shouldn’t have to carry such a huge workload in 2024.

Chase Edmonds was a nice change-of-pace back, but is a pending free agent. The Bucs jettisoned former third-round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was a bust, at midseason. Heralded undrafted free agent rookie Sean Tucker never made an impact, nor did he see the field much. The Bucs could use another good running back to compete for the backup job behind White in 2024, and be a capable starter in case White goes down with an injury.

Bucs’ 2024 NFL Draft Picks

The Bucs currently have seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. They traded their fifth-round pick to the Eagles last year in order to move up and select wide receiver Trey Palmer in the sixth round. The Bucs are expected to receive a seventh-round compensatory pick for the loss of free agent safety Mike Edwards in the 2023 offseason.

Pewter Report’s 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft series is energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Try the new CELSIUS Essentials, which come in a variety of flavors, including Cherry Limeade, Blue Crush, Dragonberry, and Orangesicle, and are perfect for the workout enthusiast.

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. You can also order CELSIUS on Instacart.

2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft
By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo

Round 1 – Duke OL Graham Barton
Senior • 6-5, 314

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht believes in a couple of core principles. First, football has always been – and will continue to be – won in the trenches. And second, he loves to draft athletic left tackles and move them inside to play guard. He’s done that with Hobart College’s Ali Marpet in 2015, Humboldt State’s Alex Cappa in 2018, and North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch in 2023.

The times he’s tried to draft right tackles and move them inside, such with Notre Dame’s Robert Hainsey in 2021 and Central Michigan’s Luke Goedeke in 2022, it hasn’t always worked out great. So why not stick to the formula when looking for another interior offensive lineman?

Barton played in six games during his freshman season at Duke, getting five starts at center before becoming a three-year starter at left tackle. The big, athletic 6-foot-5, 314-pounder played 492 reps at left tackle last year, 895 snaps at left tackle as a junior and 747 reps at left tackle as a sophomore. Pro Football Focus gave him the following overall grades for the past three seasons:

Graham Barton’s Pro Football Focus Grades
2020: 61.3 grade – 3 QB hits and 3 QB hurries allowed
2021: 73.1 grade – 6 sacks surrendered, 4 QB hits and 10 QB hurries allowed
2022: 88.2 grade – 2 sacks surrendered, 8 QB hurries allowed
2023: 75.9 grade – 2 sacks surrendered, 9 QB hurries allowed

Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who was featured in last month’s Pewter Report 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft in the second round, will likely be off the draft board by the time Tampa Bay selects at No. 26 due to some dominant practices at the Senior Bowl. So Barton would be an ideal option who checks a lot of boxes for what the Bucs look for in an offensive lineman. He’s mobile, agile and an aggressive finisher in the run game. Barton has quick feet in pass protection, but shorter than ideal arm length, which is why he will likely kick inside at the next level.

The Blue Devils star was supposed to see action at center and guard in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, but opted out of the game to continue to rehab some injuries that occurred during his senior season. Offensive line expert Brandon Thorn had this to say about Barton for Bleacher Report:

If Tampa Bay is going to invest $30 million-plus per year in quarterback Baker Mayfield, Licht and the Bucs’ brass want to make sure he is well protected, and that the team can provide balance to the offense by running the ball more efficiently and effectively.

Round 2 – Penn State OLB Adisa Isaac
Senior • 6-4, 250

Tampa Bay is expected to release veteran outside linebacker Shaq Barrett this offseason, as he’ll turn 32 this fall and his production has waned. Former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is entering a contract year and has not lived up to expectations. The Bucs could use another starting-caliber player at outside linebacker. Pewter Report had Alabama edge rusher Chris Braswell in the first round of its initial 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft, but will switch things up this time around.

Isaac, who actually had a better Senior Bowl week than Braswell did, has a non-stop motor and is equally adept at run defense as he is rushing the passer. He had an 82.4 run defense grade and a 78.3 pass rush grade against true pass sets. His 13% pass rush win rate could stand some improvement, but he out-performed teammate Chop Robinson when it came to getting to the quarterback and into the backfield with 11.5 sacks to 9.5 sacks over the last two seasons, and 27 tackles for loss to 17.5 tackles for loss.

Adisa Isaac’s Defensive Stats
2019: 14 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, FF
2020: 13 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks
2021: 0 stats
2022: 28 tackles, 11 TFLs, 4 sacks
2023: 37 tackles, 16 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, FF

Penn State has cranked out NFL-caliber pass rushers lately, including Dallas’ Micah Parsons, Carolina’s Yetur Gross-Matos, Baltimore’s Odafe Oweh, and Atlanta’s Arnold Ebiketie. Isaac has long arms and the athletic ability to rush the passer from multiple spots, as well as being able to drop into coverage. He has a quick first step off the line and the ankle flexion necessary to bend the arc and dip and rip his way under tackles to get to the quarterback.

Blessed to have strong hands, Isaac can jolt defenders backwards with a powerful long arm that helps his get to the quarterback or set the edge in the run game. Fully recovered from an Achilles injury that cost him the 2021 season, Isaac would be a welcomed addition to Todd Bowles’ defense.

ROUND 3 – Kentucky RB Ray Davis
Senior • 5-9, 215

The Bucs could use another running back to pair with Rachaad White, who was able to start all 17 games in 2023 in his first year as the team’s feature back. Tampa Bay was fortunate that he did not get injured, as there would be quite a drop off in talent at the running back position as a result. Finding another starting-caliber runner is important, and Davis is a player that new offensive coordinator Liam Coen coached last year at Kentucky.

Davis spent time at three schools during his five-year college career. His first two seasons were at Temple, which is Todd Bowles’ alma mater, before transferring to the SEC to play the next two seasons at Vanderbilt. He nearly rushed for 1,000 yards as a true freshman for the Owls in 2019 and scored eight touchdowns. He finally topped 1,000 yards during his second season for the Commodores in 2022, but wanted to find more team success, so he transferred within the SEC to Kentucky.

Coen used Davis’ ability to run the ball and catch it in his lone season at Kentucky. He had a career-high 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Davis also averaged close to 10 yards per catch, which is amazing for a running back, while hauling in 33 passes for 323 yards and scoring a whopping seven touchdowns in 2023.

Ray Davis’ Rushing Stats
2019: 193 carries for 936 yards (4.8 avg.), 8 TDs
2020: 78 carries for 308 yards (3.9 avg.), TD
2021: 44 carries for 211 yards (4.8 avg.), TD
2022: 232 carries for 1,042 yards (4.5 avg.), 5 TDs
2023: 199 carries for 1,129 yards (5.7 avg.), 14 TDs

Ray Davis’ Receiving Stats
2019: 15 rec. for 181 yards (12.1 avg.), 2 TDs
2020: 12 rec. for 62 yards (5.2 avg.)
2021: 5 rec. for 27 yards (5.4 avg.)
2022: 29 rec. for 169 yards (5.8 avg.)
2023: 33 rec. for 323 yards (9.8 avg.), 7 TDs

Davis had 11 100-yard rushing games in his three-stop college career, plus four more games where he ran for 90 yards or more. His best game came against Florida where he ran for an amazing 280 yards on 26 carries (10.8 avg.) and scored three rushing touchdowns, including a 75-yard jaunt. Davis also had a 9-yard receiving TD against the Gators in a career-best performance.

Tampa Bay could certainly draft another wide receiver here in the third round, especially with Chris Godwin entering a contract year. But Trey Palmer and David Moore showed some promise down the stretch, and Moore could be re-signed in free agency. Coen’s familiarity with Davis is key in this selection, and Tampa Bay’s backfield is bolstered as a result. Davis is a team-oriented back who could help out on special teams when he’s not on the field as a running back.

ROUND 4 – Tulane QB Michael Pratt
Senior • 6-2, 216

Even if the Bucs re-sign Baker Mayfield to a multi-year contract extension, drafting a quarterback of the future would be wise – but not in the second round as the team did in 2021 with Kyle Trask. Fans of Trask will say that he hasn’t really had the opportunity to show that he can be an effective NFL starter, and that he’s been behind Tom Brady for two years and Baker Mayfield last year. But greatness usually shows up on the practice field, and while Trask has improved in his three seasons in Tampa Bay, the team doesn’t believe he is a starting-caliber QB yet.

With Trask entering a contract year, it’s time for the Bucs to prepare to turn the page and find another young quarterback to develop. Pratt would be a great addition on Day 3 as he was a big-time winner at Tulane. He helped engineer the greatest one-year turnaround in college football, as the Green Wave went 2-10 and was displaced by a hurricane in 2021 and improved to 12-2 the next season.

Pratt and Tulane nearly beat No. 2 Oklahoma on the road before losing 40-35, in the season opener in 2021. In 2022, the Green Wave beat eventual Big XII champion Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., as well as getting two more wins over Top 20 teams versus UCF and Cincinnati to win the AAC. Pratt’s best win came in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over No. 8 USC.

The Green Wave trailed Caleb Williams and the Trojans, 45-30, midway through the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl before winning, 46-45 in the last minute. Pratt threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 83 yards on 15 carries. While not known as a scrambler, the 6-foot-2, 216-pound quarterback is a good athlete who can pick up first downs and touchdowns with his legs. Pratt rushed for 28 touchdowns in four seasons as a starter.

Michael Pratt’s Passing Stats
2020: 140-of-254 passing (55.1%) for 1,806 yards, 20 TDs, 8 INTs
2021: 190-of-329 passing (57.8%) for 2,390 yards, 21 TDs, 8 INTs
2022: 215-of-338 passing (63.6%) for 3,009 yards, 27 TDs, 5 INTs
2023: 185-of-283 passing (65.4%) for 2,406 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs

Michael Pratt’s Rushing Stats
115 carries for 229 yards (2.0 avg.), 8 TDs
105 carries for 154 yards (1.5 avg.), 5 TDs
129 carries for 478 yards (3.7 avg.), 10 TDs
98 carries for 286 yards (2.9 avg.), 5 TDs

Pratt has the reputation for being a winner, and his record as a starter the last two seasons at Tulane was a remarkable 21-3. He went 11-2 as a starter in 2022, helping Tulane finish ninth in the final AP poll. Last year, he missed the Ole Miss game due to a knee injury, but went 10-1 as a starter for the 11-3 Green Wave. While he has an NFL-caliber arm, he does not have elite arm strength. Pratt’s accuracy did improve throughout his career, including from 63.6% as a junior to 65.4% as a senior.

Pratt is not a prolific passer, as he only had five 300-yard games in his 45 career starts. But what he does well is put points on the board and avoid turnovers. A strong play-action passer, Pratt passed for 90 touchdowns and just 26 interceptions at Tulane. His last two seasons were incredible, as he threw 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 2022, while passing for 22 TDs and only five INTs last season. He didn’t have the benefit of a true quarterbacks coach at Tulane and went through four different offensive coordinators in his four seasons as the Green Wave starter.

Pratt is a natural leader who could grow into a starting role and eventually succeed Mayfield in Tampa Bay. He could also serve as a capable starter immediately should something happen to Mayfield and he misses time due to injury.

ROUND 6 – Tulane CB Jarius Monroe
Senior • 6-2, 205

The Bucs go back to Tulane for another stud player with their next pick, this time with Monroe, a playmaking cornerback with great length. After spending three seasons at Nicholls State, Monroe transferred to Tulane where he became an instant starter and a high-energy team leader. Monroe plays with an edge and an attitude, and he’s a willing tackler in coverage and in run support.

The Bucs could use another cornerback with the ability to make plays on the ball, and Monroe finished his five seasons in college with 46 pass breakups and six interceptions, including a key pick against USC’s Caleb Williams in Tulane’s 46-45 upset win in the 2022 Cotton Bowl. He had three INTs in each of his two seasons with the Green Wave. Monroe was also the Defensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Bowl where he recorded another interception.

Monroe’s Defensive Stats
2019: 43 tackles, 13 PBUs, FR, PAT block
2020: 23 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 5 PBUs
2021: 36 tackles, 10 PBUs
2022: 49 tackles, TFL, 3 INTs, 8 PBUs
2023: 48 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, sack, 3 INTs, 10 PBUs, FF

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles likes long cornerbacks, and at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Monroe has an NFL-ready frame and the type of size Tampa Bay craves on the outside. With the Bucs possibly moving on from Carlton Davis III this offseason due to salary cap reasons, Tampa Bay could be in the market for cornerback depth behind Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum, who would replace Davis. Monroe has the ability to eventually become a starter, and he could star on special teams as he learns the defense and develops in practice.

ROUND 7 – Kentucky ILB Trevin Wallace
Junior • 6-1, 244

After selecting running back Ray Davis in the third round, Tampa Bay goes back to Kentucky to draft another player in Wallace, the Wildcats’ middle linebacker the last three seasons. Wallace is a fast, physical linebacker with good athleticism and a nose for the ball. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles will love the fact that Wallace racked up 10 career sacks at Kentucky, including 5.5 during his junior season.

New Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen knows Wallace well from spending the 2021 and 2023 seasons as the Wildcats play-caller. He’s a high character leader who was voted as a team captain this past season. With the Bucs letting Devin White go in free agency, the team could use another linebacker to compete with K.J. Britt, who is entering a contract year, J.J. Russell and SirVocea Dennis.

Wallace is more than a downhill linebacker. He has the ability to drop in coverage and make plays, evidenced by three career interceptions, but needs more work in this area. He is also prone to overrun plays and bite on play-action, but Wallace, who was at this year’s Senior Bowl, could easily improve in those areas with NFL-caliber coaching.

Trevin Wallace’s Defensive Stats
2021: 32 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, PBU, FF
2022: 54 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 2 INTs
2023: 80 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, INT, FF

Wallace is young, just 20 years old (he turns 21 on February 22), and he may not be ready to start right away. But he has an NFL frame at 6-foot-1, 244 pounds and the athleticism to make an impact on special teams while he learns Todd Bowles’ defense and eventually competes for the starting job. Wallace returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for a touchdown against Florida as a freshman in 2021.

ROUND 7 – Iowa TE Erick All
Senior • 6-5, 250

The Bucs continue to collect tight ends on Day 3. After having Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott in Pewter Report’s initial 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft, we mix things up this time with the drafting of All in the seventh round. All started his career at Michigan, where he had a promising 2021 season, catching 38 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns. He was the Hawkeyes’ leading receiver before suffering a torn ACL in October, which ended his season after catching 21 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns.

All spent the first four years of his career at Michigan, but transferred after having season-ending surgery in 2022 to correct an issue from a previous surgery. He wanted to go to Iowa to follow in a long line of successful Hawkeyes tight ends who have made it in the NFL, from George Kittle to T.J. Hockenson to most recently Sam LaPorta.

The Bucs could use another tight end to push Cade Otton and Payne Durham for playing time and to push the one-dimensional Ko Kieft off the roster. Tampa Bay needs a more dynamic playmaker at tight end, and when healthy, All has good speed and hands.

Erick All’s Receiving Stats
2019: 1 rec. for 10 yards (10.0 avg.)
2020: 12 rec. for 82 yards (6.8 avg.)
2021: 38 rec. for 437 yards (11.5 avg.), 2 TDs
2022: 3 rec. for 36 yards (12.0 avg.)
2023: 21 rec. for 299 yards (14.2 avg.), 3 TDs

All is a very good receiver and a good athlete. He’ll miss the offseason, but could be ready for training camp or by the start of the regular season, depending on how his rehab goes. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, All has the ability to be an inline blocker as well as a receiving tight end at the next level.