We are in the thick of the 2026 Bucs offseason and it’s time for Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 3.0 – presented by Jorgensen Law P.A. Be sure to tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Show to discuss the first Bucs mock draft live at 8:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18 on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.

Todd Bowles returns as Tampa Bay’s head coach in 2026 despite a collapse from a 6-2 start that saw the team finish 8-9 and lose the NFC South division to Carolina. Bowles made several changes to his coaching staff, including replacing offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard with former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

The Bucs did not retain many of their free agents this offseason. Franchise legendary wide receiver Mike Evans departed for San Francisco despite Tampa Bay making him a sizeable offer. The Bucs made little to no effort to retain defensive tackle Logan Hall, outside linebacker Haason Reddick, defensive tackle Greg Gaines or cornerback Jamel Dean, while running back Rachaad White made it clear he was not going to return even if the team wanted him back.

But they re-sign starting tight end Cade Otton, and backup guard Dan Feeney and tight end Ko Kieft while picking up the team option on punter Riley Dixon’s contract. Inside linebacker Lavonte David may still decide to return for his 14th season – and if he does the team will welcome him back – or he may decide to retire at 36 years old.

To fill the roles of some of those departing players Tampa Bay has signed the following free agents: defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, running back Kenny Gainwell, inside linebacker Alex Anzalone, backup quarterback Jake Browning and outside linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Bucs Personnel Needs

Inside Linebacker

Despite the addition of Alex Anzalone to the roster, the Bucs still need to build up their linebacker room. David’s status is still unknown, but even if he returns his diminished athleticism matches the same issue with SirVocea Dennis. Behind them is 2025 undrafted free agent Nick Jackson, who spent the majority of 2025 on the practice squad.

The Bucs need to continue to add to this room, pushing Dennis and Jackson further down the depth chart while also hedging for a world without David. With a draft that has real depth at linebacker, Tampa Bay needs to add at least one to this group – likely in the first three rounds – and another on Day 3.

Bucs DT Vita Vea ILBs SirVocea Dennis and Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Outside Linebacker

Letting Haason Reddick go, which was expected, left a hole at starting outside linebacker. David Walker, a 2025 fourth-round pick who the team is high on but missed all of last year with a torn ACL, is someone the team is hoping can help raise the floor of the group as a depth player who will log meaningful snaps. The same can be said for Al-Quadin Muhammad, who was a quality designated pass rusher for the Lions last year, notching 11 sacks and over 50 pressures at the age of 30.

Yaya Diaby is the undisputed head of this group. He has been near the top of the edge rusher leaderboards in pressures over the past two years and has logged seven and 7.5 sacks in two of his first three seasons in the NFL. Other holdovers from the 2025 team include Anthony Nelson, who is a solid run defender, but lacks upside as a pass rusher, and 2024 second-round draft pick Chris Braswell, who the team is quickly losing faith in.

The Bucs need to add another edge rusher to help round out a pass rushing group that suddenly looks better at the bottom but still lacks impact at the top.

Tight End

The Bucs brought back Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, keeping the 2025 tight end room intact. But if Otton were to go down for any significant amount of time, the position would be bereft of any real threat. Kieft is a blocker by trade, operating as a quasi-sixth lineman.

Payne Durham has operated as the team’s de facto TE2 for a couple of seasons now but has failed to stand out in any facet of the game. Devin Culp, the 2024 seventh-round pick, has failed to translate his athleticism into a climb up the depth chart and earn any meaningful playing time.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs could use an ‘F’ tight end for 12 personnel who can act as an intermediate-to-vertical threat split off the line of scrimmage who can force Durham, Kieft and Culp to fight it out for the TE3 role.

Defensive Tackle

A’Shawn Robinson was a good first step in helping replace the snaps lost with the departures of Greg Gaines and Logan Hall. Theoretically, Robinson will split the duties of the two, taking Hall’s snaps on early base downs in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defensive front and then acting as a backup nose tackle to Vita Vea as Gaines has done for the last three years. And, again theoretically, a healthy Calijah Kancey gives the team a very good top three at defensive tackle.

But Kancey is entering his fourth season and can’t stay healthy, missing an average of seven games per season. Vea just turned 31 and is entering a contract year. Finding a future starter or two in this year’s draft class would be ideal for immediate depth and long-term planning purposes.

Elijah Roberts, the team’s 2025 fifth-round pick, was thrust into more snaps than the team expected last year and showed flashes as a pass rusher. But he needs a strong offseason where he builds strength to improve his ability to fit the run. Jayson Jones and Elijah Simmons are massive humans who the team picked up midseason last year and could provide strong run defense for a handful of snaps each game.

The Bucs could use some additional pass rush talent to challenge the back of the roster players for the sixth spot on the depth chart.

Cornerback

With Jamel Dean now gone, Zyon McCollum becomes the veteran presence in the room. But he is coming off of a down year after signing a three-year, $48 million contract extension. Behind McCollum, two second-year draft picks will battle it out for the other starter role opposite him. Those players, second-round pick Benjamin Morrison and third-round pick Jacob Parrish, both logged significant snaps as rookies to varying degrees of success.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Parrish will be the starting nickel regardless of if he wins the starting job on base personnel. But behind those three the quality drops quickly. J.J. Roberts, a 2025 undrafted free agent, was impressive in preseason last year before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. He should back up Parrish at nickel and can also play safety, but on the outside, the team only has Josh Hayes, who has been mostly a core special teamer since being drafted in 2023.

Tampa Bay could use a veteran pickup and a draft pick between now and training camp in August to fill out the depth chart. Those players should be able to play on the perimeter and give the Bucs more depth at a position that takes a toll on a player’s body.

Bucs’ 2026 Draft Picks

Tampa Bay currently has all seven of its own draft picks in 2026. Any compensatory draft picks will be determined by the NFL prior to the NFL Draft.

Round 1: No. 15 overall
Round 2: No. 46 overall
Round 3: No. 77 overall
Round 4: No. 116 overall
Round 5: No. 153 overall
Round 6: No. 193 overall
Round 7: No. 229 overall

Pewter Report’s 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft series is presented by Jorgensen Law P.A. Need a personal injury attorney or legal help with workers’ comp or social security? Turn to Jorgensen Law P.A. Attorneys Spencer and Grady Jorgensen are huge Tampa Bay fans and Pewter Report readers with a law office located in St. Petersburg, Fla. They are the champions of the injured and disabled.

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Pewter Report’s 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 3.0

By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo

ROUND 1 – Georgia ILB C.J. Allen
Junior • 6-1, 230

Allen is on the smaller side, but he packs a punch and oozes athletic ability. He has worn the green dot as a Mike linebacker at Georgia and their coaching staff raves about his communication. He opted out of athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his tape shows a fast and nimble player who can cover backs one-on-one and loves to move downhill.

Allen would slot into a starting role opposite Alex Anzalone, who would be the Moneybacker on the weak side replacing Lavonte David, and push SirVocea Dennis into a backup position he is better suited to play. He would significantly upgrade the athleticism of the room and the defense as a whole.

C.J. Allen’s Defensive Stats
2023: 41 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 PBUs
2024: 76 tackles, 3 TFLs, INT, 4 PBUs
2025: 88 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 2 FFs

Georgia ILB CJ Allen – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Cory Perrine

Allen is a fast‑trigger, high‑IQ defender who diagnoses quickly, anticipates route concepts, and rarely loses track of the ball despite motion. He has great range and plays with a high effort, slipping blocks and beating blockers to spots while exhibiting impressive closing burst.

As an athlete, he is explosive, flexible and light-footed with fantastic acceleration and incredible range. In coverage, he is fluid and instinctive, mirroring athletic backs while anticipating route combinations. But most impressively he offers an intriguing skillset as a blitzer. That skillset would compliment Anzalone’s skillset well. He’s a dynamic blitzer with outstanding timing and acceleration who creates disruption from mugged‑up looks, off the edge, and from depth.

Is Allen worth the 15th overall pick? That’s for the Bucs to determine, but it would be ideal for the team to trade down a handful of spots and pick up a third-round pick in the process, and then draft Allen.

ROUND 2 – Oklahoma OLB R Mason Thomas
Senior • 6-2, 241

Like CJ Allen, Thomas is on the smaller side, as Bralen Trice is one of his closest physical comps. Thomas had his two most productive seasons after Oklahoma switched to the SEC in 2024. He recorded 22 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks and 72 pressures over his last two years with the Sooners. He has the speed to win around the outside of the arc making him the outside swooper the Bucs have been looking for over the past few years. You can put his 15 best plays up against any other pass rusher in this draft class and he’d come out looking like the better player.

Thomas would slot in as the eventual starter opposite Yaya Diaby, splitting time with Al-Quadin Muhammad while he gets up to speed in the NFL. He would be a perfect match for Diaby as a high-side winner to Diaby’s pocket condensing style. He would also serve the same role as Haason Reddick, who was signed to a one-year, $14 million contract in 2025, to be a finishing speed rusher. But Reddick didn’t pan out, finishing the season with just 2.5 sacks as a free agent disappointment.

Mason finished 2025 with a 90.4 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus, improving on the 88.0 pass rush grade he earned in 2024. He was in the 85th percentile in defensive stop rate, 82nd percentile in pressure rate and 94th percentile in pass rush win rate.

R Mason Thomas’ Defensive Stats
2022: 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack
2023: 9 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, PBU
2024: 23 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 9 sacks, PBU, 2 FFs
2025: 26 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, PBU, 2 FFs

Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas – Photo by: Kevin Jairaj – IMAGN Images

Thomas has excellent burst off the line. That is the basis for how he can win at the NFL level. We will occasionally win with speed-to-power, but it’s a change-up that will mostly win against lesser competition, and the best offensive tackles will be able to absorb his initial blow. He is strong enough to win through contact and can leverage his speed to turn the corner, despite having inconsistent bend.

Thomas competes as a run defender but is plagued by some poor decision-making and a lack of length. That can cause him to lose at the point of attack even though he has the strength to compete with bigger offensive linemen. Thomas has all the athleticism to be a high-end pass rusher with enough strength and flashes to round out his game into a three-down winner.

ROUND 3 – Georgia State WR Ted Hurst
Senior • 6-4, 206

Ted Hurst is a big, physical, down-field ball winner. If that sounds familiar it should. The Bucs just lost one of the best players to ever have that profile in Mike Evans. And now the team is missing the true ‘X’ profile in their current iteration of their wide receiver room. And where Mike Evans was more sneaky fast with 4.53 speed coming out of Texas A&M, Hurst is all gas, no brakes, clocking in at 4.42 seconds (80th percentile) in the 40-yard dash. He’s showing off that speed at a 91st percentile height.

Hurst is a field-stretching deep threat who can be a weapon in the red zone, filling the same role Evans occupied in the Bucs offense for the past 12 years. Tampa Bay’s current receiver has plenty of talent, but Chirs Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan are all more route running zone beaters. And while Tez Johnson can win against man coverage, his lack of size will limit his upside to a degree.

Hurst has maintained high yards per catch numbers throughout his college career, but it has all come against lower levels of competition. He started at Valdosta State from 2022-2023 before transferring to Georgia State in 2024 where he totaled 127 catches, 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons in the Sun Belt Conference.

Ted Hurst’s Offensive Stats
2022: 22 rec, 431 yards, 19.6 avg., 6 TDs
2023: 38 rec, 596 yards, 15.6 avg., 4 TDs
2024: 56 rec, 961 yards, 17.2 avg., 9 TDs
2025: 71 rec, 1,004 yards, 14.1 avg., 6 TDs

Georgia State WR Ted Hurst – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Hurst provides the size and speed to win against man coverage, a size advantage, while winning with physicality and tilting coverages to free up the others to face less difficult matchups. He is a plus ball tracker which plays up his ability to win after the catch and if there is any space between him and a defender after he catches the ball he can take it to the house.

Hurst has shown a limited route tree in college, but he has all the requisite skills to enhance that tree at the next level. I liken him to Christian Watson coming out of North Dakota State. Big, fast, physical and underdeveloped.

ROUND 4 – Western Michigan OLB Nadame Tucker
Senior • 6-2, 247

Nadame Tucker was another Senior Bowl riser, and as such, after we had Tucker in the fifth round of our initial 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft. We moved him up a whole round in our second version of the Mock Draft.  Since then, Tucker failed to test like an elite athlete at the NFL Scouting Combine. He didn’t test poorly, but not to the level of making up for his advanced age and his small stature and short arms. At 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds, Tucker is another dart throw at finding the swooper to compliment Yaya Diaby’s pocket denter role.

While the Bucs have solidified a couple of their outside linebacker spots with Diaby occupying one starter spot and Muhammad occupying one of the depth roles. Walker, while thought highly of at One Buc Place, he’s still an older (24), small-school player coming off of a serious knee injury. And Nelson has a hard ceiling. This means Tucker has an opportunity to earn snaps with a strong camp.

After failing to find playing time at Houston, Tucker blew up in 2025 at Western Michigan recording 61 pressures and finishing in the 99th percentile in pass rush win rate and 98th percentile in pressure rate. Tucker excelled in multiple facets of the game in 2025 upon transferring, posting an 85th percentile tackle-for-loss rate and 98th percentile stop rate in addition to his excellent pass rushing profile.

Nadame Tucker’s Defensive Stats
2022: 1 tackle
2023: 7 tackles, 1 TFL
2024: 2 tackles
2025: 55 tackles, 21 TFLs, 14.5 sacks, PBU, 4 FFs

Western Michigan EDGE Nadame Tucker – Photo by: IMAGN Images

He plays low to the ground and uses his leverage to anchor and power through tackles. Tucker explodes off the snap from a two-point stance like a compressed spring being released and he has the speed up the arc to create nightmares for quarterbacks who get deep into their dropback. Tucker is always in attack mode and plays with a chip on his shoulder.

He offers the speed the Bucs have been trying to find in the late rounds and undrafted free agents over the past several years with more power than those previous players. Tucker could team up with R Mason Thomas and Al-Quadin Muhammad and replace Chris Brawell in a rotation to provide a one-two-three punch of every down pass rushing speed and bend off the edge, as well as giving the Bucs a more athletic depth piece.

ROUND 5 – Auburn OG Jeremiah Wright
Senior • 6-5, 331

Wright is a converted defensive lineman who switched to offensive line after entering college and playing defense for a season. He is large human who can bring size and power to the depth of the Bucs’ offensive line. Last year right guard Cody Mauch was lost early in the year for the entire season and Ben Bredeson dealt with some minor injuries as well. Dan Feeney, Mike Jordan and Luke Haggard filled in and the interior of the offensive line became a big impediment to the team’s success.

The team drafted Elijah Klein two years ago, but as the Bucs continued to put other players in over him, it appears he isn’t developing to their liking, and Tampa Bay could use another young developmental talent on the inside. Wright has a fantastic anchor and a reputation as a strong pass blocker throughout his college career. His strong lower half makes him an ideal fit for a gap-based rushing attack, which the Bucs have been for the last year-and-a-half.

Jeremiah Wright’s Offensive Stats
2022: 12 games, 234 snaps, 7 pressures allowed, 6.7% pressure rate allowed
2023: 11 games, 264 snaps, 5 pressures allowed, 4.5% pressure rate allowed
2024: 12 games, 731 snaps, 8 pressures allowed, 1.8% pressure rate allowed
2025: 12 games, 767 snaps, 22 pressures allowed, 4.9% pressure rate allowed

Auburn G Jeremiah Wright – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jay Biggerstaff

Wright has solid arm length to go with his impressive mass. He likes to leverage his strong lower half to drive defenders off their spot in the run game, especially on double teams. He can loop and pull with a solid targeting system that make him a nightmare for crashing second and third level defenders. Wright has a nasty demeanor and loves to finish. As a pass protector he is at his best when he can drop his anchor and take defenders on down the middle.

Wright is limited by his heavy feet, marginal athleticism and inconsistent hand placement. These can lead to ugly reps where he is left leaning, grasping or chasing. His slow footspeed is compounded when he has to face defenders attacking from non-linear angles as a part of complex rush games because his eyes can be late to the party.

Wright’s physical profile and mindset make him an intriguing Day 3 upside play.

ROUND 6 – Mississippi DT Zxavian Harris
Senior • 6-8, 330

Head coach Todd Bowles publicly spoke of getting the roster bigger in 2026. The team took a step towards that with the signing of A’Shawn Robinson. If they want to continue that trend on the defensive line, Zxavian Harris would be another smart edition to accomplish that goal.

Harris is a massive nose tackle who can bully his way into the backfield as evidenced by his nine tackles for loss and three sacks last year. That is when he broke onto the scene for Ole Miss, earning starter snaps for the first time in his career. Harris can anchor and absorb double teams freeing up teammates to make plays.

He would slot in as a third-team player on the line, competing for a roster spot with Elijah Simmons and Jayson Jones. Where he might have a leg up on those two is due to his height which he has used to his advantage on special teams, blocking six kicks in his college career.

Zxavian Harris’ Defensive Stats
2022: 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL
2023: 30 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1 sack
2024: 32 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, FF
2025: 58 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, 3 sacks, 3 PBUs, INT

Ole Miss DT Zxavian Harris – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Petre Harris

While he most logically profiles as a run-stuffing nose tackle, Harris has shown enough gap-slipping and pocket pushing potential to be seen as a developmental pass rusher. And that gives him some scheme versatility to play as a heavy 5-technique in a base odd front or to stress double teams as an occasional 3-technique. He recorded 21 pressures to go with his 27 defensive stops last year. But it will take some work for him to develop a pass rush repertoire that goes beyond being big and strong.

Harris’ height is both a strength and a hindrance. When he uses it to his advantage, he keeps blockers off his frame and bully’s single blocks to dent blocking schemes. But he also struggles to maintain his pad level which can wash him out of plays early. He shows little quit and can often re-engage late for clean ups. Most defensive tackles his size can’t move laterally like he can.

The Bucs tried to find a massive defensive tackle unsuccessfully last year with Desmond Watson. This year it’s mission accomplished with Harris.

ROUND 7 – Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek
Senior • 6-6, 261

Even with the return of Cade Otton, the Bucs’ tight end room as a whole is a relatively weak one. Backup Payne Durham has failed to elevate into anything other than a replacement level player and is entering a contract year.

Ko Kieft, who missed almost all of last year is a perfect fit for a third tight end/sixth offensive lineman/fullback hybrid. But the Bucs could use someone who can develop into more. Devin Culp was supposed to be that player in 2024, but he has failed to ascend the depth chart and so the Bucs take a shot on another of his ilk.

Kacmarek in a bigger-bodied, in-line tight end who loves to run block. He would be a natural successor to Kieft who was only retained on a one-year deal and is not a lock to win a roster spot. As the NFL moves to more 12 and 13 personnel and run-heavier attacks, Kacmarek is the ideal Day 3 pickup.

Will Kacmarek’s Offensive Stats
2022: 20 rec, 264 yards, 13.2 avg., 0 TDs
2023: 22 rec, 243 yards, 11.0 avg., 2 TDs
2024: 8 rec, 86 yards, 10.8 avg., 0 TDs
2025: 15 rec, 168 yards, 11.2 avg., 2 TDs

Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Adam Cairns

Kacmarek has the demeanor and size to make a career as a run blocking “Y” tight end. But he will need to improve his hand placement and pad level to survive in the NFL. He has a strong lower half that should aid him on double teams and let help him win at the second level. Kacmarek’s leg drive is impressive to down block and wash defenders. He can hold up occasionally one on one against edge defenders. He will strain fully at the point of attack.

He doesn’t offer much as a receiver but can be an unexpected threat in the low red zone due to his size and reliable hands.