Since last November, Pewter Report has done 11 mock drafts projecting the 2026 NFL Draft class. Going over what draft insiders and reporters have predicted for the Bucs is a fun exercise, one that Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams and I have enjoyed over the past five months, offering thoughts on the best fits for the team.
Draft coverage is something our media outlet prides itself on, as it has extended into our five annual Bucs Mock Drafts, six offseason Live Bucs Mock Draft shows, ongoing positional previews and Bucs Best Bets, and our three-day Live Draft Show covering all the action as it unfolds.
There is something special about this part of the football calendar, and it is about come to a head when the Bucs are on the clock.
When it comes to mock drafts, some might scoff at what is predicted. Speaking to local reporters on Wednesday, general manager Jason Licht has a different view about what the draftniks have to say.
Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Adam Slivon/PR
“At heart, I’m a fan,” Licht said when asked about if he reads mock drafts. “I love everything about football; I love everything about the NFL, I always have. I’ve always been really interested in mock drafts and looking at them, but it’s more fun for us. You kind of look at it and see… [It is] not compared to our board, because we’re very proud of the way we set our board the way we see them, not where everybody sees them.
“There are some guys that do the mock drafts, and you hear them say, ‘I’ve talked to the GM, I’ve talked to my sources there,’ and there are some of them I’ve never talked to. I don’t know where they got this. It’s all a guessing game for all of us really, but I wouldn’t say I ever laugh at them, but it’s fun to look at. I look at them often.”
A guessing game is accurate, as for all the pick discussion, no one can 100% foresee what will happen.
Licht and the other 31 general managers will be taking it all in as it unfolds, but for Tampa Bay, the team’s needs have been clear for a long time. What has been heavily forecasted is that addressing inside linebacker and outside linebacker are the biggest areas that need a boost. In addition to drafting one player and/or doubling up at each of those positions, adding depth at cornerback, tight end, and defensive tackle is important in rounding out the roster and providing the Bucs with enough talent to go beyond just competing for the NFC South in 2026.
With that, here is a final look at what the mock drafts have to say about who the team will take. Not only does it revolve around the 15th overall pick, but what a complete, seven-round draft might look like. PewterReport.com will continue to have you covered with the latest news and in-depth Bucs draft insight you will not find elsewhere. Buckle up – because the next week is going to be a fun ride.
The McShay Report’s Todd McShay (April 15th)
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Sam Navarro
Improving the pass rush is an absolute must for Todd Bowles’s defense. Mesidor brings exactly what they’re missing—he’s a polished, productive pass rusher with a deep arsenal of moves, change-of-direction quickness, violent hands, and a relentless motor. There are some age and durability concerns (he’ll be a 25-year-old rookie and has dealt with various injuries), but this is a team focused on the present, not a second contract. And from what I’ve heard, most teams view his durability risk as moderate.
Production-wise, he checks out. He had 12.5 sacks, a 21.3 percent pass rush win rate (just behind Bain and Bailey in this class), and four forced fumbles in his final college season. That’s the type of impact the Bucs need off the edge.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (April 15th)
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
There’s a chance we see more two-tight-end sets in Tampa Bay with coordinator Zac Robinson’s offense coming to town and the loss of receiver Mike Evans in free agency. So, I’m not sweating the Cade Otton re-signing as a major deterrent to the Bucs looking at Sadiq as an option in the middle of Round 1. Sadiq is the clear top tight end in the draft class, and he was one of the biggest winners of the combine, running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at 241 pounds and leaping 43½ inches in the vertical. That explosion is obvious on the tape, too. He had 560 receiving yards last season, and a lot of that came after the catch.
No. 46 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez
Lavonte David retired this offseason, ushering in a new era at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay signed Alex Anzalone, and now it can add a true tackling elite. Rodriguez ranked second in tackles in the FBS over the past two seasons (252).
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (April 15th)
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Penn State OG Vega Ioane
Penn State G Olaivavega Ioane – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Mark J. Rebilas
Edge rusher and linebacker are arguably Tampa Bay’s top two areas of need, but do the Bucs see any prospect — at either position — worthy of this spot? They are in a position to go best player available here, which might be Ioane, who would provide an immediate upgrade at left guard.
No. 46 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas
No. 77 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott
No. 116 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Florida CB Devin Moore
No. 155 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas Tech WR Reggie Virgil
No. 195 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Navy RB Eli Heidenreich
No. 229 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Houston TE Tanner Koziol
NFL Stock Exchange’s Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers (April 14th)
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Bucs: LSU CB Mansoor Delane
No. 46 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas
No. 77 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Missouri LB Josiah Trotter
No. 116 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Illinois OL JC Davis
No. 155 – Tampa Bay Bucs: TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
No. 195 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski
No. 229 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Wyoming TE John Michael Gyllenborg
Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Charles McDonald (April 13th)
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy – Photo by: – Kevin Jairaj – IMAGN Images
McCoy might be one of the most talented players in the draft class, but he didn’t play last season while recovering from a torn ACL. At only 20 years old, he’s one of the younger players in the draft. His film from 2024 showed a player who can be a top-flight NFL cornerback with gobs of potential as a press-man corner.
CBS Sports’ Michael Renner (April 13th)
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Penn State OG Vega Ioane
The Buccaneers land the top true guard in the class. Ioane would pair with Tristan Wirfs on the left side to form one of the NFL’s top blindside-protecting duos.
No. 46 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.
No. 77 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Auburn EDGE Keyron Crawford
Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling (April 10th)
49ers get:Â No. 15 overall
Buccaneers get:Â No. 27 overall, No. 58 overall, No. 127 overall
No. 27 (from SF) – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell
Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Maria Lysaker
After moving back 12 spots and adding valuable picks, the Bucs are able to fill one of their biggest needs and get better value in the process. There are multiple edge rushers worth consideration here, but Howell stands out as the most alluring combination of production and upside. His tape proves he can take over games single-handedly, and any concerns about his lack of ideal arm length should be snuffed out by proven success against top competition with polished technique and a vast array of pass-rushing moves.
No. 46 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez
No. 58 (from SF) – Tampa Bay Bucs: Iowa State DT Domonique Orange
No. 77 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Michigan EDGE/LB Jaishawn Barham
No. 116 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Stanford TE Sam Roush
No. 127 (from SF) – Tampa Bay Bucs: Kansas State OL Sam Hecht
Adam Slivon has covered the Bucs for four seasons with PewterReport.com as a Bucs Beat Writer, Social Media Manager, and Podcaster. Adam started as an intern during his time at the University of Tampa, where he graduated with a degree in Sport Management in May 2023.
In addition to his regular written content, he appears every Thursday on the Pewter Report Podcast, has a weekly YouTube Top 10 Takeaways video series, and leads the managing of the site's social media platforms.
As a Wisconsin native, he spent his childhood growing up on a farm and enjoys Culver's, kringle, and a quality game of cornhole. You can find him most often on X @AdamLivsOn.
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