The Bucs have drafted 27 players from the Senior Bowl during general manager Jason Licht’s tenure, including five Senior Bowl participants in each of the last two drafts. After spending the week in Mobile, Alabama, for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, here are five standouts that the Bucs should strongly consider in this year’s draft. Each Senior Bowl stud fills a need in Tampa Bay.

FAB 1. Jackson Powers-Johnson Is Ryan Jensen 2.0

We had Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round of Pewter Report’s initial 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft, but now there is no way he is going to be there. In fact, after just one Senior Bowl practice, there was no doubt that he was the best, most dominant player in Mobile, Alabama. Powers-Johnson pulled a hamstring during Monday’s practice and toughed it out. Then he tried to play through it on Tuesday before finally relenting.

Tough, powerful, nasty, tenacious – Powers-Johnson doesn’t lose. He’s a surefire first-rounder and the best center in the 2024 NFL Draft despite only playing the position for one season.

Offensive line expert Brandon Thorn of Trench Warfare was incredibly impressed with Powers-Johnson at the Senior Bowl.

“Powers-Johnson didn’t lose a rep through a day and a half of practice at Mobile and did it at center and both guard spots,” Thorn said. “He was already the top overall O-lineman on my board among this year’s Senior Bowl group and not only solidified, but bolstered his grade. At 334 pounds with excellent athletic ability and power, JPJ will likely be the first center selected – somewhere inside the first 25 picks in the draft.”

Of course, the Bucs have to have the 26th overall pick this year.

If there is a way that Bucs general manager Jason Licht can land Powers-Johnson – even trading up a spot or two as he did for offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs in 2020 – he would be an immediate upgrade at either center or guard in Tampa Bay. The Bucs have not had a gritty, tone-setting force in the interior of their offensive line since Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen last played.

Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

Jackson Powers-Johnson is Ryan Jensen 2.0.

“I would say I’m a little bit in between Ryan Jensen and Jason Kelce,” Powers-Johnson said. “Ryan Jensen of more how I play. The tenacity, the attitude that he plays with. I think I play just the same as him. And Jason Kelce out in space, he’s a unicorn because he’s an undersized guy and he has that much power, but I think I work well out in space like him.”

No matter what type of system the Bucs run next year when they hire their new offensive coordinator, the 6-foot-3, 334-pound Powers-Johnson is equally adept in the run game with the ability to succeed in man or zone schemes.

“I think both,” Powers-Johnson said. “I mean, I love ‘em both. I think they’re equally fun. I like inside zone more because I think it’s an identity play. I think it’s the OG run play. Doing that against a defense is, you know, it’s demoralizing.

“I was really fortunate to play under three different offensive coordinators, They all ran similar things but we ran an array of [run concepts]. We ran everything – duo, inside zone, outside zone – it translates a lot here. Learning this playbook here in such a short amount of time, it was kind of easy to pick up because I ran those. It’s just different games, different calls, there’s different things. Running an array of things at Oregon helped a lot.”

Like Jensen, Powers-Johnson has a personality that is a little bit larger than life.

“Physicality, passion – I also had a chrome helmet on [during Monday’s practice]. I had a little bit of bling. Oregon helped me out quite a bit. Just being a physical guy, a passionate guy. You can see it through my play.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s my passion but it’s also my personality. I have a big personality. You know I’m not a stereotypical offensive lineman in that sense – all ‘hard work.’ I have that, but it’s also [getting] to do the flashy stuff too.”

Powers-Johnson plays with the same bully mentally that Jensen displayed in his four seasons in Tampa Bay from 2018-21.

“He finishes,” Powers-Johnson said of Jensen. “You can see how physical he plays and how much passion he plays with with his play. Nothing he does is passive, whether it’s getting off the ball, whether it’s in pass pro. Pass block isn’t passive to him, and that’s where I got it from.

“I’m the best center off the board. I’m a hard worker and I’m going to love wherever I am.”

But Powers-Johnson wouldn’t mind replacing Jensen in Tampa Bay and play with a few other bullies like Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, either.

“I have a similar mindset,” Powers-Johnson said. “I think it would be a great transition and I’d be honored to play with them.”

Go get ‘em, Jason.

FAB 2. Bucs Need A Playmaking No. 3 WR Like Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley

The Bucs could use an upgrade at WR3 as Trey Palmer proved to be too inconsistent during his rookie season. There were several wide receivers who really stood out in Mobile, Ala. during Senior Bowl week, including Michigan’s Roman Wilson, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, USC’s Brenden Rice, Louisville’s Jamari Thrash and Florida’s Ricky Pearsall.

Any of these pass-catchers would look good in red and pewter.

Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley – Photo by: USA Today

But the one guy that the Bucs could really use is Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley, who averaged 8.6 yards after the catch, which ranked 19th in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a Day 2 option for Tampa Bay, likely near the bottom of the second round.

Drawing a ton of comparisons to San Francisco’s Pro Bowler Deebo Samuel, who led the NFL with 8.7 yards after the catch last year, it’s a comp that Corley certainly doesn’t mind.

“Absolutely,” Corley said. “He’s the best yards-after-catch guy in the NFL. Our body types are similar and he’s a big bulldozer when he gets the ball as well. He’s got a mean streak in his game as well, so we’re very similar. Even in his college career he had a lot of yards after catch. So that’s a great comparison. He’s been doing so well for so long and he has such a good precedence with that in the NFL that I could take over that same role.”

Samuel is 6-foot, 215 pounds, while Corley measured 5-foot-11, 215 pounds at the Senior Bowl weigh-in. Both are physical finishers who are known for breaking tackles and slipping tackles.

Corley said he watches Samuel’s film all the time and models his game after him.

“Deebo Samuel for sure, and Ja’Marr Chase as well,” Corley said. “I love all the guys who play the game physically. Even back in the day with Anquan Boldin, those type of guys who were physical guys who played the game. He would get off the ball on press releases and everything – they’re still physical in everything they do. Those are the guys that I really love.”

Corley had 73 catches for 684 yards (9.4 avg.) and seven touchdowns as a sophomore before having a breakout season in 2022 with 101 receptions for 1,282 yards (12.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. Last year, his production dipped a bit with 79 catches for 985 yards (12.5 avg.) and 11 TDs.

The Hilltoppers used him a ton on screen plays, utilizing his incredible vision and ability to effortlessly work the middle of the field, dodging tackles and punishing would-be tacklers.

“I’ve been stapled with that YAC king mantra, and that I can’t really do anything other than that – the ‘running back’ title as well,” Corley said. “So being here [at the Senior Bowl], a big part of that is putting the whole route tree on display and showing NFL teams and scouts that I’m not just a yards-after-catch guy, that I can run the entire route tree.

“I think finishing runs is my best quality, even outside the yards-after-catch. Just imposing my will on guys throughout the course of a game. It gets to the point after guys try to tackle me that they’re ankle-biting. They’re all just trying to go for your legs, so that makes breaking tackles even easier for me.”

Corley’s 40-time will be one to watch, as he may be more quick than fast. Some scouts believe he’ll run 4.53-4.56, which could land him in the third round. But if Corley can time between 4.47-4.52 he could sneak into the second round in a crowded receiver draft class.

One drill that Corley should excel at in the NFL Scouting Combine is the bench press. The Western Kentucky star is a rocked up, chiseled athlete.

“I know this is my body type and I worked my way into this body type and other people haven’t done the same hours in the gym that I have done, so I try to impose that will as much as I can,” Corley said. “You are getting the hardest working guy in the room and ultimately the ultimate competitor. I’m as physical and aggressive as it gets.

“In the run game I’m a great blocker, throwing guys down on the ground, running the ball and finishing runs, imposing my will on guys throughout the course of the game. Also having the ability to take the top off [defenses], as I’m very fast as well. Putting the whole route tree on display as well as running after the catch. That’s something they won’t get from too many other guys in this draft.”

Tampa Bay could desperately use a guy who can be a threat with the ball in his hands, as Palmer only averaged 2.9 yards after the catch. Mike Evans averaged just 3.5 yards after catch, while Chris Godwin had a 4.6-yard average after the catch. If Corley can come close to matching his college YAC he could be the Bucs’ version of Samuel.

“I met with the Tampa Bay Bucs on Monday,” Corley said. “It was a good vibe and a good energy with those guys. I’d be blessed to go anywhere. It would be unreal to play with guys like that have such a presence in the NFL.

“Mike Evans had 10 1,000-yard seasons – being able to play under veterans like that who can show you the ropes, and show you how to go about your business, give you a routine, give you a plan, teach you different things about the game whether it be zone coverages or how to beat guys man-to-man. Anything I could learn from those guys would be spectacular.”

FAB 3. Could Kansas State Tight End Ben Sinnott Be The Next Sam LaPorta?

Georgia All-American Brock Bowers will be the first tight end off the draft board in April – likely within the first 10 selections. Bowers is an elite pass-catcher and weapon, who forced 18 missed tackles and averaged 8.7 yards after catch for the Bulldogs last year and helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships in 2021-22.

Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott – Photo by: USA Today

But don’t tell that to Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott, who was the only tight end in the nation to receive a 75 grade as a receiver and as a blocker last year by Pro Football Focus. Sinnott thinks he’s just as good.

“I’m the best tight end in this draft,” Sinnott told Pewter Report at the Senior Bowl. “The versatility that I bring – being able to line up everywhere at Kansas State. You can turn on the film and just see how many spots I was able to succeed in and how many spots that they trusted me in. I feel completely comfortable in any role they put me in. If the team needs me to do that I’d be more than happy to [play fullback].

“Just having that and being able to fit into any scheme necessary. I think that brings more value, and also they’re getting a person who has the desire to improve every day and continue to put myself in the best possibility to succeed.”

Before the Senior Bowl, Sinnott won Barstool Sports’ Lowman Trophy, which annually goes to the best fullback in college football. Sinnott, who lined up at fullback, H-back, inline as well as flexed out, was the first tight end to win the award.

“You can look at the film, I’m kicking out on power just as much as anyone,” Sinnott said. “I would say I do it the most if you look at snap counts. That’s what I’m going to say to the haters. I love me some hate, it just kind of drives me to keep doing me.”

Sinnott has far fewer haters after a good week in Mobile, Ala., but he was the seventh-rated tight end according to Pro Football Focus before the Senior Bowl. We’ll see if Sinnott moves up the draft board when PFF updates its rankings. Sinnott did meet with the Bucs in Mobile, Ala.

Pewter Report had Sinnott going to Tampa Bay in the fourth round of its initial 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft, but at 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, he’s bigger and better than Cade Otton, and more complete. Picking him late in the third round makes more sense after the Senior Bowl.

Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott – Photo by: USA Today

“I come from a pro-style offense, checks at the line, so it has prepared me well,” Sinnott said. “I really attack every role I’m put in. I like to play hard and go to the whistle. I think that’s a very important trait that I have.”

Otton had a 51.7 run blocking grade and a 47.4 pass blocking grade, according to PFF. Blocking tight end Ko Kieft was better with a 60.9 run blocking grade and a 68.2 pass blocking grade, but is a liability in the passing game. Rookie Payne Durham had a 54.8 run blocking grade and a 70.7 pass blocking grade.

A two-year starter for the Wildcats, Sinnott had 31 catches for 447 yards (14.4 avg.) and four touchdowns as a sophomore and 48 receptions for 669 yards (13.9 avg.) and six TDs last season as the Wildcats’ leading receiver. Sinnott models his game after Sam LaPorta, but suggests he’s a better blocker.

“One person I really like to watch recently is Sam LaPorta,” Sinnott said. “I feel like we’re built pretty similar and we have some similar traits. That’s a guy I’ve really been watching and I respect coming out of Iowa. I like to try to emulate [George] Kittle. I think he’s the most complete tight end in the league.

“That’s huge and it definitely separates me, makes me versatile, especially being able to line up in several different roles and be able to move block, get in space and block smaller guys. I think it definitely separates me and I think it’s trait that I find important in my game.”

FAB 4. North Carolina State ILB Payton Wilson Is Worth Taking A Chance On

Tampa Bay won’t be re-signing Devin White this offseason, so adding another inside linebacker certainly makes sense. There are indications that Lavonte David might want to play one more year at age 34 after another really good season. And K.J. Britt made big strides in his first extended look on defense.

But Britt is entering a contract year and David won’t play forever. The Bucs drafted SirVocea Dennis from the Senior Bowl last year, and could draft one more Senior Bowl inside linebacker in North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson.

NC State ILB Payton Wilson – Photo by: USA Today

Wilson’s production in five years with the Wolfpack was simply stunning with 402 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 13 pass breakups, seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown. His resumé suggests he should be a second-round pick like Iowa’s Jack Campbell was last year. But Wilson has an injury-riddled past with two torn ACLs (high school and freshman year in college) and a shoulder injury that caused him to miss all but two of N.C. State’s games in 2021.

Forty-yard dash times at the NFL Scouting Combine can make or break a prospect’s draft stock. But for Wilson, his draft stock will hinge on his medical evaluation. A good medical report could mean a Day 2 grade. A bad medical grade could mean a Day 3 grade or perhaps being taken off some teams’ draft boards.

“Sometimes you get in a dark place, but at the end of the day, all it does is light a fire,” Wilson said about battling back from his injuries. “I don’t take this game for granted at all. I don’t take the weight room for granted. I know this game doesn’t last forever. You never know when your last snap is, so why not treat every single snap like it’s your last.”

The 2023 Butkus Award winner ended his Wolfpack career on a high note, leaving it all out on the field with 138 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, six pass breakups, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-4, 234-pound Wolfpack star had an 89.8 PFF grade last year, which was the eighth-best among linebackers.

“My stats and my tape speaks for itself,” Wilson said. “I think my versatility is what makes me so good at football. Just being able to do multiple things, playing sideline-to-sideline, playing the box, cover tight ends, cover running backs.”

Wilson likens his playing style to one of the game’s headiest linebackers.

“The main one is Luke Kuechly,” Wilson said. “The way I play, I try to model my game after him – just the fearlessness, the passion and the football I.Q. that he had. In today’s game I watch a lot of Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals. Similar frame as mine, very smart linebacker, very fast, very physical – just watching him has really improved my game.

“I think the best thing I have is my speed and my effort. I don’t think anyone plays as hard and as passionate as I do, and I don’t think there’s a linebacker that can match my speed. At the next level I want to continue to get smarter – my football I.Q. In college it’s real spread out, they throw it a lot, so pro-style offenses are different. So getting in the film room and continuing to help my football knowledge is really important to me.”

Wilson will turn 24 on April 21, just days before the 2024 NFL Draft. His age and his injury history will likely work against him, but his speed will work for him.

During the first two Senior Bowl practices Wilson, who hopes to run a 4.45 at the NFL Scouting Combine, was the fastest among all linebackers and tight ends, clocking 20.27 miles per hour on Tuesday and 19.83 miles per hour on Wednesday. Wilson’s football I.Q. helps him play even faster because he can quickly diagnose formations and personnel groupings, which aids him in setting the defense.

“Every team has a quarterback and the team doesn’t run without him, and I kind of look at us [middle linebackers] on the defensive side of the ball,” Wilson said. “Everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing, but we have to know what everyone is doing and get people in the right position.

“At the end of the day the linebacker is supposed to be the main piece of that defense – the smartest, the toughest, the hardest-hitting guy out there, just flowing and being passionate and bringing energy to the team.”

Wilson interviewed with the Bucs in Mobile and said it went well. His speed would be a tremendous asset in coverage and on blitzes in Todd Bowles’ defense, in addition to special teams. Wilson also said he would love to play with Lavonte David if he’s lucky enough to be drafted by Tampa Bay.

“I’ve been watching him since I was in high school and middle school,” Wilson said. “He’s just someone who has been doing it for so long. I actually have a teammate that plays on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so I tune in and watch a lot of those games.”

FAB 5. Oregon State’s Kitan Oladapo Could Be The Answer At SS

The Bucs could use a new strong safety to replace Ryan Neal, who won’t be re-signed after one sub-par season in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay has some in-house options, such as Kaevon Merriweather, who saw snaps at both strong safety and free safety, or Christian Izien, who was the team’s nickelback as a rookie.

Izien played all over the field at Rutgers with 150 career snaps as a Wide 9 rusher, 770 in the box, nearly 1,000 at free safety, and 809 at nickel.

Oregon State S Kitan Oladapo – Photo by: USA Today

If Izien stays at slot cornerback, the Bucs will need to fill out the depth chart with another safety and Oregon State’s Kitan Oladapo could be a nice Day 3 selection in the fifth round if the Bucs trade up. Tampa Bay doesn’t have a fifth-round pick this year, but does have a sixth rounder and a pair of seventh-rounders.

At 6-foot-2, 219 pounds, Oladapo, also known as “KO,” has the size that Todd Bowles likes in his strong safeties. Ryan Neal and Keanu Neal were bigger, taller safeties as well.

“I think it’s how big I am and how agile I am,” Oladapo said when asked what his best trait is. “I’m a big guy that can move. I can guard tight ends, I can guard slots. If you want to put me in a run fit, I can run fit. I can blitz quarterbacks. I can be in the post. I feel like I can do it all.”

Last year, Oladapo had a 91.3 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, in addition to an 84.4 coverage grade. His 88.2 overall made him the 13th highest-graded safety in the country, according to PFF.

Oladapo finished his Beavers career with a pair of 11-tackle games against Notre Dame in the bowl game and against Oregon in the Border War. In 2022 against Oregon, he established a career high with 17 tackles.

Just when Oladapo thought he was done facing rival Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., he had to defend against them in practice all week at the Senior Bowl. At least on Saturday during the game, Oladapo, Nix and Penix will all be teammates.

“They’re both good guys, they’re both good quarterbacks,” Oladapo said. “We’ll finally be on the same team on Saturday, so I won’t have to stress about that and game plan against them anymore.”

Oladapo was a three-and-a-half-year starter at Oregon State, where he notched 249 career tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 23 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Oladapo wants to come away with a pick in the Senior Bowl to cap off his college career and show he can be more of a playmaker in the secondary.

“Just being a sponge, just always willing to learn and make improvements,” Oladapo said. “The one thing I want to improve on is making game-changing plays and get better in film study on those third downs and fourth downs to really change the game.”

Oladapo would be a great fit in Bowles’ scheme and has the tools to start as a rookie – even as a Day 3 prospect.

“The player meetings with the teams went pretty well, the one with Tampa Bay actually went pretty well – the first one I had on Tuesday,” Oladapo said. “You’re getting a grinder. You’re getting a guy that is going to put everything on the line. You’re getting the best safety in the draft – the most versatile in the draft – to fit any scheme you have.

“Speaking of the Bucs, I actually met with [former Bucs G.M.] Mark Dominik for some of my interview prep. So hopefully the Bucs draft me. I’m training at The House of Athletes in Tampa, so Tampa is pretty nice. I drove past the game when they beat the Eagles, so maybe Tampa could be my new home. We’ll see.”