The praise regarding the Bucs and their 2026 draft class continues to pour in. This time, though, it’s about what they got away with.

While many teams went out to “get their guy” despite what the general consensus board says, the Buccaneers stayed put with the No. 15 pick and let the board fall to them.

That was pretty well stated when Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. fell to them at No. 15, but it’s Bain’s Hurricanes teammate, nickelback Keionte Scott, going to the Bucs in the fourth round that really put the exclamation point on everything. Scott was  considered a top 100 player that would likely be drafted in the third round. The fact that he slipped to the fourth round and wound up with Tampa Bay have many calling it the steal of the draft.

Keionte Scott Has Become A Steal For the Bucs

NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who writes the highly coveted and comprehensive NFL Draft guide “The Beast” every year, recently said on the Up & Adams Show that Scott was steal of the draft in later rounds. Brugler is highly respected for his draft coverage, so his opinion holds a ton of value.

“Let’s stick with the Bucs, Keionte Scott, getting him on Day 3,” Brugler said. “Anybody that watched Miami’s defense, pick-six against Ohio State or watched the Louisville tape, he had 13 tackles for loss. He’s a corner in a linebacker body, so I think the fit concerns are why he fell in the draft. But I have no doubt that I think Coach [Todd] Bowles will find a way to utilize that play speed, especially that downhill [speed on blitzes]. It won’t surprise me when he ends up getting a couple of sacks because they’re going to use him as a blitzer. He’s going to show up in a lot of different ways for Tampa this year.”

Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Photo by IMAGN Images – Jeff Romance

Another draft expert and analyst that has a ton of respect around the league for his work is Pewter Report alum Trevor Sikkema of The NFL Stock Exchange. Sikkema joined Pewter Report on Tuesday for the Pewter Report Podcast where he spoke about the surprise that Scott was even available when the Buccaneers were on the clock in the fourth round – plus what he can do for Tampa Bay’s defense.

“The presence that he’s going to be for this team in the nickel is going to be reminiscent from what Tykee Smith was for them two years ago,” Sikkema said. “And I think they really missed that physicality and that run defense from the slot position. But now, Keionte gets to play in the slot, you’re kicking Jacob Parrish to the outside, which I think he’s really going to thrive at because I have a lot of faith in him as a player. And then you get a good rotation of outside corners that you feel pretty good about.

Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Photo by: Sophie Pallman – The University of Miami

“I had Keionte Scott like No. 52 overall on my big board. This is beyond double where I had him to get him at No. 116. I think it’s insane that he lasted until 116, I think the Bucs got a total steal here.”

I followed up with Sikkema after his response about if Scott was the steal of the draft, to which he replied:

“Honestly, probably yes,” Sikkema said. “At least one of the top five steals of the draft. He’s in that conversation of one of the biggest steals in the draft, there’s no question about it.

Check out the entire Pewter Report Podcast episode and subscribe to our PewterReportTV Youtube channel.

Another Day 3 Buccaneers Pick Gets A Shout-Out

The compliments about Keionte Scott haven’t stopped, as Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated named some underrated players that were picked on Day 3 of the draft and had him in the fourth round group. This what he said about him.

“Some thought Keionte Scott may be a second-round pick. Age (he’ll turn 25 this season) and size deficiencies ended up pushing him to Day 3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took advantage of teams who overthought the process. Scott is a pro-ready defensive back with a high football IQ that leads to playmaking ability around the line of scrimmage. The former Auburn transfer will immediately compete for reps as a hybrid safety or nickel cornerback.”

Scott isn’t the only Day 3 Buccaneers draft pick that has people excited over what Tampa Bay did. Melo had a separate article where he picked one player from each team as the best under the radar pick. This time he went to the second of Tampa Bay’s fifth-round selections, choosing Notre Dame offensive lineman Billy Schrauth.

Notre Dame G Billy Schrauth – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Michael Clubb

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the best draft classes, having landed Rueben Bain Jr. and Keionte Scott later than they should have been available. Fifth-round guard Billy Schrauth was a nice pick, too. The Bucs’ interior offensive line was a struggle last season, and Schrauth is a team captain who is tough and physical inside.”

Whether it’s Bain at the start, or Scott and Schrauth on Day 3, the Buccaneers were exceptional in this draft from start to finish. They just need to put it together when the season comes around to improve on last year’s 8-9 record and get back to double-digit wins in 2026.