Heading into Sunday’s game at Atlanta against the Falcons, the Bucs had the 1oth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with a 5-7 record. After a come-from-behind, 29-25 against Atlanta, Tampa Bay is now 6-7 and have the tiebreaker advantage over the Falcons and the Saints. For at least one week, the Bucs are back in first place in the NFC South, but that comes at a price when it comes to draft positioning.

Despite the fact that the Bucs have a record that is below .500, the fact that the Bucs are currently leading the division and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. For that reason, Tampa Bay has the 19th overall pick in the draft, according to Tankathon.com.

The Bucs previously held the seventh overall pick three weeks ago after a 27-20 loss at Indianapolis caused the Bucs’ draft order to fall from 10th overall to seventh overall. Now the Bucs are way outside the Top 10 – slipping back nine spots with the victory over the Falcons. That’s the price of winning – and currently leading the division.

Tampa Bay currently has a plethora of personnel needs that could be addressed in the 2024 NFL Draft, possibly at quarterback if the Bucs elect not to re-sign starter Baker Mayfield, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal last offseason. Mayfield has played well for the Bucs, but if there is a head coaching change in the offseason a new coach could want to draft a quarterback in the first round.

This year’s draft will feature a “mega-QB draft class,” according to Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema in an interview with Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds. As many as five quarterbacks could get drafted in the first round, possibly including USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.

The Bucs have drafted two quarterbacks in the first round in the last 15 years – Josh Freeman in 2009 with the 17th overall pick and Jameis Winston in 2015 with the first overall pick.

Bucs Have Pressing Needs At Other Positions

Florida State WR Keon Coleman – Photo by: USA Today

Aside from quarterback, Tampa Bay has other big needs it must address either in free agency or in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Bucs could use a starting-caliber wide receiver either to replace Mike Evans if the legendary wideout is not re-signed in March, or to serve as a better No. 3 receiver next year. This year’s draft class is flush at the receiver position with Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze, LSU’s Malik Nabers and Florida State’s Keon Coleman expected to be drafted high in the first round.

Tampa Bay could also use an upgrade at tight end where Cade Otton, a fourth-round pick in 2022, has struggled as an inline blocker and does not get many yards after catch as a receiver. The 2024 draft class is rather weak at tight end with only Georgia’s Brock Bowers regarded as a first-round pick.

The Bucs could also use a starting guard to replace Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie, as well as a starting center to upgrade over Robert Hainsey. But there isn’t a first-round caliber interior offensive lineman in this year’s draft class other than Duke offensive tackle Graham Barton, who could move inside to guard at the next level.

UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay could use a pass-rushing upgrade over Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and a possible replacement for 31-year old Shaq Barrett if he becomes a salary cap casualty as expected next offseason. Tampa Bay is high on YaYa Diaby, a third-round pick last April, but will need another starting-caliber edge rusher.

There is a decent crop of edge rushers in this year’s draft class led by UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, Penn State’s Chop Robinson, Florida State’s Jared Verse, Alabama’s Dallas Turner and Washington’s Bralen Trice – all of whom are expected to be first-rounders.

The Bucs might also need a starting inside linebacker or two as both Devin White and Lavonte David, who turns 34 in January, are both slated for free agency. White will likely not be re-signed, and the Bucs will wait and see what kind of market there is for David, who is the team’s leading tackler and is having a fine season.

SirVocea Dennis, a fifth-round pick this past April, may or may not be a candidate to start, but there is not a first-round-caliber inside linebacker in this year’s draft class, and the position is considered to be mediocre in terms of overall talent and depth.

It’s the same at safety where the Bucs could use another starter to play next to free-agent-to-be Antoine Winfield Jr., who is expected to be re-signed by the team. Free agent Ryan Neal has been a disappointment and won’t be back in 2024. The 2024 draft class is deep at safety, but lacks high-end talent. Miami’s Kamren Kinchens and Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin are both considered to be the best of the bunch and could be drafted at the end of the first round.