As we approach this week’s draft, I’m confident that the Bucs and Jason Licht will address past mistakes by selecting the best edge player available at #15. Licht’s recent comments about securing an edge early or not at all tells me he’s learning the position.
I also believe Coach Todd Bowles is overplaying the need for another cornerback. After focusing on inside linebacker in free agency, it’s time to snag an edge rusher who can contribute from day one.
1st Round, 15th Pick: Ahkeem Mesidor, OLB, Miami
The Bucs will stick with their 15th pick and select the player they’ve had their eyes on. With 12.5 sacks in 2025 and an impressive pass rush rate, Mesidor can provide the outside pass rush consistency that has been lacking for some time. He’s also solid against the run. Yes, he’s 25, but let’s focus on finding a player we want to keep for the full five years of their first-round contract first, then worry about a second contract.
2nd Round, 46th Pick: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Hunter is a complete nose tackle prospect who can immediately give Vita Vea some snaps off at NT, while also being versatile enough to play under tackle in a four-man front. With a high motor, he excels at penetrating dual blocks and dominating one-on-one situations, making him hard to keep off the field.
3rd Round, 77th Pick: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, ILB, TCU
I don’t understand why Elarms-Orr isn’t talked about more. He has good size and explosiveness, clocking a 4.47 in the 40. He rarely misses tackles and is an excellent blitzer. With 130 tackles in 2025, he shows potential as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker and has demonstrated competency in zone coverage while maintaining gap discipline.
4th Round, 166th Pick: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah
Bentley is a versatile weapon and an above-average blocker who can play every down. At 6’4″ and running a 4.6 40, he creates matchup problems and has the ability to separate. Bentley could serve as the second tight end for the Bucs and is capable of starting during his rookie season if anything happens to Cade Otten.
5th Round, 155th Pick: Darlene Everette, CB, Georgia
Everette is a three-year starter at Georgia, standing 6’1″ and running a 4.38 40. While not a perfect player, he’s a solid pick in the 5th round. He can thrive in Cover 3 and Cover 4 schemes like Bowles’ and will provide valuable depth at outside corner while supporting the run during his rookie year.
6th Round, 195th Pick: Fernando Carmona Jr., G, Arkansas
Carmona fits the mold of a Licht-style interior lineman. At 6’5″ and 322 pounds, he’s a powerful finisher with good feet and athleticism along the line. A capable puller who can get to the second level, he has the potential to develop into a starter in the coming years.
7th Round, 229th Pick: Devan Boykin, S, Indiana
Boykin has logged significant snaps in college and can play both safety and nickel. He’s an excellent tackler and a playmaker who could serve as a strong replacement for Christian Izien. Although he’s only 5’10”, Bowles isn’t afraid of smaller safeties; he previously won a national title with Indiana and has been well-coached.
Final Word
This mock draft presents a realistic scenario without trades and major talent drops. I believe each of these players can contribute depth, special teams support, and provide meaningful plays in 2026.
Thanks for posting, ehinote.
I disagree completely and would be pretty agitated if this panned out to be true, but that is my opinion. I think Mesidor is a serious injury risk and I would not spend a first on that risk when better players at other positions are available. But where there is smoke, there is usually fire and you are right, Mesidor has been linked to Tampa. I also agree the CB talk in the 1st is just smoke and mirrors.
The only pick I like in the first half of your draft is the Elarms-Orr pick because you are 100% correct, he is a good to great player flying under the radar.
i like it. Certainly addresses the side of the ball we need to bulk up.
Would be tough to be upset with this draft. Mesidor will get the job done immediately. I try not to get too caught up in his age as most players in 2026 are drafted to help us for 3-4 years and nothing more.
34 hours before the draft here’s my 4 bets. Let me know if you would take the field…
1)we are trading out of the pick, either up or down, so we won’t have the pick at 15
2) we are drafting Mesidor. Age be damned, he gets us 14 sacks and helps close the gap at a much needed position
3)CJ Allen - a David type who gives us a defensive captain for the foreseeable future
4) Sadiq
I don’t see a scenario where we go CB in the first if Mansoor isn’t available
If the team thinks they can kick Parrish out on boundary to compete with Morrison and McCollum,. And JJ Roberts holds down NCB they will probably draft a boundary CB later (eg 4th/5th round). if not I would not be surprised to see this team use a 2nd round pick on a CB again. Licht likes taking a lot of DBs in round 2...like a lot.
Messidor is the obvious choice as Licht favors trench players in round 1 since the 2020 SB season.
Barton (2024), Klancey(2023), JTS (2021) Wirfs (2020), Vea (2016) are the first round pick trench players with Licht, and Hall was the top 2nd round pick in 2022.
Of the last five drafts four players have been trench players with 2 on OL, one edge rusher and one DL. EE is the lone first round pick that was not on the trenches.
If the Bucs do not take edge in round 1 they are definitely going to draft and groom Vea's replacement as it makes the most sense from a salary cap perspective. And to create a DL rotation along with edge like the 2025 SB Seahawks did.
My final mock (not what I think Licht would do, but what I would)
*TRADE - TB receives #24 and #39 / CLE receives #15, #116, 2027 6th rounder*
R1 (#24) - Kadyn Proctor (OT)
R2 (#40) - Zion Young (EDGE)
R2 (#45) - Jacob Rodriguez (LB)
R3 (#77) - Kyle Louis (LB)
R5 (#155) - Devon Marshall (CB)
R6 (#196) - Tanner Koziol (TE)
R7 (#229) - Domani Jackson (CB)
If the team thinks they can kick Parrish out on boundary to compete with Morrison and McCollum,. And JJ Roberts holds down NCB
Don't you think this is spot on to what they think?
Right or wrong, I mean. Not judging the strategy. Just saying this truly seems to be what they most like see as the plan.
@donkey_hunter - I don’t dislike your draft at all. But I do feel the Zion Young pick in the 2nd would be a throwaway pick. And I don’t see Rodriguez being around at 40. I really like Kyle Louis, but not in Bowles defense. Louis would fit great in a 4-3 at weak side linebacker. Bowles doesn’t know how to fit a linebacker like him in his scheme.
R1 (#24) - Kadyn Proctor (OT) - CBB's 19th
R2 (#40) - Zion Young (EDGE) - CBB's 38th
R2 (#45) - Jacob Rodriguez (LB) - CBB's 42nd
R3 (#77) - Kyle Louis (LB) - CBB's 74th
I added each player's Consensus Big Board ranking. That would be a good two-day haul. Good prospects, all taken around where most have them going.
I'm divided on who I would take in a Zion Young vs. Cashius Howell debate. Both are good R2 picks. I would imagine the interviews would make that decision for me.
@donkey_hunter - I don’t dislike your draft at all. But I do feel the Zion Young pick in the 2nd would be a throwaway pick. And I don’t see Rodriguez being around at 40. I really like Kyle Louis, but not in Bowles defense. Louis would fit great in a 4-3 at weak side linebacker. Bowles doesn’t know how to fit a linebacker like him in his scheme.
Zion was my highest rated player available at that pick. And, while I agree with you on Rodriguez’s availability in the mid-40’s, I simply went with the board. So, obviously happy to get him in that range.
My feelings are similar to yours regarding Louis. I think he’ll be a solid player at the next level. But, I’m not passing on talent to favor a lame duck HC/DC with a shit, predictable scheme.
R1 (#24) - Kadyn Proctor (OT) - CBB's 19th
R2 (#40) - Zion Young (EDGE) - CBB's 38th
R2 (#45) - Jacob Rodriguez (LB) - CBB's 42nd
R3 (#77) - Kyle Louis (LB) - CBB's 74th
I added each player's Consensus Big Board ranking. That would be a good two-day haul. Good prospects, all taken around where most have them going.
I'm divided on who I would take in a Zion Young vs. Cashius Howell debate. Both are good R2 picks. I would imagine the interviews would make that decision for me.
Yeah. I’d be really happy with this one.
And, for context, Howell was already off the board.
@donkey_hunter - totally agree on if J-Rod is available there, we’d be happy to get him. And also not drafting only according to Bowles personnel needs, because he might not be around after this season.
Im not a Zion fan. To me he is in that group of edge players that falls just outside of the players that will be difference makers. If he is what’s left for us at edge in that spot, then pass on edge for another draft. They become wasted picks, that could have been spent on a position that could make an immediate difference.
Agree with this. Although I think Jacob Rodriquez will go at the bottom of the first. It’s why I think we need to trade down to the 20’s, pick up an extra pick in 3rd and target a couple of 2nd 3rd round specialists at Edge/ILB - just no lock on being able to pull that off.R1 (#24) - Kadyn Proctor (OT) - CBB's 19th
R2 (#40) - Zion Young (EDGE) - CBB's 38th
R2 (#45) - Jacob Rodriguez (LB) - CBB's 42nd
R3 (#77) - Kyle Louis (LB) - CBB's 74th
I added each player's Consensus Big Board ranking. That would be a good two-day haul. Good prospects, all taken around where most have them going.
I'm divided on who I would take in a Zion Young vs. Cashius Howell debate. Both are good R2 picks. I would imagine the interviews would make that decision for me.
most frustrating outcome for me would be stick & pick at 15 and the Bucs take Mesidor there. I don’t dislike Mesidor, just think you can duplicate that level of production at better value, later, with more picks at those positions.