With my first mock draft of 2026, I started with a bang. I traded away the Bucs’ 15th overall pick and a 5th-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for their 23rd overall pick, 54th overall pick, and 122nd overall pick. As I see it, having the 15th pick puts the Bucs in a tough spot—by the time we’re on the clock, the top prospects will likely be gone. If players like Styles, Downs, or Bain fall to us, I’d stay at 15 and pick, but I doubt any will drop that far. If they’re gone, I’d look to trade down. With the trade down, I’m pleasantly surprised to see CJ Allen still available at 23, and I think the value is too good to pass up.
If the draft unfolds as I envision, I’ll be thrilled. This strategy allows the Bucs to address key positions of need while adding much-needed athleticism to a defense that requires it. While Bowles has mentioned getting bigger, size alone without athleticism doesn’t help. We added a big DT/DE in free agency, and this draft can provide us with size from our 2nd second-round pick while boosting athleticism across the board. It also addresses offensive line depth and potentially fills the void at X receiver.
Buccaneer Blitz’s 1st Mock Draft
1st Round: CJ Allen – LB, Georgia
If we can snag CJ Allen with the 23rd overall pick, the Bucs would be ecstatic. While I prefer the Ohio State linebacker, he’ll likely be gone by our turn. Allen is a “green dot” play-calling, downhill tackling machine from a winning program. He started as a true freshman against Ole Miss, recording nine tackles and a sack. By 2025, he was calling defensive plays for the Bulldogs.
The Bucs currently lack a true “Mike” middle linebacker on the roster. Allen has elite run-defense skills, excels at shedding blocks, and rarely misses tackles. While he may not be a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, he fits the role Bowles needs for his defense to function effectively.
2nd Round: Cashius Howell – Edge, Texas A&M
If Howell falls to us in the second round, the Bucs would be thrilled to draft him. He possesses the explosive first step I look for in elite players, along with a diverse set of pass-rush moves. His natural bend is characteristic of many top pass rushers.
While Howell may not contribute significantly during his rookie year, his explosiveness and bend should be useful at some point. Ideally, he’ll be able to contribute on passing downs by mid-season, showcasing the athleticism to outperform his smaller stature.
2nd Round: Darrell Jackson Jr. – DT, Florida State
If Coach Bowles genuinely wants to get bigger, this is his opportunity. At 6’5″ and 335 pounds, Jackson could eventually replace Vita Vea. Despite his size, he has a quick first step, and his 35-inch arms and 7-foot-2 wingspan can disrupt passing lanes.
While Jackson can play with a high pad level at times—a concern I had with Logan Hall—his size allows for a bit more leeway. He could immediately contribute in run defense and goal-line situations.
3rd Round: Kyle Louis – LB, Pittsburgh
Bear with me for a second. I’ve focused on run defense with my first and third picks, while aiming for pass defense with my second and fourth selections. Bowles’ scheme prioritizes dominating run defense on early downs, but that means the back six must be athletic and rangy, which is where Louis fits in.
Although I see Louis as a linebacker/safety tweener, placing such a player at safety in the NFL can set them up for failure. I’d like to see Bowles utilize Louis in situations where offenses come out in 11 personnel on first down. Instead of sticking with three DL and two OLBs, he could opt for four down linemen and three off-ball linebackers, with Louis as one of those LBs. His coverage skills and closing speed can enhance both early down pass coverage and run defense from the weakside LB role in a 4-3 (or as a slot LB). Historically, teams have succeeded against Bowles’ defense on first downs, and this personnel could help counter that trend.
Pittsburg Linebacker, Kyle Louis
4th Round: Isaiah World – OT, Oregon
World fits Bowles’ desire to add size, this time on the offensive line. Standing at 6’8″ and weighing around 315-320 pounds, he boasts elite arm length at 34.5 inches. He has the potential to be an exceptional pass-blocker in the NFL and has experience starting at both right and left tackle in college.
4th Round: Chris McClellan – DT, Missouri
The Bucs can never have enough big defensive linemen, and McClellan adds to that depth. At 6’4″ and 313 pounds, he racked up 133 tackles and 17 sacks during his college career. He would immediately help clog running lanes and has potential as a pass rusher.
6th Round: Jeff Caldwell – WR, Cincinnati
Caldwell stands at 6’5″ and weighs 216 pounds. He recorded 32 catches for 478 yards and six touchdowns in 2026. While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, they’re solid for a sixth-round pick. He brings the size of an X receiver, which is currently lacking on this team.
7th Round: Drew Allar – QB, Penn State
I like Allar’s potential. His size, athleticism, and arm strength are impressive. If he can put it all together, he could become a game-changer. That’s exactly what you should be looking for with a seventh-round pick.
Love this, ehinote.
I agree with your first round move because its the one that makes the most sense. I am going to run one now and I will post it up.
1st Round: Keldric Faulk – EDGE, Auburn
I stayed firm at 15 because Keldric Faulk was still there and I took him. This was a hard decision because outside of Styles, I really want to draft CJ Allen but I could not look over Faulk sitting there at 15 at a position of need.
Its no secret that the Buccaneers have had more trouble out of the EDGE position than perhaps anywhere else on the Defense. Faulk addresses that and then some with his potential. He possesses excellent size for Edge plus he was explosive at Auburn. He also possesses good pursuit which is a bonus. The Bucs need him to create havoc in the front and Faulk is more than capable of doing that. There are a few question marks with him in terms of what technique he employs at what time. This was the one aspect of his game that was somewhat inconsistent last season. That being said, he addresses a long time position of need and hopefully can continue growing as a professional. He has all the things a team would look for at EDGE.
2nd Round: Jacob Rodriguez – LB, Texas Tech
I took Jacob Rodriguez in the 2nd. It is debatable at this time if he would be available at 46. He was in my mock so I took him.
He won the Nagurski, Lombardi, Butkus, and Bednarik Awards, was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and backed up his honors with an incredible Senior Bowl showing. There has been a lot of chatter about his lack of size, but to me, talent overcomes that and Rodriguez has talent by the dump truck load. He has high energy and range - something the Buc defense was missing last season. Pairing him with Anzalone will be a magical combination for the Bucs.
3rd Round: Ted Hurst – WR, Georgia State
I went with the big receiver out of Georgia State in the 3rd Round - Ted Hurst.
Coming in at 6'3 and 195 or so pounds, Hurst could potentially fill some of the gap left by the departure of Daddy Mike. Wide Receiver wasn't really a position of "need" for the Braves this year, but I really like Hurst and feel he could yield some immediate help to the already stacked room. Hurst can actively stem and press DBs upfield with his speed, before sinking and retracting into open voids. He isn't going to yield a ton of yards after the catch but his catch radius makes him a legit threat when you need it most.
4th Round: Devin Moore – CB, Florida
I grabbed Florida CB Devin Moore with the 4th round pick.
CB is a position that I am really concerned about that has gotten little to no discussion this offseason. It's not that the guys who left were great as much as it is we lost some guys that were starters or rotational starters. Moore was one of the best CB in college last year. He has great size and athleticism to go along with a silky smooth play at corner. He has the ability to reroute receivers and to discombobulate the timing of pass plays and would be a welcome addition to the hopefully improved defense.
5th Round: Jager Burton – O-Lineman, Kentucky
I took Burton with the 5th pick out of Kentucky.
I love his versatility with a line that already has some versatility built into it. Burton lists as a Center but has played Center, Right, and Left Guard in college and can play them equally as well. He has good hip flexibility for an O-Lineman and can adapt to different situations the defense is throwing at him. He has really great football IQ as well and that can help especially when the line needs to change a blocking package. His question marks seem to be around his lack of power as a middle lineman. He needs to work on his leverage and drive - both things that should be fixable with coaching.
6th Round: DeMonte Capehart – DT, Clemson
I went with DT Demonte Capehart of Clemson in the 6th Round.
Capehart spent a ton of time at the collegiate level and should be ready for the next level. His measurements are fantastic for the DT position at 6'4, 315 pounds, and 34" arms. He can fill gaps as good as anyone and no one at the collegiate level seemed to be able to move him from his spot. He is a much better run defender as a 0-tech and 1-tech. The reason he is in the later rounds is he was only a starter for a couple of years and teams don't seem to be considering him ready yet.
7th Round: Mason Reiger – EDGE/LB, Wisconsin
I grabbed Mason Reiger in the last round.
Reiger is an EDGE out of college that could also spend some time at LB. He is a long-strider that can give opposing Tackles trouble with his burst. He is somewhat stiff in his hips which will limit his overall ability if he can't loosen up a little more. He has elite level angle IQ, which could help him if he plays some at LB.
CJ Allen over an OL is terrible value
@jc5100 - eventually you have to fill your weakest roster spots. BPA is fine when you’re set at all your positions. We have too many needs on defense to take a luxury pick on an offensive lineman.
@jc5100 - eventually you have to fill your weakest roster spots. BPA is fine when you’re set at all your positions. We have too many needs on defense to take a luxury pick on an offensive lineman.
Offensive linemen are not luxury picks. It’s a fallacy that our offensive line is set. It was a disaster last year. Wirfs has a chronic high ankle and now has something going on with his knee since 2024. He misses games. We have to accept it and plan for it. There are some monster OL in this first round.
We have too many needs on defense to take a luxury pick on an offensive lineman.
We need to take BPA. If it intersects need, then great.
Who are the specific players we’re discussing? We’ll need to wait and see what our pick looks like when the time comes.
In my view, the performance of our offensive line—both its successes and shortcomings—has been heavily influenced by coaching and scheme. Under Coen, the line wasn’t as exceptional as many believed, nor were they as poor as the perception from last season suggests. The effectiveness of our offensive coordinator is crucial; the ability to call the right play at the right moment, design a cohesive game plan, and create space, as Coen did, is what will ultimately determine the success of this offensive line.
But for our defense to succeed under Bowles, we need stars. His scheme won’t carry his players. The players carry his scheme.
Who are the specific players we’re discussing? We’ll need to wait and see what our pick looks like when the time comes.
In my view, the performance of our offensive line—both its successes and shortcomings—has been heavily influenced by coaching and scheme. Under Coen, the line wasn’t as exceptional as many believed, nor were they as poor as the perception from last season suggests. The effectiveness of our offensive coordinator is crucial; the ability to call the right play at the right moment, design a cohesive game plan, and create space, as Coen did, is what will ultimately determine the success of this offensive line.
But for our defense to succeed under Bowles, we need stars. His scheme won’t carry his players. The players carry his scheme.
Muaigoa, Vega or Fano at 15. Freeling or Proctor in a trade down.
And your take on the OL being heavily influeced by the OC and Bowles needing stars is straight up Bowles Derangement Sydrome and Coen Erectile Reflex. The OL was good in 2024 because Wirfs, Goedeke and Mauch are really good. They played 0 snaps together in 2025. Coen wasn't going to get Andy Heck and Dan Feeney to block. He couldn't get Graham Barton to block.
The front 7 drafting has been absolute dog shit so don't act like Bowles has to have JJ Watt and Von Miller. Just give him some decent guys. I know I know, that's Bowles fault too. Everything is Bowles fault and Coen would have fixed every issue.
Here's a mock I just did:
We trade back with Detroit giving them our #15 and #77, while receiving the #17 and #50 in exchange.
R1: 17
Spencer Fano (T) Utah
Only time I'm seen him slide this far. He's #11 on my board, and while Sadiq was tempting, Fano was a no branier. Steps in and starts Day 1 at LG, allowing Bredenson and Graham to compete for the starting center position. Can also fill in for either Wirfs or Goedeke when they inevitably miss time. Could also provide an opportunity to trade Goedeke in 2027.
R2: 46
Jacob Rodriguez (LB) Texas Tech
Has the potential to be a standout starter for the next 4-5 years. And, fits a massive need.
R2: 50
Malachi Lawrence (EDGE) UCF
He'll need some development and coaching (not gonna happen with this staff) to become a 3-down player, but he has elite explosiveness, bend, and a nice array of moves that could make him a true pass rushing specialist. He became more productive throughout his collegiate career.
R4: 116
Kaleb Proctor (DL) SE Louisiana
Missed the opportunity in earlier rounds to find a batter IDL, but I like Proctor's ability to rush the passer from the interior.
R5: 155
Caleb Douglas (WR) Texas Tech
Was hoping for Brazzell with one of my 2nd round picks, but he was taken in the mid-40's before I was up. Caleb brings an X profile with great speed and height. Needs to hit the weight room though.
R6: 195
Miles Kitselman (TE) Tennessee
Prototypical NFL size at the position, who could serve as an above average inline run blocker.
R7: 229
Domani Jackson (CB) Alabama
Speed, length, rangy and physical. Should profile as a boundary corner. Can be a ST contributor as he continues to develop.
I know I know, that's Bowles fault too. Everything is Bowles fault and Coen would have fixed every issue.
NOTHING is EVER the fault of the mighty exalted one, Todd Bowles.
And, in no world would Coen ever make a roster better or fix anything.
Which was clearly evidenced by the disaster season Jacksonville just had and the outstanding one Tampa did.
Allen’s size concerns me. I really wish we could find our way to Styles. What happens of Caleb Downs falls to us (he will).
Critical draft. Need one stud starter.
@jc5100 - There's often a balance to strike. While many view Bowles negatively, he isn't as bad as people think, and Coen isn't as great as some believe. However, over the last two years, this view has fit.
Under Coen, the offensive line showed significant improvement. He elevated the play of Bredeson, Mauch, and Barton through his strategic approach. I don’t expect you to agree with that until a few years down the road. Unfortunately, both Bredeson and Barton regressed last year. I believe Zac Robinson will make a substantial impact on their performance this season.
I’m familiar with coaching egos, and Bowles has consistently claimed he can piece together his defense with whatever talent is available. This attitude seems more about ego than reality. His defense has only thrived when relying on high-caliber players developed elsewhere in the front seven.
For this defense to improve, we need to bring in proven talent. Bowles' staff hasn’t effectively developed corners, linebackers, or edge rushers. We should prioritize well-coached, talented players in the draft or through trades.
But in light of Bowles failure to develop his players, it might make sense to consider adding another offensive lineman for the next coach. It appears that everyone is gearing up for next season anyway.
@jc5100 - There's often a balance to strike. While many view Bowles negatively, he isn't as bad as people think, and Coen isn't as great as some believe. However, over the last two years, this view has fit.
Under Coen, the offensive line showed significant improvement. He elevated the play of Bredeson, Mauch, and Barton through his strategic approach. I don’t expect you to agree with that until a few years down the road. Unfortunately, both Bredeson and Barton regressed last year. I believe Zac Robinson will make a substantial impact on their performance this season.
I’m familiar with coaching egos, and Bowles has consistently claimed he can piece together his defense with whatever talent is available. This attitude seems more about ego than reality. His defense has only thrived when relying on high-caliber players developed elsewhere in the front seven.
For this defense to improve, we need to bring in proven talent. Bowles' staff hasn’t effectively developed corners, linebackers, or edge rushers. We should prioritize well-coached, talented players in the draft or through trades.
But in light of Bowles failure to develop his players, it might make sense to consider adding another offensive lineman for the next coach. It appears that everyone is gearing up for next season anyway.
Coen runs a better offense than Grizzard. No shit. That doesn't mean having Wirfs, Goedeke and Mauch play together is not a major advantage that Grizzard didn't have. If Wirfs, Goedeke, Mauch and Kieft missed the time in 2024 that they did in 2025 there's no way the run game and pass protection are as good. Scheme or not. Hell we lost the 49ers game because Wirfs went down in the 3rd qtr. Players matter.
Nice choice of words. "Developed elsewhere". You know Shaq Barrett is the problem with your theory on Bowles. He had 14 sacks in 4 years with Denver then exploded under Bowles. So you throw that little "doesn't count!" caveat in there.