Happy 2026 NFL Draft Day! Every year, I try to set a few goals for the year to help me improve as a writer and an analyst. I hope over these past four years, you the reader have come to see and enjoy growth in my work on both fronts. While we don’t always agree, I do genuinely hope my insights, opinions and thoughts help further the conversation for you – my audience.

This year, one of the goals I set for myself was to go deeper in my draft scouting. Watch more games. Take more notes. Be more detailed in my thoughts and opinions. The results of these efforts have had a two-fold impact on my draft content this year. The first is that I actually produced more scouting reports for Pewter Report than in year’s past. Because of the more in-depth notes I took, I was able to write up more articles than I had in 2025 or any year prior. The second is that my draft board is much narrower than in years past.

I used to pride myself on getting to 150 – 200+ prospects, usually watching 1-2 games at most of each player. This year, I watched more of each player I evaluated and took more notes. But that led to a much smaller number of prospects I actually evaluated. And that’s okay. Because I am prouder of the quality of this year’s analysis than I am of any previous year. But that does mean my “Big Board” is more of a “Little Board.” But that board is heavy on the two areas the Bucs’ roster needs the most. Defensive front and linebacker help.

Below is a quick synopsis of my Bucs draft board. These are quick top-of-the-draft card notes for each player along with how I would have them aligned if I were in the Bucs’ war room as a scout/personnel executive. The grades don’t always align with my “pure” grade – because there are schematic/team fit adjustments that might move one player above another.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers

My best example of this is the Sonny Styles/Arvell Reese debate. Styles has a better pure grade for me as an evaluator (8.7 – tier one) than Reese (8.12 – tier two). But if I were drafting for the Bucs, I would have Reese > Styles because Reese is a perfect fit for Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme. Now, if I were building this board for, say, the Titans or Texans, they would be flipped. You will also see I use a tiering system based off of research I have published here.

With all of that said, here is my official Bucs “Little” Board:

NFL Draft Tier One – Future All-Pros

Caleb Downs – S – Ohio State – A rare, scheme‑proof safety with elite movement skills, advanced processing, high‑end slot and nickel versatility, and a violent, technically refined run‑support profile—an immediate NFL impact defender with All‑Pro upside. – Pure Grade: 8.501

Arvell Reese – ILB – Ohio State – Reese is a long, powerful, explosive linebacker with true downhill violence, rare strength for the position, and enough movement skill to play in space, projecting as a high‑end starter with scheme‑versatile impact. His blend of physicality, range, and pass‑rush upside gives him a clear early‑round profile. – Pure Grade: 8.12

*Reese is elevated because of his archetype as someone who can play second-level sift and find, but profiles best as a chess piece who can really be a value-add in the pass rush plan is perfect for Todd Bowles’ scheme.

Sonny Styles – ILB – Ohio State – Styles is a rare size‑movement linebacker with high‑end processing, elite range, and scheme‑proof run defense, projecting as an immediate starter with Pro Bowl upside. Pure Grade: 8.7

*Styles drops a couple of spots because he better profiles as a second level sift-and-find backer.

Ohio State LB Sonny Styles – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Adam Cairns

NFL Draft Tier Two – Future Pro Bowlers

David Bailey – EDGE – Texas Tech – Bailey is an explosive, flexible, high‑motor edge rusher with elite production and an elite first step that translates immediately to the NFL. His lack of anchor limits him against the run, but his pass‑rush upside and athletic profile give him clear early‑round impact potential. Pure Grade: 7.997

Jacob Rodriguez – ILB – Texas Tech – Rodriguez is a fast and instinctive linebacker with elite turnover production and strong communication traits. He thrives in clean run‑fit environments and matches backs well in space, but stiffness and leverage issues limit his take‑on and redirect ability. He’s best suited for a read‑and‑react MIKE role off the line, where his IQ and downhill burst can shine. Pure Grade: 7.788

NFL Draft Tier Three – Chance To Start At Least Four Years In Their Career – Immediate Contributor

Malachi Lawrence – EDGE – UCF – A speed-first, plan-savvy edge rusher with the rare push-pull in his arsenal, elite arc acceleration, and strong hand diversity — projects as a Day 2 starter with three-down upside once run-defense demeanor and burst consistency develop; coverage athleticism is a future chess piece. Pure Grade: 7.396

Akheem Mesidor – EDGE – Miami – A technically advanced pass rusher with an elite move set, genuine coverage ability, and improving finishing — the age concern is real and the frame is undersized for the position, but the 2025 tape was strong enough that he’s worth the bet despite some red flags regarding age and medicals. He has the easiest path to year-one impact and one of the better projections as a run defender. Pure Grade: 7.396

*One note with Mesidor. My initial scouting report on him was heavily influenced by the questions surrounding Mesidor’s medicals. I have come around to decide that since I don’t have any hard knowledge, that I should exclude those questions from my evaluation. Because of that he comes up my board considerably.

CJ Allen – ILB – Georgia – A modern, explosive three‑down linebacker with elite acceleration, advanced instincts, and scheme‑versatile playmaking ability, projecting as a high‑end WILL or MIKE with Pro Bowl upside in an aggressive, pressure‑based defense. Pure Grade: 7.325

Rueben Bain Jr. – EDGE – Miami – A compact, explosive, technically refined pass rusher with elite bend and power who projects as a disruptive 4‑down EDGE with inside‑out versatility on passing downs, but whose lack of length and range limits him to a forward‑trigger role rather than a multipurpose edge defender. Pure Grade: 7.216

R Mason Thomas – EDGE – Oklahoma – A twitchy, bend-first speed rusher with elite short-area burst, genuine coverage versatility, and smart instincts — but severe size/length deficiencies limit his early-down viability and create a clear ceiling as a gap-shooting sub-package specialist rather than a true starting 4-down edge. Pure Grade: 7.213

Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Kevin Jairaj

Keyshaun Elliott – ILB – Arizona State – A violent, downhill MIKE with elite contact power, strong run‑fit instincts, and real pass‑rush value, whose coverage limitations and aggressive tackling style require refinement but whose leadership, communication, and physicality make him an early contributor with long‑term starter upside. Pure Grade: 7.132

Kyle Louis – Nickel/Overhang – Pitt – A nickel/overhang specialist with elite RB coverage, strong zone instincts, and genuine closing speed. TE matchup limitations and below-average S-group athleticism cap his ceiling, but the coverage profile is real and the fit is accurate. Pure Grade: 7.014

Cashius Howell – EDGE – Texas A&M – A twitchy, explosive, bend‑driven speed rusher with a deep move set and relentless motor who projects as an immediate sub‑package pass‑rush specialist. Strength deficiencies, run‑game liability, and slow processing limit his early‑down viability, but his pass‑rush juice gives him a clear and valuable NFL role. Pure Grade: 6.998

Josiah Trotter – ILB – Missouri – A violent, leverage‑dominant downhill linebacker with strong run‑fit ability and real pass‑rush value, but whose raw processing and limited coverage instincts make him a multi‑year developmental MIKE with early special‑teams impact and long‑term starter potential if the mental side catches up. Pure Grade: 6.312

*Trotter gets elevated because his youth (just 20 years old) and archetype as a downhill skull crusher pair perfectly with what the Bucs need in a Mike linebacker. If he hits, he’s perfect for them – it’s just his variability is worrisme.

NFL Draft Tier Four – Chance To Start At Least Three Years In Their Career – Year One Contributor

Kenyon Sadiq – TE – Oregon – A rare athlete with elite vertical ability, natural hands, and strong YAC skill who projects as a modern move TE with legitimate mismatch potential. Blocking effort and leverage give him a path to early snaps, but mass limitations and inconsistent hand placement cap his ceiling as a true in‑line blocker. Profiles as a TE2 early with TE1 upside in a vertical‑oriented offense. Pure Grade: 6.85

Chris McClellan – IDL – Missouri – McClellan is a powerful, long-armed interior defender who projects as an every-down run stopper with legitimate pocket-disruption value in a scheme that uses stunts and movement fronts. Pure Grade: 6.747

*Keep an eye out for a full Chris McClellan scouting report on Friday

Nadame Tucker – EDGE – Western Michigan – A MAC destroyer who profiles as a designated pass rusher in the NFL — a stand-up OLB who wins on pass-obvious downs with his get-off and hip flip but lacks the size, length, upper-body strength, and move diversity to survive as an every-down edge. His floor is a rotational pass rusher who contributes in NASCAR packages if the moves translate at all against NFL tackles. Pure Grade: 6.1145

*Tucker gets elevated because his upside as a pass rusher, and the value that has to a Bucs team that is desperately looking for that quality elevates him over other edge defenders who have a more three-down profile.

Western Michigan edge rusher Nadame Tucker – Photo courtesy of WMU Athletics

Gabe Jacas – EDGE – Illinois – A wrestling-trained power bully with elite conversion rates, plus bend for his size, and legitimate finishing ability — projects as a rotational EDGE with starting upside if he develops a more diverse rush plan, but arc-speed limitations and thin move arsenal cap his ceiling as a true every-down rusher at the NFL level. Pure Grade: 6.321

Justin Jefferson – ILB – Alabama – Plays with elite burst and confidence in his reads, but size and block‑deconstruction limitations shape his projection. Pure Grade: 6.491

Lee Hunter – IDL – Texas Tech – Hunter is a powerful, heavy‑handed interior defender with rare strength and disruptive ability, winning early in reps and creating consistent backfield chaos. While he lacks finishing ability and has questionable athleticism, his motor and leverage make him a high‑impact rotational shade/nose with starter upside. Pure Grade: 6.441

*Hunter would ultimately be a cross-off for me as his athletic testing would be a disqualifier.

Zion Young – EDGE – Missouri – A high-ceiling, low-floor EDGE whose elite length, move diversity, and elite production metrics (95th TFL, 93rd pressure, 92nd stop rate) make him a legitimate Day 2 target, with the finishing and consistency concerns keeping him out of the top tier. Pure Grade: 6.438

*Keep an eye out for a full Zion Young scouting report on Friday

NFL Draft Tier Five – Chance To Start At Least Two Years In Their Career – Mostly Depth/ST Option

Jake Golday – ILB – Cincinnati – A long, strong, coverage‑savvy linebacker with real pass‑rush upside and secure tackling, but slow post‑snap processing, limited short‑area agility, and inconsistent run‑fit discipline make him a developmental WILL with year‑two starter potential. Pure Grade: 6.192

Cincinnati ILB Jake Golday – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Rob Gray

Deontae Lawson – ILB – Alabama – Deontae Lawson is a downhill‑trigger linebacker with advanced block deconstruction, real strike power, and disruptive run‑game ability, but inconsistent processing and limited coverage agility cap his ceiling. He projects as a physical, scheme‑versatile MIKE who can thrive in a multiple front if his eye discipline and tackling form stabilize. Pure Grade: 6.008

*I did not get to publish my Lawson scouting report for Pewter Report even though I did a full writeup on him for my personal files.

TJ Parker – EDGE – Clemson – Power‑based EDGE with a strong long‑arm, heavy hands, and a pocket‑condensing play style. Wins more with strength and leverage than bend or twitch. Inconsistent arc speed and COD limit his ceiling as a true edge‑winner, but his power profile, inside‑rush ability, and disciplined rush path give him a stable NFL projection. Run defense lags behind his physical tools — he sets edges well vs gap schemes but struggles vs wide zone and lacks consistent block deconstruction. Profiles as a rotational EDGE with inside‑out versatility and developmental upside. Pure Grade: 5.888

*Parker would be a cross-off for me because I just don’t think he can hang as a pass rusher at the NFL level.

Anthony Hill Jr. – ILB – Texas – A long, traits‑driven linebacker with hybrid SAM potential and real pass‑rush value, but inconsistent processing, leverage, and run‑fit discipline limit him to a role‑specific starter or high‑end backup unless his instincts stabilize. Pure Grade: 5.718

NFL Draft Tier Six – Chance To Start At Least One Year In Their Career – Mostly Depth/ST Option

Kaleb Elarms-Orr – ILB – TCU – Assignment‑sound, high‑IQ linebacker with advanced coverage feel and strong communication skills but limited by below‑average athleticism and inconsistent gap integrity. Projects as a dependable depth defender with green‑dot potential but capped physical ceiling. Pure Grade: 5.151

TCU ILB Kaleb Elarms-Orr – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jerome Miron

Keldric Faulk – EDGE – Auburn – A size-first tweener who lacks the athleticism, instincts, and pass-rush plan to justify his draft stock as an EDGE — best projection is as a DPR interior rusher on passing downs, where his strength profile and long arms create some value, but he’s not survivable as an NFL EDGE and may not make a roster without a position change. Pure Grade: 5.054

*Faulk would be a cross-off for me because I just don’t think he can hang as a pass rusher at the NFL level.