A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough Bucs question. This week’s prompt: Which NFL Combine interview did you like the most?

Scott Reynolds: Cobee Bryant Toughness Showed Up In His Interview

Kansas CB Cobee Bryant – Photo by: USA Today

As a Kansas State alum, I’m thrilled that Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant is getting the hell out of the Big XII and is moving on to the NFL. As one of the Big XII’s best cornerbacks, Bryant had 13 interceptions in his KU career, including eight over the past two seasons. With 22 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns, he’s the type of ballhawk that Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is looking for.

“You’ve got to know how to react to the ball,” Bryant said when asked what makes him a ballhawk. “My reaction time is pretty good, so that’s how I catch a lot of picks.”

As good of a ballhawk as he was for the Jayhawks, Bryant was an even better tackler, evidenced by a 91.3 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus. Despite being rail thin at 6-foot, 180 pounds, Bryant is a tough tackler with a dawg mentality. When asked what he’s looking forward to the most about entering the NFL, Bryant’s toughness came out in his answer to that question.

“Tackling big backs,” Bryant said. “I want to tackle big backs like Saquon Barkley.”

Bryant, who will likely be a third- or fourth-round pick due to his size and his average 4.51 time in the 40-yard dash, is a passionate football player who is smart, instinctive – and of course, tough. He had a formal interview with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine and revealed that it went very well.

“Formal – that was the best one,” Bryant said of meeting with the Bucs in Indianapolis. “The energy they had – it was fun. … I love football. I have a passion for it.”

Matt Matera: Shavon Revel Showed Great Perspective

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. – Photo courtesy of ECU

It’s difficult enough getting drafted into the NFL and it’s that more difficult when coming off a serious injury like East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel did last season. Revel’s perseverance goes beyond that, though, as his football eligibility was almost completely taken away from because of poor grades, but he battled through to play division 1 football.

Revel went through the junior college ranks before transferring to ECU. And even there the Pirates were never a powerhouse in college football yet Revel was still a standout a player. He quickly took on a leadership role and continued that even when his injury sidelined other players.

“You’ve got to teach the other players, the younger players and push them to be the best,” Revel said. “Because a lot of times I knew I wasn’t playing but I knew my role at the same time and a lot of people lifted me up so I knew I had to lift up those that fell down and were holding their head. I was like ‘Bro, c’mon, we got to get this together.'”

Revel also spoke about his formal meeting with the Bucs talking about how they went over his film. All he wants to do is adapt to whatever team he is playing for. Hopefully that team ends up being Tampa Bay because he’s exactly what the type of ballhawk the team is looking for.

Bailey Adams: Jack Bech’s Strength And Work Ethic Shined Through

TCU WR Jack Bech – Photo by: USA Today

I was already a fan of Jack Bech’s game, and I was certainly aware of his story, particularly regarding the tragic loss of his brother in the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. But having the opportunity at the NFL Scouting Combine to hear him speak with such conviction and strength about that difficult loss really struck me.

The former TCU receiver spoke about his faith and his firm belief that his brother’s wings will carry him forward, and I was moved by the fact that Bech said losing his brother, Tiger, has motivated him to take his work ethic to even greater heights. There’s something so powerful about that.

Even beyond that aspect of Bech’s interview, I found that his drive to succeed and football I.Q. shined through with each answer he provided. Whether it was discussing his willingness to play whatever receiver role a team asks of him or going into detail about catching 150-300 balls on the JUGS machine after every practice to make sure he was catching more than any other receiver on his team or in the country, it’s clear his work ethic is off the charts.

He’s a student of the game, too, as he said he looks at a lot of the game’s top receivers and takes something from each of them. He cited the knowledge of the game and route running of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, the yards-after-catch ability of Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson’s route running and the way George Pickens blocks in the run game as specific points he’s learned and tried to shape his game after.

Bech told me he met formally with the Bucs, talking with general manager Jason Licht, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, among others, about his life story and some football. When the Bucs brass took him through some clips of his film, I have no doubt that he crushed it. If Tampa Bay wants to surprise some people and go with a receiver early in the draft, I’d certainly be on board with Jack Bech being that guy.

Josh Queipo: Donovan Ezeiruaku Continues To Show Why He Is A First-Rounder

Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku – Photo by: USA Today

This comes as no surprise to anyone, as I have been “in” on Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku since just before the Senior Bowl, but he continues to impress in any facet of evaluation you can think of. That includes the interview process. Many edge rushers focus on sacks and pass rushing. But Ezeiruaku shows wisdom and an NFL mindset when it comes to how he can add value to the team that ultimately takes him.

“I think have a knack for the football,” Ezeiruaku said in Indianapolis. “My career at Boston College, I always took pride in playing the run game because I understand that you can’t pass rush on third down until you win on first and second down. And I take a lot of pride in that, like I said. And there’s areas to improve in all parts of our games, but I think I play the run pretty darn well. Obviously it will be different in the NFL, but I think I’ll be just fine.”

That answer, along with a whole host of others he provided in Indy, and at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., show a mature, intelligent individual who considers and understands the entirety of the responsibilities he will have to shoulder to be successful at the next level. Pair that with his talent and you have a player I’m willing to bet big on. Ezeiruaku had a formal interview with the Bucs and certainly vibed with fellow New Jersey native Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay’s head coach and defensive play-caller.

Adam Slivon: Jahdae Barron’s Football IQ Is Simply Off The Charts

Texas CB Jahdae Barron – Photo by: USA Today

To me, this answer is obvious. After interviewing numerous top prospects at the 2025 NFL Combine, Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron stood out. Barron is coming off an impressive season with the Longhorns, recording 67 total tackles, 11 passes defensed, and five interceptions. While he did not meet with the Bucs in Indianapolis, he wants the team to contact him.

“No, I did not meet with the Bucs,” Barron said. “I do want to meet with the Bucs. If the Bucs are seeing this, please come talk to me.”

Although he may not have met with Tampa Bay, it does not mean that they are not interested. In 2023, general manager Jason Licht and the rest of the front office kept their interest in Calijah Kancey under wraps, as they did not meet him either.

What impressed me the most about Barron was his ability to break down the game in a detailed, nuanced manner. He discussed it at length but when it came to stating his strengths as a player and the responsibilities he had in various coverages, he kept it simple.

“I’m most definitely confident in zone and man,” Barron said about his abilities. “I played man in the slot, I played man even in our zone coverage. Our coverage 3 was a match 3, we matched a lot of red lights. That’s how I had a lot of PBU’s on red lights and things like that. I’m most definitely confident in my ability, I’m the most efficient and most consistent DB in just playing all four roles. I played dime, corner, safety, and nickel, so just having that in my bag and knowing I can be moved around and adjusted just to benefit anybody else’s team, I know that’ll help.”

It was hard not to be impressed by Barron’s football I.Q. – and the year he had speaks to how it translates on the football field. Maybe the Bucs should talk to him and consider selecting him at No. 19 if he’s available.