Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 Mock Draft Roundup 3.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, we will update our Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks from recent NFL mock drafts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

NFL.com — Charles Davis

15. Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

There will be a lot of talk about Howell having shorter arms, but the tape shows an Aggie who plays every snap with intensity. Todd Bowles could use more juice off the edge.

The Athletic — NFL Writers

21. Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Trade! The Buccaneers trade the 15th pick to the Steelers for the 21st pick and a third-rounder.

At 6-2, 248 pounds, Howell doesn't have ideal size, which is why he may be available this late. What he has is a track record of production against elite competition. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year had 25 sacks in three seasons and 11.5 in 2025. He may not be a difference-maker against the run, but Howell should make an immediate impact on passing downs. Howell would fill the Bucs' most pressing need, but we should consider that general manager Jason Licht doesn't always draft a player who fills what everyone else thinks is a need. (See Emeka Egbuka.) Howell, though, might be too good to pass up.

CBS Sports — Fornelli

15. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if Kenyon Sadiq works his way into the top 10 by the time the draft rolls around. We've seen how important tight ends have become for plenty of offenses in recent years, and how teams value the position. Sadiq is the clear No. 1 option at the position to be That Guy in this class. He reminds me of George Kittle.

MORE: Continue reading our 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft Roundup

More roundups: NFL Teams | NFL Draft Prospects


2026 NFL Draft Grades: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 2026 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror, and we have compiled a consensus ranking using NFL draft grades from a variety of sites.

What draft grades have the media given to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? What are they saying about the Buccaneers' 2026 draft haul?

ESPN - Grade: B-

Four streaks came to an end in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers did not win the NFC South for the first time since 2020, did not make the playoffs for the first time since 2019, do not have Mike Evans on the roster for the first time since 2013 and do not have Lavonte David on the roster for the first time since 2011.

It's a different era of Buccaneers football. The Bucs have drafted ahead at receiver, with Jalen McMillan in the third round two years ago and Emeka Egbuka in the first round last April. They are OK there even after Evans signed in San Francisco. Even so, Ted Hurst in the third round gives Baker Mayfield another target as a big 6-foot-4 end zone magnet (15 scores over the past two years). The Bucs needed a solve at linebacker with David retiring, and signed Alex Anzalone as part of the answer. Josiah Trotter can be another part of the answer. He's a tackling machine, with 183 over the past two seasons.

The two picks that really stand out from this draft class, though, are two kids from across the state at Miami. Reuben Bain Jr. mixes power, bend, good angles and burst to be a real pass-rushing problem for opponents. Offensive coordinators have to account for him. He had 9.5 sacks and 71 pressures last season, and he pitched in against the run, too. A lot has been made about his short 30⅞-inch arms. But there's no denying his consistent ability to get home with all of his other traits. With Al-Quadin Muhammad (11 sacks last season) also coming in, the Bucs' pass rush could be really good in 2026.

I also liked the Keionte Scott pick a lot. He's all over the Miami tape, disrupting opposing offenses as a blitzer, chasing down running backs and making plays on the ball in coverage. Scott could factor in as a slot corner or safety. Tampa Bay got him at good value, too -- he was No. 80 on my board, so I wasn't expecting to see him still out there at the 116th pick.

The tight end position wasn't addressed until the sixth round. I had it as the top roster need, and Kenyon Sadiq was often matched with the Bucs at the 15th pick. I have no issue with the Bucs taking Bain there (Sadiq and Bain were back to back on my board), but they needed to do something at the position before taking Bauer Sharp in the late rounds. Tampa Bay re-signed Cade Otton, but the Bucs could go with a lot of two-tight end sets this season in Zac Robinson's offense, and it was a missed opportunity to not get a higher-rated prospect.

USA Today - Grade: B

First-rounder Bain, short arms and all, second-round LB Josiah Trotter and fourth-round CB Keionte Scott could all be Week 1 starters for a club in an atypical state of transition. But don't be surprised if explosive third-round WR Ted Hurst turns out to be the best of the bunch in the Bucs' post-Evans world.

MORE: Continue reading our Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 NFL Draft Grades Roundup


Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 NFL Schedule

Below you will find the weekly regular-season schedule for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

WeekDateOpponentResults
Week 1Sun., Sept. 7at Atlanta FalconsW 23-20
Week 2Mon., Sept. 15at Houston TexansW 20-19
Week 3Sun., Sept. 21vs. New York JetsW 29-27
Week 4Sun., Sept. 28vs. Philadelphia EaglesL 31-25
Week 5Sun., Oct. 5at Seattle SeahawksW 38-35
Week 6Sun., Oct. 12vs. San Francisco 49ersW 30-19
Week 7Mon., Oct. 20at Detroit LionsL 24-9
Week 8Sun., Oct. 26at New Orleans SaintsW 23-3
Week 9BYE
Week 10Sun., Nov. 9vs. New England PatriotsL 28-23
Week 11Sun., Nov. 16at Buffalo BillsL 44-32
Week 12Sun., Nov. 23at Los Angeles RamsL 34-7
Week 13Sun., Nov. 30vs. Arizona CardinalsW 20-17
Week 14Sun., Dec. 7vs. New Orleans SaintsL 24-20
Week 15Thu., Dec. 11vs. Atlanta FalconsL 29-28
Week 16Sun., Dec. 21at Carolina PanthersL 23-20
Week 17Sun., Dec. 28at Miami DolphinsL 20-17
Week 18Sat., Jan. 3vs. Carolina PanthersW 16-14

Also, check out the following resources:


Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2025 Draft Results

The table below are all of the 2025 NFL Draft picks selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

RoundOverallPlayerPositionSchool
119Emeka EgbukaWROhio State
253Benjamin MorrisonCBNotre Dame
384Jacob ParrishCBKansas State
4121David WalkerEDGECentral Arkansas
5157Elijah RobertsEDGESMU
7235Tez JohnsonWROregon

More: 2025 NFL Draft Results - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft History


Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 Fantasy Football Projections

Updated: Friday, August 29, 2025

Our 2025 fantasy football projections below are for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Projected fantasy points are based on half-PPR scoring.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

Embed from Getty Images

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Baker Mayfield538.3364.73956.528.5313.1961.3239.11.96281.67
Teddy Bridgewater34.422.8249.41.340.794.6170.1416.3
QB Totals572.7387.54205.929.8713.9865.9256.12.1297.97

Baker Mayfield: Mayfield set career highs in passing yards (4,500) and touchdowns (41), although he also led the NFL in interceptions (16). That said, he finished as fantasy's QB4 in 2024 after finishing as the QB10 in his first season with the Bucs. Only Lamar Jackson (16) had more QB1 finishes last season than Mayfield (13). While he'll have his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons, new OC Josh Grizzard was the passing game coordinator for Liam Coen, who's now Jacksonville's head coach. First-round pick Emeka Egbuka should make a significant and immediate impact, but regression and injuries/rehabs for left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receivers Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan to start the season could lead to a disappointing season compared to his fantasy ADP.

MORE: Continue reading our Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 Fantasy Football Projections