The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had an incredible draft through the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.Â
They’ve selected dominant pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr., violent downhill linebacker Josiah Trotter, and big-play-waiting-to-happen Ted Hurst.
Day 3 is where scouts and general managers really earn their paychecks, looking to find diamonds in the rough for their teams. There are several late-round gems still waiting to be uncovered by the Buccaneers.Â
Buccaneers should target these 10 players on Day 3 of NFL Draft
Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
Darrell Jackson Jr. is a massive defensive tackle at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds. He’s one of the strongest players in the entire draft class and would be an asset clogging running lanes for opposing offenses.Â
Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern LouisianaÂ
Kaleb Proctor is the opposite style of Darrell Jackson at the defensive tackle spot. Rather than a massive run stopper, Proctor is an undersized interior pass rush specialist at 6-foot-1, 290 pounds, a la Calijah Kancey.
He earned a 90.2 pass-rush grade from PFF, ranking third in the nation. His 20.2% pressure rate ranked best in the nation, and he recorded nine sacks to show for it.Â
Gracen Halton, DT, OklahomaÂ
Gracen Halton measures in at 6-foot-2, 293 pounds. Like Proctor, he’s more of a disruptor in the passing game than a stalwart against the run.
He totaled 8.5 sacks during his college career and would be a welcome addition to Tampa Bay’s defensive front.Â
Justin Joly, TE, NC State
Justin Joly is the best receiving tight end left in this draft class, and it’s no secret the Bucs are looking for another tight end to complement Cade Otton.Â
Joly would add a new dynamic to the tight end room and would have an immediate path to significant playing time as the Bucs implement Zac Robinson’s scheme that heavily utilizes 12 personnel.
Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
The Bucs already drafted a linebacker, but they can afford to over-correct their weakest position group.
While Trotter is a downhill attacker, Kyle Louis is the opposite as a pure coverage specialist, with many believing he’s better-suited at safety.
Wherever he ultimately lines up, the Bucs defense could use more players like him.Â
Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M
Similar to Louis mentioned above, Taurean York would be an ideal fit if the Bucs want to double down at linebacker.Â
York has impressive football IQ and instincts, and the multi-year team captain has all the traits that will make Tampa Bay fall in love.
If they can look past his small stature at 5-foot-10, 226 pounds, they’ll get a good football player who will at the very least be a special teams ace.Â
Ephesians Prysock, CB, WashingtonÂ
The Bucs need cornerback depth, and Ephesians Prysock has all of the physical tools to develop into a quality stater down the line.
At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and running a 4.45 40-yard dash, he’s got traits for days. He just needs to be developed, and Todd Bowles has had a lot of success developing cornerbacks in Tampa Bay. Did we mention the University of Washington connection?Â
Hezekiah Masses, CB, California
Hezekiah Masses is another ideal Day 3 cornerback option for the Buccaneers. He led all of college football with 18 passes broken up last year, along with five interceptions.Â
At 6-feet, 180 pounds with 31-inch arms, he’s got the size and length that make him a prototypical fit for Bowles’ defense, and his elite ball production only makes him more appealing.
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
VJ Payne is a versatile defensive back with experience at both safety spots and even the nickel spot.Â
He’s a durable player who started 41-straight games in college, and he was best friends and roommates with Bucs cornerback Jacob Parrish at Kansas State. He’d fit right into both the scheme and the locker room.Â
Nadame Tucker, Edge, Western Michigan
It’s unlikely the Bucs double dip at pass rusher, but if they do, Nadame Tucker should be the guy.Â
He’ll be a 26-year-old rookie, which is a unique case, but his elite production last year is too intriguing to pass up late on Day 3.Â
He recorded 14.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss en route to being named MAC Player of the Year. In his lone season in the FBS, he led the nation in sacks per game (1.12), tackles for loss per game (1.62) and pass rush win percentage (28.4 percent, via Dane Brugler.
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