While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have core, youth-infused pieces present on either side of the ball, improving the veteran, aging pieces is always a goal come draft time.
While much will change before we get to April, with scheme fit, personal evaluation, and conversations with scouts across football in mind, here is an early look at where the Bucs could go come April.
Round 1 (No. 19 overall): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
One of the most gifted playmakers on the country's most talented defense, Styles has been one of the most impactful linebackers in the country this fall, pairing elite range with the processing and physicality required to command the middle of a defense.
For a Buccaneers roster that can go in several directions with this pick, Styles offers a high-floor, high-impact defensive anchor who strengthens the run defense, improves pursuit speed at the second level, and adds immediate credibility to a core that must get younger, faster, and more dynamic in the front seven.
Round 2 (No. 51 overall): Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Young is a long, powerful, ascending edge rusher whose SEC production and late-season surge (15 pressures his final two games) have pushed him firmly onto the national radar.
His length, leverage, and closing burst would give Tampa Bay another high-upside disruptor in the front seven, and with a strong pre-draft cycle, he is the type of talent who could easily push into the back end of round one.
Round 3 (No. 83 overall): Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
Trigg brings an NFL-caliber blend of explosiveness, length, and fluid movement skills at the flex tight end spot. A former blue-chip recruit with stops at USC, Ole Miss, and Baylor, his athletic traits have always been easy to spot on tape, and his ceiling rivals some of the more hyped early-round tight ends in the class. For a Buccaneers offense looking for another dynamic pass-game contributor, Trigg offers TE1 upside without requiring a premium pick.
Round 4 (No. 119 overall): Keylan Rutledge, iOL, Georgia Tech
Rutledge has been one of the most dominant run blockers in college football, bullying defenders off the ball and sustaining blocks to the second level with excellent raw power generated from a powerful lower half.
His versatility across interior spots, paired with his ability to create immediate movement in the ground game, makes him an attractive early Day Three target.
Round 5 (No. 158 overall): Darian Mensah, QB, Duke
Mensah is one of the most productive and overlooked quarterbacks in the nation, having led Duke to an ACC title with more than 30 passing touchdowns and consistent control of the offense. With Baker Mayfield entrenched but not guaranteed long-term and the backup depth chart thin, Mensah offers developmental upside, processing ability and poise, giving Tampa Bay a quality Day Three investment who can sit, learn, and potentially grow into a future starter.
Round 6 (No. 197 overall): Eric McAlister, WR, TCU
McAlister is a big-bodied (6-foot-3), physical perimeter target with three-level capability. His frame, catch radius, and willingness to play through contact add a different stylistic element to the Buccaneers’ receiver room, and his vertical presence pairs well with their younger wideouts. As a late-round addition, McAllister offers developmental traits with the potential to carve out a meaningful depth role. In 2025, the former Boise State transfer caught 63 passes for 1,104 yards and 10 TDs.
Round 7 (No. 232 overall): Keanu Tanuvasa, DL, BYU
Tanuvasa is a rugged, powerful interior defensive lineman with the strength to play both one-tech and rotational three-tech roles. A cornerstone of BYU’s defensive front, he brings heavy hands, anchor, and the ability to plug gaps, giving Tampa Bay a late-round swing on a scheme-versatile depth piece. His physical makeup and motor provide a foundation for early rotational snaps within a defense that values gap-clogging nose tackles.