The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came out of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft as massive winners.
Rueben Bain Jr., who was almost unanimously ranked as a top-10 prospect, shockingly fell to Tampa Bay at No. 15. The Bucs sprinted to the podium with the biggest steal of the draft so far.
But they can’t get complacent after just one successful draft pick. There’s six more rounds, and the Bucs still have some pressing needs to address.
Luckily, there’s a handful of impact players still on the board that Tampa Bay can potentially draft on Day 2.
Best available players for Buccaneers on Day 2 of NFL Draft
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Denzel Boston was expected to go in the first round, and it’s doubtful his slide will continue all the way to Tampa Bay’s pick at No. 46. But if he’s still available, it’ll be hard to pass up.
It’s not a Bucs draft without selecting a Washington Husky after all, and Boston would get to team up with fellow Washington alum Jalen McMillan in the wide receiver room.
Boston measures in at 6-foot-4, 212 pounds. He’s a natural fit for the X wide receiver role the Bucs are looking to fill after the departure of Mike Evans.
He caught 132 passes for 1,781 yards and 20 touchdowns during his college career. He’s a physical bully at the wide receiver position that would help give the room the element it’s missing.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald is the best run-stuffing nose tackle in this draft class. The Buccaneers have built their defensive identity off stopping the run, and they’ve had a top-five rushing defense in six of eight years since drafting Vita Vea.
But with Vea entering his age-31 season that’s also a contract year, it’s never too early to prepare for the future at the position. McDonald would ensure the run defense in Tampa Bay remains elite for years to come, and he’d be a steal at No. 46.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
You just knew Jacob Rodriguez would be on this list. After addressing the edge in the first round, inside linebacker is the biggest remaining need.
Rodriguez is the best remaining linebacker, making this a no-brainer. Rodriguez is the perfect fit for the Buccaneers, offering a unique blend of proven production, football IQ, and leadership. If the front office can somehow pull off landing Rodriguez on Day 2 after getting Bain on Day 1, it’ll be an A+ draft regardless of how the rest plays out.
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
CJ Allen is another ideal fit for the Buccaneers at the linebacker position. He was the leader of the Georgia defense, serving as a team captain and wearing the green dot.
The Bucs were named as a team to watch for Allen in the first round in a trade down scenario, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them capitalize on that interest in the second round. Landing Allen at No. 46 would be a great pickup for Tampa Bay.
D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
D’Angelo Ponds is a feisty, physical coverage cornerback.
He graded as one of the best cornerbacks in college football by PFF, and led Indiana’s championship team with ten passes broken up and two interceptions.
He projects mainly as a nickel due to being undersized, reminiscent of the Jacob Parrish pick last year. But both of them are capable of playing outside as well, and adding Ponds would give Tampa Bay another versatile, competitive cornerback to upgrade the secondary.
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