2026 NFL Draft week is upon us, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are inching closer to a make-or-break moment for the franchise.
A strong draft class could help this team return to Super Bowl contention while simultaneously building the foundation for the future. But if the team fails to add immediate impact players, it could spell trouble for the Buccaneers in 2026.
The pressure is on for Jason Licht and his front office to bring in a strong group of players to help usher in a new generation of Bucs football. Are they up for the challenge?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-Round Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 15: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
Jason Licht has two major draft patterns that make Vega Ioane feel like a legitimate possibility.
The first is his emphasis on building the trenches. Licht has spent three picks on offensive linemen in either the first or second round during his tenure as Buccaneers general manager. He recognizes the importance of protecting the quarterback, and will never hesitate to add to the offensive line, having drafted an offensive linemen in nine of his 12 drafts in Tampa Bay.
The second pattern is his commitment to drafting the best player available over need in the first round. He reiterated earlier this week at his pre-draft press conference he wants to add the best player, regardless of position. If Vega Ioane is still on the board at No. 15, there’s a good chance he’ll be the best player remaining.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ioane allowed zero sacks or QB hits, just four pressures, and committed only one penalty in 2025. He graded as PFF’s 13th-best guard out of 686 qualifiers, and earned an elite 87.0 pass-blocking grade.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pound guard plays the game violently, just the way the Bucs like it. Plugging him in at left guard would be an improvement over Ben Bredeson, and he and Tristan Wirfs would secure the left side of the line for years to come.
Round 2, Pick 46: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
The Buccaneers badly need to add some juice to the pass rush, as the inability to get opposing quarterbacks has held the defense back from reaching its ceiling in recent years.
Gabe Jacas is a violent edge defender that totaled 27 sacks and seven forced fumbles during his college career. He finished second in school history in sacks, only behind Bucs legend Simeon Rice.
He’s a team captain that plays with a nasty edge, which fits the demeanor change the Bucs are looking to bring to the defense this offseason. Jacas would be a home run pick in the second round.
Round 3, Pick 77: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
Louis is undersized at 5-foot-11, 220 pounds and is scheme-reliant, but that shouldn’t give the Bucs too much pause.
He’s the best pure coverage linebacker in this draft class, and plays fast with a nose for the football. He recorded over 200 combined tackles including 25.5 for a loss during his college career, along with 10 sacks and six interceptions.
His strengths as a blitzer but also staying back in coverage make him a perfect fit for the way Bowles likes to utilize his linebackers. He’d join former Pitt product SirVocea Dennis in the linebacker room and would immediately make the defense better on day one.
He's also earned ringing endorsements from coaches about his character and leadership and was named a team captain at Pitt. Head coach Pat Narduzzi said that in his 10 years leading the program, he’s never seen someone watch as much film as Louis.
Round 4, Pick 116: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
The Bucs have largely emphasized getting bigger on defense this offseason, but they’ve got to be willing to sacrifice size for disruption in return.
Gracen Halton is 6-foot-2, 293 pounds and might nit fit the exact size profile the Bucs are looking for right now, but he’s one of the most disruptive players in this draft class. He recorded 17.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during his college career.
According to Dane Brugler’s pre-draft guide, Halton also earned glowing character reviews and was a team captain at Oklahoma. “Fan favorite at Oklahoma because of his energy and fun-loving personality. Displays leadership traits,” wrote Brugler.
Those leadership qualities will only further endear him to the front office in Tampa Bay.
Round 5, Pick 155: Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
Ephesians Prysock has all of the physical traits that the right coaching staff will mold into a quality player at the pro level. He stands at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and runs an impressive 4.45 40-yard dash.
His combination of height, length, and speed make him a prototypical fit for Bowles’ scheme and what he traditionally targets in cornerbacks. He recorded two interceptions and 20 passes defended during his college career
He also contributed on special teams in all four years which will help him get on the field early in the NFL. He appeared in all 39 games over the last three seasons and has proven to be a very durable player. For a Bucs team that has seen their cornerback room be decimated by injuries over the years, his reliability will be a welcome addition to the room.
Round 6, Pick 195: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
The Buccaneers need to add a viable receiving threat to complement Cade Otton as they implement Zac Robinson’s scheme that heavily utilizes two tight end sets. Koziol is one of the best pure receiving tight ends in this draft class.
At 6-foot-6, 247 pounds, he’s a matchup nightmare waiting to happen. He was a focal point of his offenses in college, recording 337 targets in four seasons between Ball State and Houston, and converting 70% of his targets into receptions
Over his final two college seasons, Koziol recorded 168 receptions for over 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading all college football players with 46 contested catches. In 2025, he led all tight ends with 20 contested catches while posting only a 2.6% drop rate.
His size, proven production, and congested catch ability make him an intriguing Day 3 flier for a Bucs team that needs to add a new element to their tight end room.
Round 7, Pick 229: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Wisniewski would add some size to the Bucs secondary as the biggest safety in the room by a wide margin. Tampa Bay has shown interest, bringing him in for a pre-draft visit.
The former linebacker-turned safety is a highly physical player and a sound tackler who can play in the box and be an enforcer for the defense.
Wisniewski recorded eight interceptions back in 2023 at the FCS level for North Dakota State, but after transferring to Texas Tech, he didn’t have any turnover production.
He’s already 24 years old and has a concerning medical background with a broken foot, torn Achilles, and concussion over the last few years, which is the only reason he’s on the board so late. In taking a Day 3 flier, the Bucs will be banking that he can stay healthy and rediscover the elite ball production that he’s proven to be capable of.
Buccaneers mock draft recap
The Buccaneers exit this mock draft having addressed all of their major needs.
Five of the seven picks were spent on the defensive side of the ball, adding productive, high-character players who bring leadership and a much-needed edge to the locker room.
It’s a draft class that leaves Todd Bowles with no excuses. He now has five new pieces to mold on defense and a chance to reestablish his reputation as a defensive guru. Entering 2026 on the hot seat, this haul should give him everything he needs to turn things around and lead the Bucs back into playoff contention.
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