The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had significant interest in drafting a defensive tackle during the 2026 NFL Draft.
The starters are set for the upcoming season, but the only starter under contract beyond 2026 is Calijah Kancey, who has yet to stay healthy for a full season.
Vita Vea and A’Shawn Robinson are both on the wrong side of 30, and set to enter free agency next season, so planning for the future was a necessity.
The Buccaneers saw several dream defensive tackle prospects get taken off the board early on Day 3, but they still managed to get their guy.
Buccaneers draft Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart
Tampa Bay selected DeMonte Capehart at No. 155 overall in the fifth round.
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle is a 99th-percentile athlete with a sky-high ceiling.
DeMonte Capehart is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.96 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 9 out of 2278 DT from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/H2RypY3gxA pic.twitter.com/ulXQp14UvT
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 19, 2026
Despite six seasons in college Capehart doesn’t have much production on his resume. He started only two games and recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and three sacks during his college career.
He projects as a rotational player at the NFL level, and the Bucs are banking they can get the most out of his rare athletic traits.
#Bucs landed a 99% athlete in the 5th round in DT DeMonte Capehart.
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 25, 2026
At 6’5 and 310, he had a 4.85 forty and 34 inch vert, with a 9.97 RAS score.
He was a high school basketball player too and that movement shows up as a pass rusher 🎥⬇️ on film and at @ShrineBowl
Impact… pic.twitter.com/DwpijAbx4n
The good news is that Tampa Bay doesn’t need him to fill a starting role right away, so he’s landed in a perfect spot to develop at the pro levels while serving as a valuable depth piece.
The Buccaneers have dedicated this draft to overhauling their defense after a disappointing 2025 season, and Capehart is the latest piece of that puzzle.
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