The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some work to do if they plan on finishing first in the NFC South again in 2026.
With the Panthers' rise to division power, the Falcons' drastic personnel changes, and the Saints finding their franchise quarterback, the division will only improve next season. The pitiful 8-9 season no one expected is in the past, and improvements are in the future.
Looking back, a major cause for the midseason collapse was the defense. The Bucs allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game, and were middle of the pack in points allowed. A major reason was the linebacker core, but they're not the only problem.
In this mock draft, we'll attempt to fix some of these holes, and look forward to an exciting 2026 season.
1st Round, 15th pick C.J. Allen, LB Georgia
The Bucs ' first-round pick is solidified into the No. 15 spot, and they must draft an elite linebacker here. With Ohio State's elite linebacker duo likely gone, Allen is the next best thing.
He is No. 3 on Mel Kiper's best off-ball linebackers list, and for good reason. The junior started two full seasons at the University of Georgia and posted 88 tackles, four passes defended, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles last year.
His pass-rush ability is nice, but they don't need him for that. Allen can stop the run and defend the pass well, two needs filled in one.
2nd Round, 14th pick, Brandon Cisse, CB South Carolina
Cisse has elite speed despite being six feet tall, and played well his Junior season at South Carolina. The CB had five passes defended, a forced fumble, and an interception through 11 games in 2025.
NFLDraftBuzz describes him as having "elite lateral explosion and downhill burst." He's expected to be a mid-second round pick and is Kiper's fourth-best cornerback. With the Bucs projected to claim the 14th pick in the second round, this is a no-brainer to aid the secondary.
Cisse spent all of 2025 guarding elite receivers in the SEC, and is well accustomed to strong competition. Although he's just a junior, his transition into the NFL should be easier.
Outside of Jamel Dean, no one was above average in 2025. The Bucs have a couple of young guys who could turn into average NFL starters, but none have the ceiling of Cisse. Whichever team picks him will receive an immediate starter.
3rd Round, 13th pick, TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati
Cade Otton is a free agent, and it's yet to be seen if he'll be re-signed. With no real threat to overtake him currently on the depth chart, a move must be made. This draft class doesn't boast massive tight end depth, but there are a couple of names that could be good fits.
Joe Royer is one of them. The senior spent three seasons (one redshirt) as a backup at Ohio State before transferring to Cincinnati where he made a real impact. Through two seasons, Royer caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.
He wasn't used as much in 2025, but still holds a high ceiling. He's a serious redzone threat, and averaged 14.3 yards per catch this season. If Royer falls to the Bucs, he'd be a strong replacement for Otton, and complement the elite receiving core.