After a great start in the 2025 season, the wheels fell off, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers totally missed the playoffs in a shocking development as the season progressed. Fortunately, with the right offseason, Tampa could regain control of the division, as they have won it regularly in recent years.
General Manager Jason Licht has also cemented himself as one of the more solid GMs in the NFL, especially when it comes to the draft. Tampa has hit on a ton of players in the NFL Draft, so whatever Licht has done is working, and if 2025 showed us anything, it's that winning gets harder year-over-year.
Well, the Buccaneers could regain control of the NFC South in 2026 if they were able to come away with this NFL Draft haul.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers restock the cupboard in updated 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
15. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Buccaneers linebacker room is relatively empty right now with all of Lavonte David, Deion Jones, and Anthony Walker Jr set to hit free agency. Sonny Styles might not make it to the Bucs at pick 15, but he was there in this mock draft and is a legitimate blue-chip prospect and day one starter at the position. Getting legitimate play at linebacker is huge for any NFL defense, as they play right in the middle of the unit and often set the tone for the entire group.
46. Darrell Jackson Jr, DT, Florida State
The Buccaneers defensive front was fine in 2025, but you'd love to see this team be able to create more pressure on the quarterback and simply become a more stout group overall. Darrell Jackson Jr is not only 6-5 and 337 pounds, but he does excel at stopping the run, and if Super Bowl 60 should tell Tampa anything, it's that there is never such a thing as too many quality defensive linemen.
77. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
With the possibility that tight end Cade Otton could depart in free agency, the Buccaneers could look to the NFL Draft to find a potential replacement. Eli Stowers has receiving upside, but like most collegiate tight ends, leaves a bit of meat on the bone as a blocker, but that's absolutely a quality that can be improved.
What you can't teach is athleticism.
116. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
It's no guarantee that wide receiver Mike Evans returns to the Bucs in 2026, and even if he does, the team would still need to dip into the NFL Draft to find some type of long-term replacement. Malachi Fields profiles as a traditional "X" receiver in the NFL, and that's the type of young player the Bucs need.
After using a first-round pick on Emeka Egbuka in 2025, the Buccaneers draft another young wide receiver with a different skillset in Fields.
153. Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
Over his final two years at Florida, Tyreak Sapp had 16.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. At pick 153, his decent collegiate production is worth taking a stab on in the NFL. He'd likely start out as a rotational pass-rusher.
194. DJ Campbell, OG, Texas
DJ Campbell is a prototypical built NFL guard. There might not be a path for him to start given his draft stock and overall ability, but the Bucs could get some quality depth at pick 194 by selecting Campbell, with there always being a chance he develops into a starting-caliber player.
229. Devan Boykin, S, Indiana
The Bucs do have some players in the secondary set to hit the free agency market, so while the front office could absolutely address the position earlier, they at least grab some key depth and snag Devan Boykin from Indiana to finish off this mock draft.