Buccaneers poised for defensive overhaul in bold 2025 NFL Mock Draft

With the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have several clear-cut needs to address if they hope to capitalize on their Super Bowl window.

In 2024, a lack of consistent pass rush, struggles creating turnovers, and a wave of injuries that exposed the team’s thin defensive depth were reoccuring themes that ultimately doomed the Buccaneers.

While the Bucs have made retooling the defense a priority this offseason, the roster remains a few key pieces short of being truly complete. Fortunately, Tampa Bay retained all 11 starters from its impressive 2024 offensive unit, giving the front office the flexibility it needs to focus on revamping the defense during the 2025 NFL Draft.

Bucs Biggest Needs Entering 2025 NFL Draft

One of the most pressing priorities for the Buccaneers is to improve the secondary. With Tykee Smith expected to transition to safety full-time, a vacancy has opened up at the starting nickel cornerback position. The Bucs could also use more depth at safety, so targeting a versatile defensive back who can compete with Christian Izien for the nickel spot while also providing flexibility at safety would be ideal. Addtionally, the team still needs another outside cornerback, so expect the Bucs to leave this draft with at least two defensive backs.

The Bucs also need to find an inside linebacker that can contribute as a rookie while being groomed as Lavonte David's eventual successor. The team likes what they have in Sirvocea Dennis, but injuries have held him back in his young career and the front office would be wise to further invest in the future of the linebacker position during the draft.

Landing another edge rusher should also be a top priority for Tampa Bay. The Bucs made a splash signing when they added Haason Reddick in free agency to upgrade their outside linebacker room, but Reddick is on just a one-year deal and will turn 31 during the upcoming season.

Signing Reddick was a huge upgrade to one of the Bucs' weakest position groups, but that should not prevent Tampa Bay from adding another talented player to the rotation.

Outside of the obvious needs, the Bucs under general manager Jason Licht are always a candidate to add to the trenches on either side of the ball. The team has also been linked to a few wide receiver prospects, and seemingly intends to add more depth to their talented receiver group.

With the roster's biggest needs in mind, I took my best shot at laying out the blueprint for a perfect 2025 NFL Draft—one that would both set the Buccaneers up for Super Bowl contention in 2025, and leave them with an exciting young group of core players for the future.

Buccaneers 7-Round Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 19: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

There has been a ton of smoke connecting Ezeiruaku to the Buccaneers, and rightfully so—the Boston College standout is an obvious fit in Tampa Bay. Ezeiruaku notched 28 sacks in his four-year college career, including a career-high 16.5 in 2024 en route to being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Despite being considered slightly undersized at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds, Ezeiruaku's 34-inch arms rank among the longest at his position in this draft class, which is a trait the Buccaneers are known to covet. He also tested first at his position in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, drills that test acceleration and the ability to quickly change direction, which demonstrates his explosiveness.

Adding Ezeiruaku to a rotation that already includes Haason Reddick and YaYa Diaby spells trouble for opposing offenses. It is also a proactive move that would prevent outside linebacker from becoming a desperate need again next offseason if Reddick declines or departs in free agency after the 2025 season.

Drafting Ezeiruaku offers the Bucs an explosive pass-rush specialist with impressive production already on his resume, and would be a home-run selection to set the tone for the draft class.

Round 2, Pick 53: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

If there is one cornerback in this draft that was born to be a Buccaneer, it's Darien Porter. Porter is 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, boasts 94th percentile arm length, and ran an impressive 4.30 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

If you know anything about Todd Bowles, it's that he has a type when scouting outside cornerbacks. He tends to prefer tall, lengthy corners with high-end speed and ball skils, and Porter checks all the boxes.

One prospect that comes to mind as a comparison for Porter is Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum, who profiled similarly as a boom-or-bust developmental prospect with a truly special athletic profile.

McCollum and Porter both rank among the top five most athletic cornerbacks ever scored dating back to 1987, per Kent Lee Platte's Relative Athletic Score system, and the two would form an extremely high-upside duo in Tampa Bay.

The only concern with Porter is that as a sixth-year senior, he enters the draft at 24 years old with only one season of starting experience. Porter is certainly raw, especially for an older prospect, but this coaching staff can help him develop quickly as an NFL player as they demonstrated with McCollum, who showed significant improvement last season.

Jamel Dean is scheduled to be a free agent following the 2026 season, and the team could look to move on even sooner than that due to Dean's age, contract cost, and injury history. Drafting Porter as a developmental depth piece that can eventually replace Dean as the starter outside McCollum could pay dividends in the not-so-distant future for the Buccaneers.

Round 3, Pick 84: Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

Similar to Porter, Knight's stock has taken a slight dip due to his older age as a six-year college player. Knight will turn 25 years old during his rookie season, but unlike Porter, Knight enters the league as a more polished, pro-ready player.

Knight's age could actually play to his advantage as a target for Tampa Bay—Bowles is on record saying linebacker is the hardest position to learn in his defense. Knight's experience, maturity, and intelligence as a player could make the transition easier and make him a great fit for what the Bucs need at the position.

Knight is a smart and aggressive player that offers solid coverage and tackling skills along with the ability as a blitzer that the Bucs covet. In his last two seasons at South Carolina, Knight totalled 178 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and four interceptions, showcasing a penchant for playmaking.

He was named the defensive captain for the Gamecocks in 2024, and his leadership experience could prove valuable in Tampa Bay as a potential successor to longtime defensive leader Lavonte David.

Round 4, Pick 121: Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma

Bowman is a versatile defensive back that has experience at nickel cornerback and both safety spots. Drafting Bowman immediately provides needed depth in the secondary, and gives Bowles another chess piece to utilize in his scheme.

Bowles made it clear earlier this offseason that he is looking to add ballhawks to his defense, and Bowman fits the bill with 11 interceptions since 2022. He also offers elite speed for the nickel and safety spots, turning in a blazing 4.42 40-yard dash.

The common knock on Bowman is that at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, he is a bit undersized for a traditional safety. But Bowman actually fits the prototype of safety prospects the Bucs have drafted in recent memory such as Jordan Whitehead, Mike Edwards, and Tykee Smith—all of whom measure nearly identically to Bowman.

Bowman's versatility and production speak for themselves, and the Bucs would be ecstatic to add such a natural fit in the fourth round of the draft.

Round 5, Pick 157: Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska

General Manager Jason Licht's alma mater is home to a fierce defensive tackle prospect that could add some needed depth and physicality to the Bucs' defensive line rotation.

Despite measuring in at a massive 6-foot-5, 288 pounds, Robinson ran a 4.83 fourty-yard dash, which demonstrates high-end speed for his size and position. His overall athletic profile ranks No. 24 among all defensive tackle prospects dating back to 1987, per the RAS sytem.

Robinson registered seven sacks and a forced fumble in 2024, serving as the anchor of the Cornhuskers' defensive front. He plays with a relentless motor and a bully mentality, and would benefit from joining a rotation that includes Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey.

Vea is already 30 years old, and backup rotational piece Greg Gaines is on just a one-year deal. Taking a flier on a player like Robinson would improve the defensive line depth immediately while simultaneously helping the Bucs prepare for the future at the position.

Round 7, Pick 235: Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkanas

Armstrong is one of the biggest sleeper prospects in the draft. Despite possessing ideal size at 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, and consistent production against SEC talent, he is viewed as a late-round prospect.

He caught 78 passes for an SEC-leading 1,140 yards and one touchdown in 2024, and his best season came in 2022 where he caught 62 passes for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Razorbacks. He put out good tape against ranked opponents this season, recording nine catches for 128 yards against No. 21 Missouri, and six catches for 135 yards against No. 19 Ole Miss.

Scouts express concerns about his lack of separation and middling speed and route running. He also enters the draft at 24 years old—and his age, combined with his lack of polish, is why he is still on the board so late. Despite these concerns, all Armstrong does is produce at a high level.

The Bucs could use another receiver, but it is not a major need that requires a polished player to contribute on day one. Armstrong can learn from a talented receiver room that includes Mike Evans-a fellow big-bodied receiver who also faced some questions about his separation and route running ability as a prospect. Armstrong is the perfect low-risk, high-reward talent the Bucs should gamble on with their final pick of the draft.