We're still celebrating what feels like another home run NFL Draft class for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it's never too early to start looking ahead at what's next.
Jason Licht has nailed his last two drafts, landing Calijah Kancey and Graham Barton as foundational pieces for the future. He took another big swing on Emeka Egbuka this year, a move that could give the Bucs the best wide receiver room in the league.
So what could he have up his sleeve next year?
ESPN's NFL Draft expert Matt Miller is already circling LSU edge rusher Patrick Payton. He transferred from Florida State after a few rough seasons but does so looking to "regain his first-round status" which already makes him feel like a chip-on-his-shoulder fit for the Bucs' locker room.
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Not only would Payton be a perfect fit at a position of need for the Bucs, but he could provide a replacement plan for Haason Reddick.
Tampa Bay signed Reddick to a $14 million deal this offseason to help fix the team's mediocre pass rush, which means the former Pro Bowler is incentivized to earn his way into a bigger contract next year.
Reddick playing himself into a big free agent deal next year is the ideal outcome, even if it ends up being one that the Bucs can't afford to pay. Payton presents a potential option for replacing Reddick if that scenario plays out next March.
Here's what Miller had to say about the Bucs taking Payton next April:
"Payton has been on scouts' radar since 2022, flashing as a freshman at Florida State before compiling seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2023. He struggled along with the rest of the Seminoles in 2024, with his sack total falling to four," Miller wrote. "Payton would be an intriguing fit for the Buccaneers, as his quickness and speed off the edge would be an ideal match to the power that defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey possess."
That sounds like exactly the sort of player who would fall into Tampa Bay's lap and potentially develop into a key contributor for the future. We saw it happen with Kancey and all signs point toward the same thing happening with Graham Barton on the other side of the line.
Another scenario where Payton replaces Reddick is one where there is more of a passing of the torch situation and they get to play a year together. This is something fans have been hoping for with Lavonte David and a rookie, but if Reddick steps up and can then tutor his replacement, that feels like a win-win for everyone.
We know the Bucs have a habit of taking care of their own and Reddick could be in that position next offseason where Tampa Bay pays him fairly to return and help set up the future at edge rusher.
That's a lot of crystal ball watching, but it's never too early to start thinking about how one of the biggest offseason additions can pay off in more than one way.
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