Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be pretty clearly focused on one side of the football. It isn't difficult to figure that out, especially considering the team is bringing back all 11 starters on offense.
This should be a defense-heavy class coming up, and justifiably so.
However, a division rival might be going a similar route. The Atlanta Falcons would love to come away with an impact defensive player in Round 1, specifically, as would the Buccaneers.
In a recent mock draft, the official Falcons website has Atlanta targeting Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams in the first round. In Dane Brugler's latest mock, he has Atlanta going edge rusher as well.
All this to say, it seems like the Falcons would thoroughly enjoy a pick like Williams, who is one of the top pass rushers in the 2025 class.
At the same time, so would the Bucs.
What if the Buccaneers had a little fun while simultaneously sabotaging the Falcons?
Atlanta picks at 15 and, just four spots later, you can find the Buccaneers waiting at no. 19 overall. Now, while there could be several logical options there if the Bucs just stayed put, they could also have an opportunity to leapfrog the Falcons if they loved what they say in Williams.
The Indianapolis Colts sit at 14th overall and are likely hoping the unlikely event happens which sees Penn State tight end Tyler Warren slip to them. However, if he doesn't, don't be surprised if the Colts trade back.
Enter: Tampa Bay.
Williams has been on our radar for several months, dating back to last college season.
We've talked about Williams not only being a fit for the Bucs, but a future star in the making. He is well-worth trading up a few spots to select. We likely haven't even seen the best of Williams even during his college days due to an injury he suffered in his final season at Georgia.
Williams admitted he played the entire season at less than 100 percent in 2024, and if what we saw on tape was far less than full health, then who knows what his ceiling could actually be.
He might have the highest floor out of any pass rusher in this class and, because of that, should be a serious focus for the Bucs -- heaven knows he's a focal point for the Falcons.
If Tampa Bay was able to move up and secure Williams, that would leave the Falcons with a tough decision. It might even force Atlanta to trade back if they didn't see another pass rusher worth drafting at that point.
In more ways than one, the Bucs could end up influencing Atlanta's strategy, and you can't get much better than forcing a division rival into Plan B.