The Tampa Bay Buccaneers know that they need to remake their defensive outlook ahead of the 2025 season, as the loss of Liam Coen and improvements made by some of their tougher rivals in the NFC South will make it much tougher for this team to find a way to repeat as division champs.
Tampa Bay could take advantage of a 2025 NFL Draft class that is deep at both the linebacker and defensive line spots to find a new starter who becomes a key contributor for the defense in the long haul.
Jason Licht, who has typically been one to eschew making any trades up in the order over the last few seasons, may need to break from his previously established trends if the Bucs are to reclaim their division title. Any one of these three players would warrant a move up.
3 future stars Buccaneers absolutely must trade up for in 2025 NFL Draft
3. Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Despite drafting Chris Braswell and signing Haason Reddick, pass rusher is still one of the weakest areas on this defense, if not at the very bottom. Williams may not have the most pass rush juice when compared to players like James Pearce Jr. or Mike Green, but his floor is very high.
Williams is not only the best edge-setting defender in this class, but he claims to have played most of last season while working through some injuries. Williams, at full strength, could start right away in Tampa Bay and become someone who puts an end to years of poor pass rushes.
2. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
With Travis Hunter all but assured to be drafted in the top three picks, there is a big gap between Johnson an consensus CB3 Jahdae Barron. If Todd Bowles wants another bigger corner who an use his size and length to generate turnovers, Johnson could be the man for the job.
Johnson, when healthy, can wash receivers out of plays at the line of scrimmage while showing the football brain Bowles will love to see from his cornerbacks. Given how many teams need defensive backs, Johnson may not make it out of the Top 12 picks.
1. Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
The Bucs could stay at No. 19 overall if they want to take Alabama's Jihaad Campbell as their Lavonte David successor, but Walker's talent is so exceptional that he could be worth a pick in the Top 10. It would cost a pretty penny, but his athleticism borders on freakish.
Walker profiles as an immediate starter who can use his sideline-to-sideline coverage ability to perform well as a pure inside linebacker, but his explosion is so impressive that he could be used as an edge rusher in the Reddick mold. Walker will cost a ton, but he appears to warrant it.