The 2026 NFL Draft is just a week away, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a home run draft class to return to playoff contention.
There are a handful of pressing needs, headlined by the edge rusher and inside linebacker positions.
But Jason Licht and Todd Bowles’ philosophy has been to trust their board and select the best player available, rather than reaching for a need. It seems they’ll continue to abide by that philosophy in next week’s draft.
Buccaneers will draft best player available in the first round of 2026 NFL Draft
Licht was asked during his pre-draft press conference what he’ll do if the top players remaining don’t fill an immediate need for the Buccaneers.
“No problem. If we view the player as a high-end, very high-end talent that’s going to make an impact at some point, I have no problem,” said Licht.
It’s a strategy the Bucs have lived by strictly in the first round before using the rest of the draft to address team needs.
There may be no better example than just last year, when the Bucs bypassed pressing needs at pass rusher and inside linebacker to draft wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round.
Wide receiver was already viewed as arguably the team’s strongest position group, but that didn’t stop Tampa Bay from drafting the best overall player on their board.
The move aged like fine wine, as Egbuka had an incredible rookie season and is now poised for an even bigger role in his sophomore season after Mike Evans departed in free agency.
Just a year later, the Bucs enter the draft with the same needs as a year ago: pass rusher and inside linebacker.
But based on the draft board, it’s very possible that the best player available when the Bucs pick at No. 15 overall won’t be at either of those positions. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq or Penn State guard Vega Ioane might not fill an immediate need, but they might be the best suited to make the Buccaneers a better football team in the long run.
It’s a deep defensive draft class, so Bucs fans shouldn’t overreact if the first round pick doesn’t fill one of the immediate needs.
There are seven rounds for a reason, and Licht and his front office have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to scouting talent. They’ve been among the best teams in the NFL when it comes to developing and maintaining homegrown talent for a reason.
So just a week away from the 2026 NFL Draft, it remains a total mystery which direction the Buccaneers will go with their first-round draft pick, but rest assured it will be a high-impact player that the front office thinks enormously high of both on and off the field.
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