The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are used to Jason Licht working his magic as the general manager of the team but he outdid himself in the 2026 NFL Draft. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic went through the entire draft and found the biggest sleeper at each position. Two Buccaneers draft picks made the cut.
Guard Billy Schrauth was first up. The Buccaneers drafted Schrauth in the fifth round despite the Fighting Irish talent being given a third/fourth-round grade by "The Beast". Baumgardner wrote that, despite injury concerns, Schrauth will fit in just fine with Tampa Bay.
"A powerful, quick-footed guard, Schrauth (6-5, 310, with 32 7/8-inch arms) has enough power in the run game to potentially compete for a job during his rookie season. A former Notre Dame captain, Schrauth has had injury problems, but he’ll be an instant fit in Tampa Bay’s locker room."
After the offensive line issues the Bucs dealt with last year, it'd be great if Schrauth could add value to the group. Getting him in the fifth round looks to be a steal right now but hopefully, he lives up to his potential.
Two Bucs draft picks considered 'best value' at respective positions
The other Buccaneers draft pick to make Baumgardner's list was Keionte Scott, a fourth-round pick out of Miami. Scott won't have to relocate very far and the rookie safety could be a factor in the Bucs' defense from the get-go.
"There are plenty of reasons to doubt a prospect like Scott — he’s small; he’s old; his injury history isn’t flattering. But then you turn on the tape, and you see him stand out as one of the most energetic defensive forces in college football last season. A perfect pick for Todd Bowles."
"The Beast" had Scott as a second/third-round value, so the Buccaneers did get him as a steal, at least on paper. We'll have to see what he ends up doing for this team but the consensus after the draft is that he could be one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Again, we have to see what both of these guys actually do during the course of the regular season, but Licht has proven that he knows how to find talent. Who are we to doubt him at this point?
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