The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to nail the 2026 NFL Draft. The franchise is at a pivotal moment, as the two longest-tenured players left this offseason, head coach Todd Bowles is on the hot seat, and quarterback Baker Mayfield enters a contract year. Another disappointing season could lead to a full reset.
This puts even more urgency on the front office to get the upcoming draft class right by finding immediate impact players who can help Tampa Bay compete in a make-or-break 2026 season.
The biggest needs are, of course, on the defensive side of the ball. The most pressing need is at outside linebacker, as the Bucs desperately need to find a game-wrecking pass rusher to elevate the defensive unit. They haven’t had a player reach double-digit sacks since Shaq Barrett did it in 2021, and the team has gone too long without being able to generate pressure.
The next glaring need is at inside linebacker, which became even more prominent after Lavonte David’s retirement. They added veteran Alex Anzalone in free agency, along with Christian Rozeboom, but they still need to find a long-term solution to the linebacker problem.
But despite the team needs calling for a defensive selection in the first round, the Bucs shouldn’t pass on an offensive player if it’s the best, safest player available.
Kenyon Sadiq could be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ smartest 2026 NFL Draft pick
Throughout the offseason, many Bucs fans have groaned at the idea of drafting Kenyon Sadiq. Perhaps that sentiment stems from a bad taste left in their mouths after the failure of their last first-round tight end, O.J. Howard.
Bucs fans, for the most part, are adamant that after re-signing Cade Otton in free agency, drafting a tight end in the first round doesn't make sense, especially with the current defensive needs.
But drafting Sadiq makes more sense than you think.
Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson ran 12 personnel sets at third-highest rate of any play caller in 2025. His offense utilizes multiple tight ends, and behind Otton, the Bucs don’t have any true receiving threats. Ko Kieft is solely a blocker, while Devin Culp and Payne Durham combined for only two total catches last season.
Think back to the Bucs’ offense when Tom Brady was at the helm, and the team ran a significant amount of 12 personnel utilizing Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, and even Cameron Brate. That tight end trio is leaps and bounds above what Tampa Bay currently has on the depth chart.
Sadiq also quietly helps replace the loss of Mike Evans, despite playing a different position. Where Evans will be missed the most is in the red zone, and Sadiq could step in and help replace some of that production. He caught 11 total touchdowns in his college career including 8 in 2025.
At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, Sadiq ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, the fastest ever recorded by a tight end at the NFL Combine. He also recorded a 43.5-inch vertical jump (99th percentile) and a 133-inch broad jump (98th percentile). He’s a generational athlete, and has the size and athleticism to be a matchup nightmare if utilized properly.
He’s also a capable, willing blocker. He brings the total package as a receiver and blocker with physical traits that give him one of the highest ceilings of any player in this draft class.
The draft class is deep at both the EDGE and inside linebacker positions, so the Buccaneers don't have to force a pick for need at the expense of a potential game-changing offensive player.
If the Bucs aren’t in love with the defensive players on the board at 15th overall, they shouldn’t reach based on team needs and should instead take the best player available, and there’s a real chance that Sadiq is the player at the top of the board.