The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have long been searching for a solution to their pass rush problem.
They haven’t had a player record double-digit sacks since Shaq Barrett did it in 2021. The inability to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been the downfall of the Buccaneers' defense in recent seasons.
The Bucs are expected to approach the 2026 NFL Draft with an emphasis on upgrading their two biggest weaknesses: the pass rush and the inside linebacker spot.
There is a sleeper expected to be available on Day 3 that could provide exactly what the Buccaneers are looking for.
Nadame Tucker could be the answer to the Buccaneers’ pass rush problem
Nadame Tucker out of Western Michigan is one of the most intriguing prospects of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The biggest concern negatively impacting his draft stock is that he'll already be 26 years old when his rookie year begins, and he wasn’t able to carve out a starting role until his final college season. According to Dane Brugler in his draft guide, accountability concerns kept Tucker off the field at Houston before he transferred to Western Michigan in 2025.
But when he finally got on the field, Tucker was one of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football.
Over 13 starts, he led the MAC in both tackles for loss (22) and sacks (14.5) while adding 55 tackles and four forced fumbles. According to Brugler, he led the FBS in sacks per game (1.12), tackles for loss per game (1.62) and pass rush win percentage (28.4 percent).
His elite 90.6 overall PFF grade ranked 11th out of 852 qualifying players at the position. His 92.7 pass rush grade ranked 4th in the nation.
The Bucs are likely going to draft an edge rusher far earlier than Tucker’s projection as a late Day 3 pick, but if they want to double dip to bolster the pass rush, Tucker would be the perfect flier.
They hosted him for a 30 visit, so the Bucs have shown interest. If they’re able to get him a good value on Day 3, they should sprint to the podium and take a low-risk, high-reward gamble that could pay dividends for their pass rush.
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