Latest 2026 NFL mock draft is best-case scenario for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to return to playoff contention, they need to knock the 2026 NFL Draft out of the park. 

Athlon Sports NFL Draft Analyst Luke Easterling put out his final 4-round mock draft, and it couldn’t have gone better for the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers address key needs across the board in latest mock draft

In the first round, Easterling has the Buccaneers trading down twice. First, they moved back from No. 15 to No. 21 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then, they moved back again from No. 21 to No. 30 with the Miami Dolphins, adding a ton of valuable draft capital before ultimately selecting Jacob Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has all the makings of a star at the next level and a perfect fit for the Buccaneers. He brings instincts, production, and leadership. Moving back to acquire more picks and still landing a perfect fit like Rodriguez in the stuff dreams are made of for Tampa Bay.

At No. 46, the Buccaneers land Malachi Lawrence to give their pass rush the boost it desperately needs. Lawrence recorded 20 sacks during his college career, and boasts an impressive arsenal of pass rush moves that will allow him to make an impact on day one. 

At No. 76, which they acquired from the Steelers, the Bucs double dip at linebacker and select Kyle Louis — the best coverage linebacker in the entire draft class. He recorded over 200 total tackles along with 10 sacks and six interceptions at Pitt, and he and Rodriguez would cement the linebacker position for years to come. 

At No. 77, the Bucs upgrade their secondary with Treydan Stukes out of Arizona. He’s a versatile defensive back who can play the nickel or safety. He recorded 29 passes defended and seven interceptions during his college career.

At No. 90, acquired from the Dolphins, the Bucs land Southeastern Louisiana defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor. Proctor is a Calijah Kacey-esque player who is undersized but brings serious juice as a pass rusher. He recorded nine sacks last season including two against LSU. He’d bring disruption to the defensive line and help get to the quarterback from the interior. 

At No. 116, the Bucs land their Mike Evans replacement in USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane. He’s 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and runs a 4.47 40-yard dash. He finished with 99 receptions for 1,363 yards and 18 touchdowns during his college career. He’d give Baker Mayfield a security blanket in the red zone and give the offense the X receiver it’s missing. 

At No. 121, acquired from the Steelers in the trade down, the Bucs add Iowa center Logan Jones. Jones is one of the most athletic linemen in this draft class and shines in zone blocking, making him a perfect fit for the scheme Zac Robinson is hoping to bring to Tampa Bay.

PFF graded Jones as the best pass blocker of any center in 2025, and he’d massively improve the interior offensive line depth with the chance to develop into a starter down the line. 

At No. 130, the Bucs close out the mock draft exercise with Stanford tight end Sam Roush. He’s one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft but has upside as a receiver. The Bucs need to add to the tight end room behind Cade Otton as their new offensive scheme will heavily utilize multiple tight end sets. Roush would be a key addition and could make an immediate impact as the TE2 behind Otton. 

Easterling’s mock draft lasted only four rounds, but the Bucs managed to land a dream haul in only half a draft class. Trading down twice and picking up so much extra draft capital allowed the Bucs to fill major needs and come out as the most improved team of the mock draft.

A scenario like this would be an absolute home run for the Buccaneers — here’s hoping Easterling’s mock draft finds its way on Licht’s desk. 

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