The vast majority of NFL fans assume that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be after defensive players with the 15th overall pick in the first round of this year's draft. There are a handful of legitimate pass rushing options for the Bucs in the first round, though the inside linebacker position may be an even bigger area of need with more quality that the Bucs could etiher jump on in round one or wait to find value on Day 2 of the draft.
But there is also the possibility the Buccaneers beef up their cornerback group after losing Jamel Dean, their best defensive back last season, to the AFC's Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buccaneers fans can't rule out the chances of Jason Licht pulling a curveball and going for someone on offense, landing a top wide receiver or prized tight end Kenyon Sadiq, even after keeping Cade Otton in free agency, to counter balance the loss of legend Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers.
There may be one more option that many Buccaneers fans haven't quite thought about yet, though. In his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, CBS Sports senior NFL writer Zachary Pereles had the Bucs going in a completely different direction, with Licht snagging yet another offensive lineman early in the draft in his tenure.
Drafting an offensive lineman could be the right move for the Bucs
Pereles thinks the Bucs will go for Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane, reasoning that he will start from the get go at left guard, "GM Jason Licht has shown a willingness to invest in offensive linemen early in the draft, using two first-round picks and two second-round picks at the position since 2020. All four are still starting for Tampa Bay. Now, he adds the top interior lineman in the draft; Olaivavega Ioane would start at left guard from Day 1 and bring some nastiness to the position."
The Bucs have several quality starters on the offensive line. Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke form one of the best offensive tackles bookends in the entire NFL, while the Bucs have Graham Barton at center. But they could use one more guard to fill out an elite unit for Baker Mayfield to then toss darts to a group of wide receivers that should still be among the best in the league even without Mike Evans, especially if Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan (and Tez Johnson) take another big step forward.
Ioane is a great offensive guard prospect, and if Licht thinks loading up on top offensive linemen will make the Bucs running game and passing attack that much more unstoppable, it's not a bad idea to go line, especially if Ioane is someone he is sold on. Guards used to not be viewed as first round worthy, but we all remember how the Zack Martin pick changed that narrative years ago.