5 linebackers the Buccaneers could target to replace Lavonte David in 2026 NFL Draft

Last offseason, many viewed inside linebacker as one of the most pressing needs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lavonte David was entering what is likely his final season at 35 years old, and there was a serious lack of depth behind him. The top option behind David was SirVocea Dennis, who the organization thinks highly of, but who had appeared in only 17 career games with zero starts entering the 2025 season.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Tampa Bay would address the position during the 2025 NFL Draft and add some depth and a potential successor to David. Instead, the team shockingly opted not to address the position, relying on their in-house options entering the 2025 season.

The move has unfortunately backfired. David will always be a legend in Tampa Bay, but at 35 years old he has lost a step, and his play is no longer the steady, elite presence that it once was. Dennis has been a big disappointment, ranking as one of the worst coverage linebackers in the NFL.

With David likely to retire and Dennis unable to be counted on as the No. 1 linebacker of the future, inside linebacker will be the team's biggest need to fill entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Luckily, the upcoming draft class is chock-full of intriguing linebacker prospects that could be great fits in Tampa Bay.

Linebacker prospects Buccaneers could target in 2026 NFL Draft

Sonny Styles, Ohio State

At 6'4'' and 243 pounds, Styles possesses the prototypical size at the position. In his four collegiate seasons, he's notched 243 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and an interception.

He comes from a football background as the son of former Ohio State star Lorenzo Styles Sr., who played six seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams.

Styles started his collegiate career as a safety before moving to linebacker in 2024. His prior experience as a defensive back translates to strong coverage skills at the linebacker position, which the Buccaneers are severely lacking. He has a sky-high ceiling and has yet to scratch the surface of his potential having just turned 21 years old in November.

Bruce Feldman, the National College Football Insider for The Athletic, placed Styles on his "Athletic Freaks" list. "At 6-4 1/2, 243 pounds, he broad jumped 11-0, vertical jumped 40 inches and squatted 675 pounds. His body fat is 10 percent. If not for Jeremiah Smith, Styles would be the Buckeyes’ biggest Freak. (The truth is, it’s close between them.)," wrote Feldman.

Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Rodriguez might ultimately be the best fit for Tampa Bay out of any linebacker prospect in this draft class. He is a two-time team captain at Texas Tech and brings a penchant for making splash plays and creating turnovers. He was named the 2025 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for his incredible performance this season.

Over the course of his college career, Rodriguez has recorded 6 sacks, a whopping 13 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, and 6 interceptions. He is also a tackling machine, leading Texas Tech in tackles in each of the past two seasons with 114 total tackles this season and 127 in 2024.

The only knock on Rodriguez is that he is a tad undersized at 6'1'' and 235 pounds, but that can be overlooked due to everything else he brings to the table. Between his proven leadership and playmaking ability, the Bucs could really use a player like Rodriguez to step in as the future of the linebacker position in Tampa Bay.

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Hill has made a name for himself as one of college football's most dominant defenders. His best season came back in 2024 when he registered 113 total tackles along with 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception.

In what is a common theme among these potential Bucs targets, Hill is always around the football and has a knack for forcing turnovers. In his three collegiate seasons, the 6'3'', 240-pound linebacker has 250 tackles, 17 sacks, 8 forced fumbles with 2 recoveries, and 3 interceptions.

If Hill comes to Tampa Bay, the first thing he'll have to do is bury the hatchet with Baker Mayfield. After Texas defeated Oklahoma during the Red River Rivalry this season, Hill planted a Texas flag at midfield through an Oklahoma Mayfield jersey.

If Hill can help take the Tampa Bay defense to another level, Mayfield will be happy to let bygones be bygones and welcome Hill as his new teammate, and the battles in practice between the two would be must-see TV.

Harold Perkins, LSU

Perkins' rare speed and athleticism allow him to be the exact kind of versatile defensive player that the Buccaneers are known to covet.

The 6'1'', 220-pound utility defender can line up on the edge and rush the passer, drop into coverage as an off-ball linebacker, and has even been utilized at the hybrid "Star" position, which is a blend of linebacker and safety. If Todd Bowles sticks around as the head coach in 2026, he'll likely be enamored with Perkins and the idea of developing him into a do-it-all chess piece for his defensive scheme.

Perkins suffered a season-ending injury in 2024 but has bounced back with 4 sacks, a forced fumble and recovery, and three interceptions this season.

He's recorded 17 sacks in his college career, along with 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 5 interceptions. Perkins clearly has a nose for the football, and his role as a Swiss Army knife on the defense could prove to make him a dream fit for the Buccaneers.

Taurean York, Texas A&M

York is a high-motor player known for his incredible football IQ and communication, which is crucial at the linebacker position. He obsessively watches film and is always looking to improve his game.

While he is considered very undersized at 5'10'' and 227 pounds, that doesn't stop him from being a sure tackler and a physical presence in the middle of the Aggies defense.

York has made 223 total tackles in his three seasons, along with 6.5 sacks, a pair of fumble recoveries, and an interception. He has been a team captain for the entirety of his collegiate career, starting with his true freshman season back in 2023.

He is a respected leader within the Texas A&M program who truly loves the game, and would be an instant culture fit in the Tampa Bay locker room.