Now that the dust is starting to settle on NFL Draft weekend, the good feeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans were left with is codifying. Bias always skews the knee-jerk reaction to draft classes more positive than they might end up panning out, but there's plenty of reason to be at least cautiously optimistic about what Jason Licht managed to cook up.
There were some unexpected swings, like the selection of Emeka Egbuka with the No. 19 pick. Nobody thought the Bucs were going to take a wide receiver -- a position that seemed the most set on the roster -- but despite this zag it seems the team has come out of the weekend with its praises being sung.
While some might have doubted the Buccaneers' draft direction in the moment, as the dust settles, it appears to have been an overwhelming success. That's something Mel Kiper Jr. echoed as he handed out his official draft grades.
The Bucs scored a solid 'B' grade from Kiper, who singled out the selections of Emeka Egbuka and David Walker as highlights.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. weighs in on Buccaneers 2025 NFL Draft class
It's the mention of Walker that should really have fans excited, though. We all know what Egbuka brings to the table and how he helps the rich-get-richer, but Walker might end up being the most impactful player out of the draft class.
"Egbuka is the headliner in a decent draft class for the four-time defending NFC South champs," Kiper said. "I love David Walker, though. You might not know the name because he played at FCS Central Arkansas, but he proved at the Senior Bowl that he can play with the best of them. He had 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss over the past three seasons. His tape is filled with explosion, power, and a deep variety of pass-rush moves."
Right after the Bucs took Walker, Charles Davis said on the NFL Network broadcast that he was reminded of Shaq Barrett when looking at the tape. That's not a comparison to take lightly, but it's one that should catch some attention in Tampa.
Barrett left a hole in the team's pass rush that it was unable to fill last season, and it was a flaw that held the defense back. The Bucs doubled up on pass rushers on Day 3, but it's Walker who could end up being one of those mid-round gems we've seen Jason Licht identify over the last few years.
Bucky Irving, Cade Otton, Anthony Nelson, and Jordan Whitehead were all fourth-round picks Licht has made over the years, so the track record is there for Walker to be impactful.
Kiper was also complimentary of the Bucs doubling up at another position of need: cornerback. Tampa Bay took Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish on Day 2, adding much-needed help to a secondary that has taken a few steps back over recent seasons.
Overall it felt like a successful draft in the bubble of being a Bucs fan, so it's nice to have those feelings confirmed by someone from the outside. It's not the glowing grade everyone was expecting, but there's plenty of reason to be cautiously optimistic about what this class can bring to the table.
After another offseason where the Bucs didn't have a ton of money to spend on fixing up key areas of the roster, this is another reason to feel good about how these rookies can keep the winning ways rolling.
More Tampa Bay Buccaneers news and rumors