Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans should be about tired of hearing how great their draft was to end the month of April, but probably not.
The draft was exceptional, but what if Reuben Bain didn't fall? Who knows, and more importantly, who cares, because he did. The Buccaneers were able to hit on almost every draft pick, and their success caught the attention of FanSided NFL writer Mike Luciano.
FanSided’s @ByMikeLuciano released his NFL Draft grades, and the Bucs earned an A!
— The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) May 1, 2026
He calls Rueben Bain perhaps the best value pick of the entire draft! pic.twitter.com/bDQhsj1JSP
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' draft could be the best in the entire NFL
14 teams selected before the Bucs did at 15. Those measurements that didn't "measure up" after the NFL Combine were the catalyst for his epic fall, but players who often drop on night one turn into fantastic players on the field. They tend to have a chip on their shoulders.
Bain continues to be the talk of the draft, but Luciano sees the weakest selection as round two pick Josiah Trotter. The linebacker has a lot of potential and fills a need, but he has to develop a little more to be the consistent leader of the defense.
"They need the Lavonte David replacement very badly. I have some questions about his coverage ability, but he is a great two-down thumper who can play the run really well. "Mike Luciano
Overall, Luciano gave the Bucs a resounding "A" grade, but he does say that if Trotter proves to be better, the Bucs may have had the best draft in this year's class. That's a loud compliment that has been echoed across the media landscape.
Personally, you can't help but look at this draft and not see the mid-round standouts of cornerback Keionte Scott and wide receiver Ted Hurst. Two players who could become the backbone of the defense and offense, respectively.
Licht had many directions he could have gone. Kenyon Sadiq was still available had Bain not fallen. Imagine if the Dolphins had passed on Jacob Rodriguez. Miami selected the Texas Tech three picks before Tampa took Trotter. Some see Jake Golday as a better prospect, but time will tell. Golday came off the board at pick 19 to the Vikings.
Regardless, the Bucs' draft was well-planned out and the Bain freefall only made it better.
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