The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are inching closer to draft night. The final pieces of the 2026 puzzle will be made; the only question is who will be that puzzle piece in round one.
For more than a month, there has been a lot of conjecture as to who Tampa may target with the 15th pick in the first round. Fans have chimed in on who they prefer, but ultimately, the decision will be Jason Licht's to make.
That doesn't stop anyone from taking a guess. NFL insider Peter Schrager released his final mock draft of the season on Wednesday morning. He has the Buccaneers looking at the defensive side of the ball.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Akheem Mesidor in Pater Schrager's final 2026 mock draft
Most of the top 14 selections went as many would expect. A trade by the Cowboys with the Chiefs took Mansoor Delane off the board at 9, but most of the draft picks fall in line with the national consensus.
Schrager's mock draft is the epitome of what Bucs' fans are dreading, but also hoping for. Licht will have a decision to make. Mesidor is an older rookie, but he has tremendous upside and, at times, displays physical dominance. Still, Schrager's board has them passing over TE Kenyon Sadiq.
There are other edge rushers that are expected to be gone in the first round after the first wave of talent. They include Keldric Faulk and T.J. Parker. What is interesting about this mock draft is that University of Miami standout Rueben Bain, Jr., falls to 12.
The Bucs don't have the draft capital to make a big move up in the draft, so if a player like Bain falls to within a few selection spots, could Licht resist the urge to trade one of his picks to move up?
This is where the Bucs have to be diligent. Players are going to fall in this draft as teams move around and shuffle through their draft boards. That's going to put pressure on Tampa to stick to their own board and let it fall as it will.
If Licht sees Bain as the can't-miss carrot of this class moving up, should he fall, makes sense. At the same time, is Bain worth two draft picks when Sadiq or Mesidor could be taken by simply staying at 15? The drama will soon unfold.
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