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Early 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Which prospects should already be on the Buccaneers radar?

Let's take a way too early look at what next year's NFL Draft class might look like.

By Josh Hill

NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Dallas Cowboys v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Dallas Cowboys v Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Julio Aguilar/GettyImages
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We're less than a day removed from another NFL Draft wrapping up, so what better time to already be looking ahead to the future?

The dust still needs to settle on this most recent class, one that seems the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added some potentially key players. Graham Barton plugged a major hole in the center of the offensive line, Jalen McMillan might be the steal of the class, and Bucky Irving could form a nice backfield duo with Rachaad White.

We still need to see what the Buccaneers' rookie class is capable of, but the bar has been set high based on what guys like Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby did last year. Could the same conversation be happening this time next year when it comes to Barton, McMillan, and Chris Braswell?

Way too early 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Not only is it hard to pick out which prospects will be at the top of the board next year but it's also difficult to predict what the order will look like. Lest we forget that this time last year the Bucs were being pegged as a Top 3 team that would be in the running for Caleb Williams, only to have their final game be in the NFC Divisional Round.

Most of this order is based on Super Bowl odds, with a few notable moves. There's a chance the New York Giants are the worst team in football next year, which would be the best thing for them. The Bucs should also be expected to win the NFC South until proven otherwise, so instead of picking No. 12 overall -- which is where they're being predicted to pick now -- they're a bit later in the first round.

The Giants getting the first pick would mean the potential to land Shedeur Sanders, who feels like a perfect fit not only on the roster but under the bright lights of New York City. Quarterbacks tend to go early but we probably won't see as many get drafted next year as we did this weekend.

Here's a way too early look at the 2025 NFL Draft that will absolutely in no way be wrong in 12 months -- because that's how sports works, right?

  1. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
  2. New England Patriots: Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
  3. Tennessee Titans: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
  4. Carolina Panthers: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
  5. Las Vegas Raiders: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
  6. Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
  7. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, DB, Michigan
  8. Washington Commanders: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
  9. Minnesota Vikings: JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
  10. New Orleans Saints: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
  11. Seattle Seahawks: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
  12. Indianapolis Colts: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
  13. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
  14. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
  15. Atlanta Falcons: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
  16. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Payton, EDGE, Florida State
  17. Los Angeles Rams: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
  18. Chicago Bears: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
  19. Los Angeles Chargers: Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
  21. Miami Dolphins: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
  22. New York Jets: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
  23. Green Bay Packers: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
  24. Dallas Cowboys: Shemar Turner, DL, Texas A&M
  25. Philadelphia Eagles: Joshua Gray, OL, Oregon State
  26. Houston Texans: Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia
  27. Cincinnati Bengals: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
  28. Buffalo Bills: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
  29. Detroit Lions: Collin Oliver, LB, Oklahoma State
  30. Baltimore Ravens: Emery Jones, OL, LSU
  31. San Francisco 49ers: Denver Harris, CB, LSU
  32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

As far as prospects the Buccaneers should be already keeping an eye on, it's more of a big picture look at certain position groups.

We know which areas of the roster still need to be addressed after the 2024 NFL Draft, and there's a chance that's still the case next offseason. Linebacker is a huge need simply based on the fact that Lavonte David is going to retire at some point and there's no clear heir to his throne.

Barrett Carter from Clemson and Smael Mondon out of Georgia could be guys to watch closely during the next college football season. The same goes for Benjamin Morrison and Denzel Burke, both of whom porject to be the second and third cornerbacks off the board next year and would help the Bucs land a huge piece for the secondary moving forward.

Of course, this is all the purest form of speculation. This time last year a few names were right in terms of being top picks as Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Drake Maye were Top 5 selections, but the rise of Jayden Daniels was harder to predict.

Who knows what the board will look like in a year, but it's a safe bet to assume that no matter what happens Jason Licht will find a way to land the right guy for the job in Tampa Bay.

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