3 positions where Buccaneers could double dip in 2024 NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is almost here, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a handful of picks to use on guys that will hopefully keep the good times rolling.

After Tom Brady retired last February it seemed like the Bucs were headed straight into the tank. Instead, they reached the NFC Divisional Round and are still in a position to land some fantastic prospects in the draft this year.

Armed with four Top 100 picks, the question isn't which position the Bucs will address this weekend it's how many times will they double dip and further add some depth at key areas?

3 positions where Buccaneers could double dip in 2024 NFL Draft

Offensive Line

This could actually qualify as a triple dip, as the Buccaneers are likley to focus a ton of attention on addressing the offensive line in the draft this weekend. Specifically, the interior of the line needs some work, something we've known for a while but has been unable to get fixed with the parts Tampa Bay has now.

Outside of Tristan Wirfs -- and arguably Cody Mauch, based on the fact he's entering his second year -- everything on the line should be up for reconstruction.

Jackson Powers-Johnson is a top target in the first round for Tampa Bay as he'd fill a much-needed hole at center. Ever since losing Ryan Jensen, the Bucs haven't had that anchor in the middle of the line, and the idea of Powers-Johnson and Wirfs forming a leadership dup on the line is a tremendous thought.

Both guard positions will likely be addressed as well, with one perhaps being a swing player who can play right tackle if the Bucs are locked in on developing Mauch. Graham Barton fills this need, as does Tyler Guyton but it's a deep class underneath those top guys.

Mason McCormick has been a popular pick for the Bucs in mock draft, as has Cooper Beebe. Zak Zinter and Zach Fraizer are both potential Day 2 targets for the Bucs and it wouldn't be surprising to see the team come out of the draft with a trio made up of any of these aforementioned linemen.

Cornerback

Trading Carlton Davis III didn't create a need at cornerback, but it did bump the need to address the secondary higher on the list. Even with Davis the Bucs needed to figure out a way to fix its cornerback situation as the room is starting to age and underperform -- the gnarliest of combos.

Davis missed 16 games over the last three seasons, while his running mate Jamel Dean was both injured and playing poorly last season. Each found themselves on the wrong side of plays far too often and now only one is still in Tampa Bay.

The pressure is on Dean to live up to his $52 million contract this season, but there's a need to fill out the depth chart regardless of how he plays.

Unlike the offensive line, the cornerback class is super top heavy and could be a spot the Bucs address early in the draft and then circle back to on Day 3. Cooper DeJean, Nate Wiggins, and Kool-Aid McKinstry have all been linked to the Bucs, and prospects like T.J. Tampa and Andru Phillips could be options on the second day.

The Bucs need depth at cornerback and it would be surprising to see them walk away with any less than a pair of young players to help address that need.

Linebacker

Last year the Bucs were bailed out by its fantastic depth of talent at linebacker. Devin White was benched in Week 15 with K.J. Britt stepping up in ways not many outside of Tampa Bay would have thought he could. Other guys like J.J. Russell, Yaya Diaby, and SirVocea Dennis also got valuable playing time and could be young players who continue to develop into impact players.

The loss of White is key, though, as it creates a problem even if it was cathartic for fans. Lavonte David isn't getting any younger and the Bucs lost outside linebacker Shaq Barrett in free agency, which means outside and middle linebacker will be an area the team has to address in the draft.

Good thing this class has some serious talent in it.

Edgerrin Cooper, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Payton Wilson are all potential Day 2 targets for the Bucs and could give them one half of a fantastic double dip at linebacker. Jalyx Hunt offers an interesting candidacy as he could be a linebacker and edge rusher for Tampa Bay, and hails from the sort of small school Jason Licht likes to mine for talent.

Prospects who are on the fringe of being outside linebackers and edge rushers could create a situation where the Bucs triple dip between the two positions. Both are areas that need some attention and are ripe for Tampa Bay to use more than a few picks to take care of.

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