7-round Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft ahead of free agency

With NFL free agency set to begin on March 13, most of the attention and focus for the Buccaneers has been on resigning their top free agents.

Heading into the legal tampering period, the Bucs brought back all three key free agents set to hit the market. Mike Evans agreed on a two-year, $52 million contract extension, used the $19.8 million franchise tag on free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and the team re-signed Baker Mayfield to a $100 million deal.

The Bucs have already taken huge strides toward putting themselves back into contention this season but are also setting up a fantastic foundation for the future. That's where Jason Licht can cook next, as this year's draft class could be another banger.

He nailed it last year and has another shot to put even more pieces into place that will help guide the Bucs into a new era.

Round 1, Pick 26: Cooper DeJean, CB/Iowa

As a majority of the nation's premier teams have dominant and explosive offenses, Iowa is one of the few to go against the grain and still find success. In the last two seasons, the Hawkeyes' offense has mustered just 17.7 and 15.4 points per game, marks that ranked 123rd and 132nd in the nation, per Sports Reference.

In spite of this, Iowa has still managed to go 8-5 and 10-4 in those two seasons, while earning their third Big Ten Conference Championship appearance in school history last season. Dating back to 2012, the Hawkeyes have not endured a losing season, and have won nine or more games in four of their last six seasons.

Iowa's continued success can be traced to the shutdown defense, which has been one of, if not the top units in college football. Since 2019, the Hawkeye defense has allowed their opponents to score an average of 15.8 points per game, and have notched a mark of 16.0 OPPG or less in four of the six seasons.

Recently, Iowa's defense has still improved, dropping their mark of opponents' points per game to 13.3 and 14.8 in 2022 and 2023, the second and fourth lowest marks in the nation. That is largely attributed to the phenomenal play of defender Cooper DeJean, who has done it all for Iowa.

Since being elevated as one of the team's starting cornerbacks in 2022, DeJean has been a versatile and ball-hawking threat all over the field. In 23 starts as a Hawkeye, DeJean has recorded 120 tackles, five tackles for loss, 13 passes defended, and seven interceptions, equating to a 45.2 passer rating when targeted, and was named a consensus All-American in 2023.

In the 2022 season, DeJean was especially great, recording 75 tackles, three tackles for loss, eight passes defended and five interceptions, the second-most in the Big Ten. Of his five picks, DeJean returned three for touchdowns, the most of any player in college football.

Standing at 6'0" and 203 pounds, DeJean is one of the most athletic and strong cornerback prospects in the class, as shown by his 4.50 40-yard dash. Due to this, DeJean also served as Iowa's primary punt returner, posting 461 yards and one touchdown on 31 punt returns.

Overall, DeJean is one of the most exciting and balanced secondary prospects in recent memory, and will definitely be a first-round pick on April 25. With recent inconsistency at strong safety, DeJean would be an excellent fit in Tampa Bay, and would pair with 2023 NFL All-Pro First Team selection Antoine Winfield Jr. to form one of the best safety duos in the NFL.

Round 2, Pick 52: Bralen Trice, EDGE/Washington

Last season, the Buccaneers' front seven was among the top units in the NFL. With totals of 91 tackles for loss and 48 sacks, the sixth and seventh marks in the league, Tampa Bay's defensive line and linebacker core will remain one of the top groups in 2024.

That said, Tampa Bay's front seven may look a lot different next season, as veteran defensive end William Gholston and middle linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David will all enter free agency on March 13.

As a result, adding talent to the front seven will be a key objective for Tampa Bay in the draft. With their second-round pick, the Buccaneers add Trice, who was one of the top rush linebackers in the nation last season.

Standing at 6'4" and 265 pounds, Trice is an effortlessly explosive mover who can suddenly shift and accelerate with urgent strides. In addition to his long, well-proportioned frame, Trice's combined burst, length and frame density give him exceptionally raw pass-rushing power.

After two seasons of playing as a backup, Trice broke out in his first season starting at outside linebacker. In 13 games, Trice finished with 38 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and nine sacks. This season, Trice notched another solid season with 49 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and fumble recovery in 15 starts.

In addition, Brice was an integral part in Washington's remarkable run to the 2024 National Championship. In the Huskies' 37-31 win over the Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl, Brice notched five tackles and two sacks, and earned the game's Defensive MVP and secured Washington's third National Championship game appearance in school history.

Round 3, Pick 89: Devontez Walker, WR/North Carolina

With Tampa Bay resigning legendary wide receiver Mike Evans to a two-year, $52 million contract extension on Tuesday, the Buccaneers still hold one of the league's top receiving duos with Evans and Chris Godwin.

Outside of Evans and Godwin, however, the Buccaneers didn't have any other notable production from their wide receivers. In fact, rookie sixth-round pick Trey Palmer was the team's next productive wide receiver, catching 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games (18 starts).

Due to this, wide receiver should be one of the main positions Tampa Bay addresses this offseason. Here, the Buccaneers add Walker, one of the nation's standout vertical threats.

Following a forgettable freshman season at Kent State in 2021, Newsome exploded as a sophomore in 2022. In 12 games for the Golden Flashes, Walker caught 58 passes for 921 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns and 15.9 yards per catch, marks that ranked eighth, second and first in the MAC Conference.

In the ensuing offseason, Newsome transferred to North Carolina in hopes of continuing to boost his draft stock. This past season, Newsome finished with 41 receptions, 699 receiving yards, seven touchdowns and an ACC-Conference-leading 17.0 yards per catch.

At 6'2" and 200 pounds, Walker is an explosive long strider who can quickly accelerate and find space up the seam. In addition to his respective seasons at Kent State and North Carolina, Walker showcased his elite athleticism at the draft combine last week.

For reference, Walker finished with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, an 11-foot, two-inch broad jump and a 40.5" vertical jump. According to Next Gen Stats, Walker earned an 81 total score at the combine, which ranks seventh among all wide receivers with an overall good standing. In the fourth round, Walker can be a true No. 3 or 4 wide receiver that Tampa Bay has desperately needed behind Evans and Godwin.

Round 4: Pick 126: Brandon Coleman, OG/TCU

Similar to their front seven, adding talent and depth to the offensive line is a must for Tampa Bay this offseason. With 27-year-old tackle Justin Skule, 29-year-old guard Aaron Stinnie and 31-year-old guard Matt Feiler all rotating on the offensive line, depth is a major need.

Meanwhile, the play of those three and the overall offensive line was uninspiring, to say the least. Last season, the Buccaneers' offensive line gave up 40 sacks, 112 pressures, 37 hurries and 35 quarterback hits, while giving quarterback Baker Mayfield an average of 2.4 seconds in the pocket.

Under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tampa Bay look to replace their aging veterans with youngsters on the offensive line. As demonstrated in previous mock drafts, Tampa Bay does just that with drafting Coleman, a three-year starter at TCU.

As a three-star recruit, Coleman opted to bolster the Horned Frogs' offensive line and has been a steady force for four seasons. After redshirting his freshman season, Coleman started in eight of TCU's last nine games and played in 11 games total. Coleman gave up five quarterback hurries and no quarterback hits or sacks at left guard.

In his junior season, Coleman played 885 snaps and gave up 14 quarterback hurries, eight quarterback hits, and three sacks at left tackle. As a senior, Coleman was even better, playing 720 snaps with zero sacks in 11 starts, splitting time at left guard and tackle. For his efforts, Coleman was named to the 2023 All-Big 12 Second Team and was an honorable mention for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year.

While Coleman is 6'4" and 313 pounds, he is still one of the most athletic draft prospects at his position. For reference, Coleman made Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' at No. 61.

"Coleman, unrated by the recruiting sites coming out of high school, has an impressive 35-inch vertical jump and regularly runs 18 MPH," Feldman said. "He squats 600 pounds, benches 400 and power-cleans 375."

With that said, Coleman has struggled at times against top-tier defensive linemen and has had issues against quality counter moves. Even so, Coleman has the intangibles and athleticism to start on Tampa Bay's offensive line from day one while learning under Coen and Carberry.

Round 6, Pick 203: Javon Solomon, DE/Troy

Last season, Troy finished on the top of the Sun Belt Conference once again. Despite a 1-2 start to the year, the Trojans won ten straight games to win the Sun Belt Championship for the second straight season, defeating App State 49-23 in the title game for their eighth conference championship in school history.

The conference championship win caps off a successful five-year career for Solomon as a Trojan, who etched his name in Troy school history. In 52 career games at The Vet, Solomon recorded 183 tackles, 49.5 tackles for loss, 33.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

After redshirting his freshman year and the Covid-19 inflicted 2020 season, Solomon dominated his first full season as a Trojan, with 50 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and two fumble recoveries in 12 games.

While Solomon endured a down year in 2022 with just 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 14 games, the 6'2", 246-pound defensive end rebounded nicely in 2023. Starting in all 14 games, Solomon totaled 56 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, a nation-leading 16.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Based on that, Solomon earned an invite to the combine, and impressed scouts, analysts, and coaches. In Indianapolis, Solomon posted a 4.72-second 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical jump, 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump and 23 bench-press reps, an all-around performance by the defensive end.

Coupled with his immense speed, Solomon's impressive athleticism allowed him to set up his pass-rush moves well by getting square or using Eurostep moves. Solomon's use of hands as a pass rusher is especially encouraging, as he showed time and time again the ability to win with a cross chop and hand swipe while also playing the offensive tackle's hands well after contact.

Although Solomon has a smaller frame and build than most prototypical NFL defensive ends, Solomon's athleticism and intangibles make up for that in twofold. With one of their sixth-round picks, Solomon would be an intriguing addition to the Buccaneers' young front seven.

Round 7, Pick 244: Tanner McLachlan, TE/Arizona

Following the retirement of former tight end Rob Gronkowski in 2021, the Buccaneers have been without a true star tight end. With the No. 106 pick in the 2022 draft, Tampa Bay selected Washington's Cade Otten to be used as a do-it-all tight end.

Through two seasons, Otten has performed as most expected, recording 89 catches, 846 receiving yards, six touchdowns and 9.5 yards per catch in 33 games (28 starts). With Otten set to enter his third season in the NFL, it's too early for the Buccaneers to abandon ship on him, but adding Arizona's McLachlan would give Tampa Bay two big receiving threats over the middle of the field.

After posting a modest stat line consisting of 34 catches, 456 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 2022, McLachlan was even better in his final season as the Wildcats' starting tight end. Playing and starting in all 13 games, McLachlan caught 45 passes for 530 receiving yards, four touchdowns and 11.8 yards per catch. When targeted by the quarterback, McLachlan's QB rating skyrocketed from a 91.8 to a 108.3 in the last two seasons.

While being a solid pass catcher, McLachlan has also been a good blocking tight end for the Wildcats. As a sophomore, McLachlan gave up just two pressures and one sack, followed by four pressures and no sacks in his junior year.

While holding a strong and massive frame at 6'5" and 244 pounds, McLachlan's 4.61 40-yard dash highlights his ability to still outrun some outside linebackers and find soft spots in coverage. McLachlan catches the football well in traffic, shields the ball from defenders with his frame, and holds on despite taking big hits.

Running a limited route tree in college may cause problems for McLachlan in the pros, though. Coupled with a lack of bulk and lower-body strength, and McLachlan may struggle early in his career. Regardless, McLachlan would be a nice addition for the Buccaneers in need of more depth at the tight end position.

Round 7, Pick 255: Jase McClellan, RB, Alabama

Last season, the Buccaneers relied on Rachaad White as the team's workhorse back, and the 2022 third-round pick yielded mixed results on the year. Starting in all 17 games, White recorded 272 carries for 990 rushing yards, six touchdowns, and 3.6 yards per attempt, while catching 64 of 70 targets for 549 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 8.6 yards per catch.

From scrimmage, White totaled an impressive 336 touches, 1,539 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns, and showcased his rising talent as a dual-threat running back. With the hiring of new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, White may be set up to have an even better 2024 season.

Excluding White, the Buccaneers' running back room is extremely shallow and simply lacks talent. Whether Tampa Bay will address this in free agency remains to be seen, but taking a flier on Alabama's McCellan with their final pick is a nice insurance plan behind White.

Following a phenomenal high school career at Aledo High School, McClellan was used sparingly as a freshman and sophomore at Alabama. It wasn't until his junior year that McClellan took over the Crimson Tide's No. 1 running back. In 13 starts, McCellan recorded 112 rushing attempts, 655 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and 5.8 yards per carry, while adding 174 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches.

This past season, McClellan took on a larger role in Alabama's offense and truly played better as a result. Starting in 13 games once again, McClellan toted the rock 180 times for 890 rushing yards, eight touchdowns and 4.9 yards per carry, along with 15 catches and 139 yards.

At 5'11" and 212 pounds, McClellan is built very similarly to White (6'0", 214 pounds), and the two running backs' playstyles match up well. Like White, McClellan has a solid top speed, and an impressive leg drive upon contact that nets positive yards on runs.

That said, McClellan is only two years removed from tearing his ACL in 2021, so the concern about McClellan's injury history is justified. Since 2021, there have been no issues with McClellan and his previous ACL tear, so it won't take his draft stock, but is a lingering question for NFL teams ahead of the draft.

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