Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Grades: Rating every pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft has come to a close, and the Bucs are walking away with an impressive group of young players.

General manager Jason Licht and the front office addressed most of the roster's key needs, and there is a lot of exciting new talent for the coaching staff to develop. The front office worked thoroughly to ensure the next generation of Buccaneers, before anything else, was a group of high-character, highly motivated players that the team could count on both on and off the field.

Before the draft, Licht revealed that in order to determine what intangible qualities to seek in a prospect, the front office thoroughly studied the greatest Buccaneers of all time and took note of the qualities these players had in common that contributed to their greatness.

As painted on the wall in the Buccaneers' draft room, these qualities are: Accountable, Competitive, Confident, Passionate, Resilient. To become a Buccaneer a player must demonstrate all of these qualities, or the front office will not consider them. The organization holds potential draftees to a high standard because it is important to maintain the winning culture and team-first mentality that exists within the locker room.

Grading all 7 picks Buccaneers made in 2024 NFL Draft

Round 1, Pick 26: Graham Barton, OL/Duke

The Bucs desperately needed help on the interior offensive line, and the board fell perfectly for them. It came down to a dream choice between the two best interior linemen in the draft: Jackson Powers-Johnson and Graham Barton.

Ultimately, the Bucs drafted Barton, the versatile lineman from Duke who can play any position on the offensive line. Despite playing left tackle for the last two seasons at Duke, Licht envisions Barton as a center for the Bucs, and he will serve as the long-term replacement for the beloved Ryan Jensen, who retired this offseason.

Barton boasts a rare athletic profile, scoring a 10 out of 10 Relative Athletic Score, the single highest score out of 619 centers dating back to 1987. The massive 6'5, 313-pound lineman runs a 4.95 40-yard dash, ranking in the elite percentiles of his position for both size and speed.

After drafting Barton, Licht told the media he sees a bit of Ali Marpet and Ryan Jensen in the playstyle of his newest draftee, along with the personality of Tristan Wirfs.

That is a glowing comparison.

Barton plays with the tenacity and violence that the Bucs love in their offensive lineman. Barton stands at a massive 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds and should bring a big upgrade in both pass-blocking and run-blocking. According to PFF, Barton allowed just four sacks and only 21 QB pressures in 692 pass-blocking snaps since 2022.

The Bucs have been quite successful in drafting and developing offensive linemen, and Barton has the talent and mentality required to develop into a core piece for the Buccaneers' young offensive line.

After signing quarterback Baker Mayfield to a hefty contract this offseason, it was a no-brainer to invest in the protection of their signal caller. The Bucs selected the best player available on their board while simultaneously addressing their biggest need. The 2024 draft class begins with a home run selection by Jason Licht and his staff.

Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 57: Chris Braswell, EDGE/Alabama

After addressing the biggest offensive need in the first round, Jason Licht fills the biggest need on the defensive side of the ball.

The Bucs have struggled to generate pressure without blitzing, and the team is seeking improvement from its' front four in 2024. Braswell saw limited playing time in college, being buried on Alabama's depth chart behind two first-round picks in Will Anderson and Dallas Turner. When Braswell did see the field though, he flashed a lot of potential.

In his lone season earning significant playing time in 2023, he registered eight sacks for the Crimson Tide and led the team with three forced fumbles.

Following the selection of Braswell, Bucs' assistant GM Jon Spytek told the media that Braswell's competitive mindset helped win the Bucs over in the pre-draft process. While many of his peers entered the transfer portal in hopes of more playing time, Braswell never considered leaving. His decision to stay at Alabama and work to improve his game and compete for more playing time demonstrated his resilience and competitive nature, two traits that were mentioned as must-haves for any potential Buccaneers draftee.

In selecting a player with only two career starts, the Bucs are banking on the upside with this selection. The front office loved what they saw out of Braswell in limited action, but it was still just a small sample size.

Braswell being relegated to a rotational role due to other star pass-rushers ahead of him on the depth chart mirrors the situation of former Bucs' outside linebacker Shaq Barrett. In 2019, The Bucs took a flyer on Barrett in free agency, who was coming off of a season where he notched three sacks for the Denver Broncos in a rotational role behind Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Finally in a starting role, Barrett registered a whopping 19.5 sacks in his first season as a Buccaneer.

It would be unfair to scrutinize the pick too heavily, as the selection of Braswell fills a desperate need for a presence off the edge. However, due to his limited playing experience, Braswell isn't necessarily a lock to start from day one, and he isn't as polished or developed as you may want for an early-round draft choice.

Still, it is certainly a high-upside selection, and the Bucs deserve credit for sticking to their board and addressing one of their most glaring needs.

Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 89: Tykee Smith, DB/Georgia

The Bucs continued to address their team needs by adding Tykee Smith, a versatile defensive back out of Georgia. Smith has the skillset to be utilized as a true chess piece for Todd Bowles, due to his ability to contribute in various roles defensively.

He is an aggressive defensive player who shines as a blitzer and a great tackler. While he is strong in the box, he is also a playmaker in coverage, as evidenced by his four interceptions last season. While it would be unfair to compare Smith to Antoine Winfield Jr., there are certainly similarities in their game.

Both have a nose for the football and have a knack for being in the right spot and making plays. Both have a willingness and ability to tackle in the that can be hard to find in modern defensive backs.

Smith's ability as a blitzer also draws some parallels to Winfield Jr., who is one of the league's best blitzers from the safety position.

Smith can compete immediately for playing time, both at the slot corner position and in a rotational role at safety. He is also capable of being a solid contributor on special teams if the team sees fit. The Bucs landed a player who was simply born to play in Bowles' defensive scheme and should be a contributor from day one.

Grade: A

Round 3, Pick 92: Jalen McMillan, WR/Washington

With the pick they received from the Detroit Lions in exchange for Carlton Davis, the Bucs landed a dangerous weapon for Baker Mayfield and addressed the future of the wide receiver position in Tampa Bay.

Chris Godwin is set to become a free agent after the season and Mike Evans will hit the market again in 2026, so it was time to develop the future. Jalen McMillan just made too much sense and feels like a steal at No. 92 overall.

Although he was overshadowed by Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk in 2023, McMillan had a very successful college career. In 2022, he led the team with 79 receptions, 1,098 receiving yards, and nine receiving touchdowns. McMillan stands at 6-foot-1 and just under 200 pounds, and projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level.

Under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, whose offense draws inspiration from the Los Angeles Rams, the slot receiver is the central part of the offense and receives the brunt of the targets. Cooper Kupp comes to mind as a player who found success in this role during Coen's stint as offensive coordinator for the Rams.

Coen had previously stated that Chris Godwin would be taking on the crucial slot receiver role in 2024, but that was before the team invested a Day 2 pick in a pure slot receiver. Godwin has proven throughout his career that he can contribute both in the slot and on the outside, so it is plausible that Coen reverses course and decides to keep him outside in order to give the rookie more snaps in his natural fit at slot receiver.

McMillan fills a current need for receiver depth and can contribute from day one, but he also serves as an important pick for the future. As Godwin enters the final year of his contract and Evans enters the eleventh season of his career, it was crucial for the Bucs to begin to develop future foundational pieces for their wide receiver room.

Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick 125: Bucky Irving, RB/Oregon

Going into the NFL Draft, the Bucs had a concerning lack of depth behind starting running back Rachaad White. The team likes what they saw out of Chase Edmonds and Sean Tucker in limited action, but there is little production to back up the organization's belief in these players.

Many expected the Bucs would target a power running back during the draft, one with a playstyle opposite of White's so the two could form a complementary duo. Instead, they added another elusive back with strong receiving skills, which is similar to their current starter.

Some Bucs fans had their eyes on Ray Davis out of Kentucky or Audric Estime out of Notre Dame, both of whom fit the bill of taller, heavier backs who rely more on power than speed or elusiveness.

The selection of Irving has been met with some scrutiny due to his small statue -- measuring in at 5-foot-9 and under 200 pounds. He seems like more of a third-down running back and doesn't have the build to shoulder the load of an offense. It might have made sense for the Bucs to instead look to add a running back who is capable of fulfilling an every-down role, if necessary.

Still, Irving had an impressive collegiate career with the Oregon Ducks.

He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in two consecutive seasons and finished with a robust 6.2 yards per carry in his college career. In 2023, he led all FBS running backs with 56 receptions. Irving is gifted as both a runner and a receiver, and while perhaps the Bucs could've drafted a running back that better complements their existing starter, Irving will contribute immediately as a third-down back and is a big-play threat whenever the ball is in his hands.

Grade: B

Round 6, Pick 220: Elijah Klein, OL/UTEP

This almost feels like the signature Jason Licht pick of the draft, as his affinity for developmental small-school offensive linemen who play violently and offer versatility is no secret.

Klein fits the bill to a tee, primarily playing as a guard at UTEP but offering the flexibility to play other positions on the offensive line if his number is called.

After drafting Graham Barton in the first round, the team once again makes an addition to the interior offensive line, but it is unlikely that Klein will contribute as a rookie. The team signed Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta in the offseason; two veteran linemen who are expected to compete for the starting job at left guard.

There is speculation that Robert Hainsey could also compete for the starting guard spot, with Barton likely replacing him as the starting center. Their prior NFL experience will give them the immediate edge over the late-round rookie, but Klein can certainly earn a backup role and continue to develop until he is ready for a starting role in the position.

As is the case with most late-round prospects, Klein is a bit of a project, so time will tell if this pick pays off or not for the Buccaneers. The decision to take a late-round flier on a player who checks all the boxes the Bucs look for in a lineman is a promising one, and Klein has a legitimate chance to develop into an eventual contributor to the team in some capacity.

The selection of Klein was a low-risk, high-reward draft choice for the Bucs after they already addressed their more pressing needs earlier in the draft.

Grade: B+

Round 7: Devin Culp, TE/Washington

The Buccaneers select their second Washington Huskie in this draft class with the addition of Devin Culp.

He converted to tight end from wide receiver, so he possesses great speed and overall athleticism for a tight end prospect, as evidenced by his 4.47 40-yard dash. While he is a great athlete for the position, he lacks the desired size for an NFL tight end, measuring in at 6'3 and 230 pounds.

Sure, the Bucs need stronger depth at tight end, but it is unlikely Culp will be able to provide that depth or contribute early in his career. Culp occasionally makes splash plays and spectacular catches, but his moments of greatness are rare and quite inconsistent. Culp lacks some of the strength required for the tight end position and as a result, really struggles as a blocker. He also was inconsistent as a pass-catcher, with a notable drop problem.

Interestingly enough, Culp will be joining a pair of former college teammates: Jalen McMillian and Cade Otton.

Washington has become quite a pipeline to Tampa Bay; Along with Otton, McMillian, and Culp, the Buccaneers also drafted Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Vita Vea from the Huskies. Perhaps Licht received good intel on Culp from his sources at Washington.

Culp looks more destined for the practice squad than the active roster, at least for his rookie season. He is a very raw prospect, and it is highly unlikely he can beat out the Bucs' backup tight ends, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft, for a roster spot. Still, the seventh round of the draft is a crapshoot, and it is hard to be too critical of the front office for taking a low-risk swing on a top-end athlete at a position of need.

Grade: C+

Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Grade: B+

Jason Licht and his staff get a respectable B+ as their initial grade for the 2024 draft class. The front office did a great job addressing team needs throughout the draft and certainly improved the roster by a significant margin. The selections of Graham Barton and Tykee Smith stand out as the Bucs' best draft picks of the weekend, as they not only fill a need but also fit the scheme perfectly.

It is hard to be overly critical of this draft class without nitpicking unfairly. Jason Licht and his front office have more than earned the benefit of the doubt, and on paper, the 2024 NFL Draft class looks poised to become part of the next great generation of Buccaneers.

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