Buccaneers 4-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft after Super Bowl 58
By Josh Hill
Round 3 (89): Brenden Rice, WR/USC
When the Bucs were projected to have a Top 10 pick earlier in the season, Keon Coleman was a popular name for a number of different reasons. He was considered a top wide receiver in this class, filled a potential need depending on what happens in free agency, and brought some local college flare to Tampa Bay.
Brenden Rice might check one of those boxes but he satisfies the ones that matter.
The son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Brenden was a standout at USC and could fit with the Bucs even if they do end up bringing back Mike Evans. He's a 6'3" speedster who can play a slot role to supplement Trey Palmer as WR3 and might end up being a guy who surpasses him to form a truly deadly wide receiver trio for Baker Mayfield.
Not for nothing, but Rice spent his time at Media Week ahead of the Super Bowl bringing up Evans and Chris Godwin mostly unprompted. From saying he's a Mike Evans fanboy to comparing his game to Godwin's, Rice already sounds like he wants to play for the Bucs. He'd be an extra weapon to compliment Evans and Godwin, could challenge Palmer to step his game up, and would be another target for Liam Coen and Baker Mayfield to open up the offense with.
Above all, it sends an incredibly positive message to invest a relatively high pick on an offensive weapon as the Bucs carve out a new identity in this next chapter for the franchise.