The predictions and hypothesis that are out about the Bucs’ plans for the 2025 NFL Draft are not as clear cut as they were compared to other seasons. Since Tampa Bay is picking at No. 19 in the first round and has various areas of need, this year’s first-round pick can’t be narrowed down to just one or two players, or even one or two positions.
Ideally the Bucs are going to have more defensive players added to the team through the draft. Last year, Tampa Bay drafted just two defensive players, but considering the struggles that the defense had during the season, the number of defensive players that the Bucs select this year will likely be the majority. That is if everything goes their way.
But as we’ve seen in the draft, many times something unpredictable occurs, especially in the first round.
Bucs Ready For The Twists And Turns Of The Draft
As much as they want to go defense early on, they are prepared to take an offensive player at 19 as well if that’s what it comes to.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today
“Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said at the NFL Annual Meeting. “The draft falls and there’s going to be a lot of curve balls that happen.”
Todd Bowles, a defensive minded head coach, is also prepared to go with an offensive player if it’s best for the team. Just because he’s calling plays on defense doesn’t mean he’ll overlook the importance of an offensive player.
“Being a defensive coach, I’ve learned that you win by scoring points,” Bowles said. “I don’t ever want to bypass a very good offensive player. I can figure things out enough on defense to keep us competitive. I would like to have some defensive players if that presented itself, but by no means will I bypass a very good offensive player just to satisfy my needs on defense.
“We can figure out how to keep the score down, but you can’t figure out a way to keep scoring points, especially if your horses go down. You can never have enough horses on offense. But, yes, I’d like to add some pieces [on defense] if that’s what you’re asking me, but whether they come in the first [round] or whether they come in the middle [rounds], remains to be seen.”
Bucs Thinking Of Making A Trade?
The scenario could come up this year where either the Bucs have three or four different players that they like, or maybe none at all when they are on the clock in the first round. We’ve seen G.M. Jason Licht and the team make trades before in the first round, and he wouldn’t hesitate at all to trade further back and acquire more picks.
Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“No, not at all,” Licht said. “It depends on who’s there and how many players we still like in that next tier, but, no. I’ve done it before. I always enjoy doing that because I like the picks. But recently it just has worked out that there’s just been a player that we really liked, like Graham [Barton] last year. But no, it’s always going to be an opportunity and something that we think about, to do that.”
Licht as was asked about a couple of different positions in this year’s draft. That started with cornerback draft class. Even though they held onto veteran starter Jamel Dean, a new cornerback is still likely coming to Tampa.
“It’s a pretty good draft there, throughout the entire draft,” Licht said. “We’ll see how it falls to us, but we could use some help there, whether it’s depth – whatever it is, we could use some help there.”
Always a fan of the trenches, Licht would never rule out adding an offensive lineman despite enjoying the group they already have in place.
“I love O-linemen,” Licht said. “If there’s one there … we’ve got our eye on a few. That doesn’t take away from what I feel about the guys that we currently have, but I feel very good about our offensive line right now.”
The Bucs could use another guard to come in and perhaps challenge Ben Bredeson for the right to start at left guard, and a versatile swing tackle candidate to challenge newcomer Charlie Heck.
Licht also loves stockpiling the defensive line as well. He’s spent the team’s top pick on defensive tackle Vita Vea in 2018, outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in 2021, and defensive tackles Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
“We’ve seen good teams recently that play in waves,” he said. “You want to keep the guys fresh. It’s like watching what Jon Cooper does with the [Tampa Bay] Lightning. It can be to your advantage to have as many good defensive linemen as possible.”