We have reached the end — of mock drafts. It becomes the main exercise to keep top NFL analysts busy during a time of the year when no football is being played. When franchises and their fanbases ponder what could be next, there is value in having extensive discussions on which players would fit respective rosters, such as the one Pewter Report had on Monday night.
This will all come to a head later this week, starting on Thursday night when the 2025 NFL Draft begins.
For the Bucs, that means addressing the defensive side of the ball in a big way. There are several player-team fits beginning in the first round, but it far from a consensus about who should be Tampa Bay’s top pick.
Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell is the name most often associated with No. 19, but there is a dilemma in taking him coming off a labrum injury. It is also hard justifying the value of taking that position in the first round, but he is also regarded as the top player up the middle. The team could also look to address the secondary across the board.
Cornerback could use another starter with Jamel Dean still in town but not the most viable long-term option opposite Zyon McCollum. Safety and nickelback go hand in hand, and a lot of that will be based on how Tykee Smith fits in the picture. Smith can play both spots, but it leaves room for the team to consider the best fit and plugging the versatile defensive back in the other open vacancy.
While those are the top positional needs, it would behoove the Bucs to double up at certain positions, like inside linebacker and cornerback. That is not to mention other positions — like defensive line and wide receiver — could use another young, developmental player.
Answers to the long-awaited questions surrounding who the Bucs will take in the draft will come soon. Until then, below is the last mock draft roundup of the offseason detailing who top analysts have landing in Tampa Bay. Be sure to keep up to date with the latest news on PewterReport.com throughout the week.
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell
One of the cleanest player-team fits of the first round, Campbell has a real four-down skill set to play the run, in coverage, and as a blitzer with equal aplomb, with the size and athleticism that we seldom see at the position these days. Even Campbell’s ability as a blitzer makes sense in Todd Bowles’ aggressive scheme (although he has stated that he wants to dial it back a bit). The Buccaneers have always done a great job of bridging their present roster with future needs. Campbell can be a running mate next to Lavonte David and then take over once the franchise legend finally does retire.
Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell – Photo by: USA Today
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Bucs need to improve their secondary and Starks brings both highlight reel plays and a high football IQ to the table out of the gates.
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell
I think an edge could tempt Tampa Bay here, but Campbell is such an explosive athlete and a perfect fit for the Bucs, assuming their medical evaluation of him is clean.
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell
Like Warren to Indy, Campbell to Tampa Bay makes too much sense. He just turned 21 and he’s going to get stronger, quicker and faster as he continues to grow.
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Buccaneers could easily look at a pass rusher or a linebacker here, but with Jihaad Campbell and Donovan Ezeiruaku off the board, they opt for talent over forcing a need. Starks and Antoine Winfield Jr. would be an elite safety pairing, and both could play free safety or box safety, as well as the slot.
No. 53 – Tampa Bay Bucs: UCLA ILB Carson Schwesinger
Linebacker will be a key focus for Tampa Bay in this draft, and if Carson Schwesinger is still on the board, he makes a lot of sense. His burst and playmaking ability in coverage could be exactly what the Bucs are looking for as they prepare for the post-Lavonte David era.
No. 84 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Indiana DL CJ West
The Buccaneers have Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey as their starting defensive tackles, but West would immediately be the next-best interior defensive linemen in the group with a stout PFF run-defense grade (88.1) and some pass-rush upside.
No. 121 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Kansas CB Mello Dotson
No. 157 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Boise State EDGE Ahmed Hassanein
No. 235 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Iowa TE Luke Lachey
No. 23 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart (Trade With Packers)
The Buccaneers could use Stewart as a 5-technique because of his size and strength at the point of attack, potentially setting him up to replace Logan Hall if the veteran departs as a free agent in 2026. Stewart will also stand up at times because of his athleticism, making him a great fit in Tampa Bay’s scheme.
No. 53 – Tampa Bay Bucs: East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr.
No. 84 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Kansas State S Marques Sigle
No. 87 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Virginia Tech DT Aeneas Peebles
No. 121 – Tampa Bay Bucs: South Carolina ILB Demetrius Knight Jr.
No. 235 – Tampa Bay Bucs: LSU OG Garrett Dellinger
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Georgia S Malaki Starks
Only the Washington Commanders have a lower interception rate over the past three seasons than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making the addition of this ballhawking Bulldog a natural pick. Malaki Starks has the physical gifts to compete against the run when called upon (Tampa Bay ranked second in blitz rate a season ago), but his ability to track the ball and cover ground is why we are intrigued by this fit.
The Buccaneers were one of four offenses to score 500 points last regular season, and they’ll look to support that talented unit by adding upside on the defensive end.
Georgia S Malaki Starks – Photo by: USA Today
No. 53 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Ohio State EDGE JT Tuimoloau
J.T. Tuimoloau profiles as one of the safer picks among the EDGEs in this class. A former five-star recruit, Tuimoloau finally realized his potential in 2024 with a prolific campaign that included 12.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and three pass deflections.
At around 6’4″, 265 pounds, with near-34″ arms, Tuimoloau has always had an impeccable power profile, and in 2024, he more consistently generated production from that profile. With his build, Tuimoloau will never have much of a bend component, but he’s one of the most reliable speed-to-power rushers in the entire class. He can cave in the pocket, finish moves with strong hands, and he’s a sturdy player in run defense, with stand-up and even-front EDGE versatility.
Building a defense is about more than addressing direct needs. The Buccaneers were able to create pressure at a high rate last season thanks to an aggressive scheme, but the ability to get home from a standard formation will prove critical if the Bucs want to improve upon the fourth-lowest interception rate in the league (1.1%).
No. 84 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Georgia ILB Smael Mondon Jr.
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori
Similar to Cincinnati, smart money would be Tampa Bay using its first-round pick on the defensive side of the ball. The addition could come at any level of that unit, but Nick Emmanwori and Antoine Winfield would be an interesting duo at safety.
South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori – Photo by: USA Today
No. 53 – Tampa Bay Bucs: UCLA ILB Carson Schwesinger
No. 84 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer
No. 121 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Maryland DT Jordan Phillips
No. 157 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Sacramento State OL Jackson Slater
No. 235 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Oregon CB Jabbar Muhammad
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell
Lavonte David is back at age 35 for a reason — he is still playing at a high level. But this would also be a great opportunity for the veteran to help Campbell get introduced to NFL life. The Buccaneers are going to have a defense-heavy draft, especially in the early rounds.
No. 53 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
No. 84 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish
No. 121 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Virginia S Jonas Sanker
No. 157 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden II
No. 235 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Colorado WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
No. 19 – Tampa Bay Bucs: Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell
The injury question around Jihaad Campbell may prompt a bit of a draft slide — this was a player tracking for a top-15 overall selection before the news of his shoulder injury started to spread.
If he makes it to Tampa, it will be a hard fit to pass up on, given the team’s need for a long-term heir to Lavonte David.