Pewter Report is known for its Bucs draft coverage. No other media outlet has successfully predicted more Tampa Bay draft picks over the years than us, and that’s something we take great pride in.
It’s why the Pewter Report staff watches hundreds of hours of college games and game tape, travels to the Senior Bowl and is on site for the NFL Scouting Combine each year. Our goal is to prepare you, the die-hard Bucs fan – our Pewter People! – with the best draft coverage of your favorite team.
One of the annual rites of passage each year on Draft Day is the release of Pewter Report’s Bucs Best Bets. These are two players – one selection for Rounds 1-3 and another for rounds 4-7 – that Pewter Report believes Tampa Bay has a strong interest in drafting. We do this for every position (except for punter and kicker) regardless of whether we think the team will draft that position or not.
Yours truly, Scott Reynolds, ultimately makes the final call on which players we select with Bucs Best Bets, but Josh Queipo also assists me with his input. Just like Queipo and I team up to do each Pewter Report 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft. Here is our FINAL Bucs Mock Draft if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet.
Below is a Bucs Best Bet cheat sheet – ALL of our selections this year in one handy graphic. All of the write-ups for our 2025 Bucs Best Bets are found below in addition to highlight videos of every player.
Bucs Best Bets – OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK Rounds 1-3: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel
The Bucs aren’t going to draft a quarterback this year – certainly not one before Day 3. And with Kyle Trask back for a fifth season in Tampa Bay along with Michael Pratt getting the chance to show what he can do in the Bucs offense after spending last year on the practice squad and operating the scout team, it’s doubtful the team drafts a QB in any round. But the Bucs did have an informal meeting with former UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The left-handed quarterback tied the NCAA record for career TD passes with 155 and his 179 total scores set a new record in college football. Dillon avoids mistakes, evidenced by his 32 career interceptions in six years in college. At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Dillon has a Baker Mayfield-esque frame, and he should be a mid-round pick. Will it be in Tampa Bay? It’s doubtful given the team’s needs on defense, but Gabriel is a gamer and would be a terrific understudy behind Mayfield.
QUARTERBACK Rounds 4-7: Texas State QB Jordan McCloud
Tampa Bay might want to add another talented quarterback to the mix given the lack of playing time Kyle Trask has had in the regular season and Michael Pratt’s unproven nature in the Bucs offense. The team has shown some interest in McCloud, a former USF QB and Tampa native at his Texas State pro day. After two years at USF, McCloud transferred to Arizona and sat out the 2022 season before starting at James Madison in 2023 where the completed 68.2% of his passes for 3,657 yards with 35 TDs and 10 interceptions.
Last year, McCloud moved on to Texas State where he completed 70.2% of his passes for 3,227 yards with 30 TDs and 13 INTs. Known more as a pocket passer than a scrambler, the 6-foot, 200-pound McCloud did rush for 20 touchdowns in his five years playing QB, including 15 over the last two seasons. McCloud will likely go undrafted, but don’t be surprised if he winds up returns home and winds up as an undrafted free agent signing in Tampa Bay.
RUNNING BACK Rounds 1-3: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo
The Bucs are the envy of the league with three very talented running backs in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The only argument one could make about possibly drafting a running back would be that White is entering a contract year. Yet Tampa Bay feels like Tucker has the potential to be a starter in the league. As a result, the Bucs only met with a handful of running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine – and all were informal visits. Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo was one of them.
Drafting a running back on Day 3 makes more sense for Tampa Bay, but if the Bucs are enamored with Skattebo they’ll likely have pull the trigger in the third round. Skattebo is a bowling ball of a runner at 5-9, 219 pounds. He breaks tackles and showed plenty of make-you-miss ability last year rushing for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also caught 45 passes for 605 yards (13.4 avg.) and three TDs. Imagine how fun of an addition Skattebo would be to the Bucs backfield?
RUNNING BACK Rounds 4-7: Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten
Virginia Tech’s Bayshul Tuten had a tremendous showing at the NFL Scouting Combine that really upped his stock. Viewed as a late Day 3 prospect before going to Indianapolis, Tuten blazed a 4.32 time in the 40-yard dash and proved to be the fastest back at the Combine. That included an incredibly fast 1.49 10-yard split. Then he posted a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump to show how explosive of a back he is. Tuten ran for 2,022 yards (5.7 avg.) and 25 touchdowns over his two seasons at Virginia Tech.
Tuten has a nice mix of speed and power with good hands and also returns kicks. He had a 94-yard touchdown and a 99-yard touchdown in 2023 as a junior. It’s doubtful that the Bucs draft a running back with Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. But adding a multi-dimensional back like Tuten on Day 3 could be tempting if the team has addressed its needs defensively early in the draft.
WIDE RECEIVER Rounds 1-3: Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel
The Bucs are looking to add a speed receiver in this year’s draft and Noel checks that box with a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Noel was primarily a slot receiver for the Cyclones where he had breakout season with with 80 catches for 1,194 yards (14.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns playing opposite outside receiver Jayden Higgins in Ames, Iowa. Noel is a tough receiver who plays bigger than his 5-foot-10, 194-pound frame would suggest with the way he attacks the ball in the air and makes contested catches. He was brought in for an official 30 visit after informally interviewing with Tampa Bay at the Combine.
The Iowa State star had a very impressive showing at the Senior Bowl and upped his draft stock. Noel proved to be a big-play threat for the Cyclones where he had eight catches of 50 yards or more over the past two years, which was the third-most in the FBS. The Kansas City native plays the game with some swagger and has enough size and speed to also win from the outside if offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard wants to play him there. The Bucs are smitten with Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, but if he’s not there at No. 19 then drafting Noel on Day 2 could be a great consolation prize.
WIDE RECEIVER Rounds 4-7: Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane
If the Bucs miss out on the speedy Jaylin Noel on Day 2 there’s a chance they could draft the speedy Jaylin Lane. Either way there’s a chance Tampa Bay comes away with a Jaylin in this draft. Lane is a player that the Bucs had a formal interview with at the NFL Scouting Combine and also had in for an official 30 visit. The 5-foot-10, 191-pound Virginia Tech product ran a 4.34 in Indianapolis and was one of the most explosive receivers at the Combine. He ran his share of end-arounds and screens for the Hokies, but he can also run the route tree as a developing young receiver.
Lane could also help Tampa Bay on special teams as he has experience returning punts. He had a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown last year at Virginia Tech. Lane is a high character prospect who can function well in the slot. His skill set is similar to that of Kameron Johnson, an undrafted free agent last year who struggled to stay healthy in his first season in the NFL. Lane ran for a pair of touchdowns, caught two TDs and even threw a touchdown pass last year, in addition to his punt return score. Lane could be an option for the Bucs in the fourth or fifth round. If he’s gone by then and the team is looking for another speed receiver, Maryland’s Tai Felton, could be the pick on Day 3.
TIGHT END Rounds 1-3: Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.
After catching 44 passes for 623 yards (14.2 avg.) and six touchdowns as a sophomore at Bowling Green, Fannin was made the focal point of the Falcons’ passing attack and had a monster junior campaign in 2024. He led all tight ends in college football with 117 receptions for 1,555 yards (13.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. While Fannin dominated the MAC competition, he also had huge games against both Penn State and Texas A&M early in the year. Fannin posted 11 catches for 137 yards (12.5 avg.) and one touchdown against a tough Nittany Lions defense. He followed that up with eight receptions for 145 yards (18.1 avg.) and a TD versus a stout Aggies defense.
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Fannin received a formal interview with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his receiving prowess could be coveted by the team in the middle rounds. Due to his production, Fannin could be drafted in the third round. If he was more athletic, agile and a tick faster (ran a 4.71 in Indy) he could have been a second-round selection. With more pressing needs on defense it’s unlikely the Bucs would spend a Day 2 pick on another tight end, but if they do it certainly could be Fannin. He had a good showing at the Senior Bowl and ended his college career with a bang against Arkansas State in the bowl game with 17 catches for 213 yards (12.5 avg.) and one touchdown.
TIGHT END Rounds 4-7: Clemson TE Jake Briningstool
The Bucs have spent four Day 3 picks on tight ends in the last four years with Cade Otton and Ko Kieft in 2022, Payne Durham in 2023 and Devin Culp last year. Will Tampa Bay continue that trend this year? If so, Briningstool may be that guy. He received an informal interview with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine and finished as Clemson’s all-time leading receiver at the tight end position with 127 catches for 1,380 (10.9 avg.) and 17 touchdowns.
Voted as a team captain in 2024, Briningstool only missed one game over the past three seasons and proved to be very durable. He developed as a blocker over that span and is more of a complete tight end now. At 6-foot-6, 241 pounds, Briningstool could stand to gain more muscle and mass and play at 250 pounds at the next level, which would help his in-line blocking ability. There’s a lot to like about Briningstool’s game and he could be an option for the Bucs late on Day 3.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE Rounds 1-3: Kansas OT Logan Brown
The 6-foot-6, 311-pound Brown is an intriguing athlete with an impressive 84-inch wingspan. He uses his long arms to bully defenders to the ground and create big holes in the running game at the point of attack. With the ability to pull due to his athleticism, Brown functions well in either a zone scheme like he played at Kansas, or in a gap like he played at Wisconsin. There is a rawness to his game that was exposed with an inconsistent performance at the Senior Bowl, so he’ll need time to develop at the next level to fulfill his potential to be a starter. A great offensive line coach like Kevin Carberry can aid in Brown’s development.
What makes Brown intriguing in the middle rounds is his ability to play both left and right tackle. While he only had 14 career starts in college, he did start one game at left tackle and 13 at right tackle and can player either side because he’s a good athlete with long arms. The Bucs are looking for a swing tackle to compete with newcomer Charlie Heck, and the tenacity that Brown plays with is appealing. Tampa Bay had an informal interview with Brown at the NFL Scouting Combine.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE Rounds 4-7: Florida OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
While it’s unlikely the Bucs draft an offensive tackle before Day 3, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team select one with either the fifth-round pick or the seventh-round selection. Crenshaw-Dickson has great length at 6-foot-7, 316 pounds with 34-inch arms and stepped in as a starter at right tackle in the SEC after playing four years at San Diego State. An older draft prospect at age 24, Crenshaw-Dickson has a ton of starting experience with 47 starts of the 50 games he suited up to play in. He logged 29 starts at right tackle and 18 at left tackle.
The ability to play both sides of the line of could make him an attractive candidate to be a swing tackle in Tampa Bay. The Bucs had an informal interview with Crenshaw-Dickson at the NFL Scouting Combine, and it’s likely that he was invited to Tampa Bay’s local pro day given that he played at Florida – although that hasn’t been confirmed. Crenshaw-Dickson had some good reps against Nic Scourton and a very talented Texas A&M defensive line this past season.
GUARD-CENTER Rounds 1-3: Sacramento State G-C Jackson Slater
We know two things for certain about Bucs general manager Jason Licht. He loves drafting offensive linemen – and he’s damn good at it. Perhaps no other position has produced more hits in Tampa Bay in Licht’s tenure than the offensive line. And Licht also has a fondness for drafting tough, athletic linemen from small schools. Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa and Cody Mauch are just a few examples, and Slater may be the next one. The Sacramento State star has great positional flexibility as he’s logged 42 starts at left guard and two at left tackle but also projects to center at the next level.
At 6-foot-3, 311 pounds, Slater has a thick, sawed-off frame that functioned well in Sacramento State’s zone blocking scheme where he blocked for Cam Skattebo before the talented running back transferred to Arizona State. He moves exceptionally well for such a stout interior lineman, evidenced by his 5.01 time in the 40-yard dash. Slater is adept at pin-and-pulls and on counter runs. Incredibly strong (30 bench press reps), Slater could be an ideal fit in Tampa Bay as a third- or fourth-round pick. He had a great showing at the Senior Bowl and a formal interview with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine.
GUARD-CENTER Rounds 4-7: USC G-C Jonah Monheim
At 6-foot-4, 303 pounds, Monheim is a bit undersized and lacks some power in both the running game and in pass protection. But he has quick feet and is very competitive, and that was on display at the Senior Bowl where he had a good showing. Monheim is a very smart player and also reliable, not missing a start over the last three seasons at USC. He was the leader of the offensive line and showed tremendous versatility with 18 starts at right tackle, 12 starts at left tackle, four starts at right guard and 12 starts at center during his final season with the Trojans.
Monheim has very short arms at just over 30 inches, and that really limits his effectiveness as an interior blocker and almost makes him a center-only candidate in the NFL where he can double-team opponents with guards instead of having to face defensive tackles one-on-one. The Bucs had a formal interview with Monheim at the NFL Scouting Combine and could be looking for a versatile reserve interior offensive lineman. Monheim’s ability to play both center and guard could make him a late Day 3 candidate for Tampa Bay.
Bucs Best Bets – DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE TACKLE Rounds 1-3: Toledo DT Darius Alexander
It’s pretty clear that the Bucs like Alexander considering the amount of homework the team has done on him with a formal interview at the NFL Scouting Combine and an official 30 visit to the team facility. And it’s easy to see why. At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Alexander has a great blend of size, strength, speed and agility. He had a great Combine, running a 4.95 in the 40-yard dash, which is a great time for a defensive tackle. Alexander is coming off a strong week at the Senior Bowl where he turned heads and was named the National team’s defensive lineman of the week.
That followed a sensational bowl game in a six-overtime win against Pittsburgh where he had six tackles, a sack and had a 58-yard pick-six. Alexander was a two-year starter for the Rockets and massed 7.5 sacks over his junior and senior seasons along with eight pass breakups. He wins at the line of scrimmage with strong, quick hands and a good feel for disrupting blocking schemes. Alexander is a very intense, stout run defender who is an emerging pass rusher. He would be an ideal eventual replacement for Logan Hall as a Day 2 selection.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE Rounds 4-7: South Carolina DT Tonka Hemingway
Hemingway started 28 games in five seasons at South Carolina, and saw action in 61 games. He’s been battled-tested having played against SEC competition during his college career, and has totaled 112 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Hemingway has a very good football I.Q. and can affect the passing game even without getting to the quarterback. He batted down seven passes in the 2023 season and has a total of 11 passes defensed in his Gamecocks career. His 33-inch arms and 80-inch wingspan sever Hemingway well in many ways.
Hemingway, who ran a 5.02 at the NFL Scouting Combine where he had a formal interview with the Bucs, also has a nose for the end zone – even as a defensive tackle. He scored a touchdown on a 36-yard fumble recovery last year and had a 2-yard rushing TD while getting a few snaps on offense in 2023. In 2022, Hemingway scored on a two-point conversion and had a 16-yard reception on a fake field goal, which speaks to his athleticism. At 6-foot-3, 284 pounds, Hemingway’s game is similar to that of Calijah Kancey, another undersized defensive tackle who wins with quickness and and agility.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER Rounds 1-3 Boston College OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku
The Bucs had a formal interview with Ezeiruaku and came away incredibly impressed in Indianapolis. His outstanding character matches his outstanding game film, which saw him post 23 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks last year as an All-American at Boston College. Ezeiruaku isn’t just an effective pass rusher, either. Despite not being the best edge defender at 6-foot-2, 243 pounds, the New Jersey native recorded 80 tackles last year and proved to be a quality run stuffer as well. Ezeiruaku had a couple of standout practices at the Senior Bowl, which also caught the team’s attention and solidified his first-round draft status.
Ezeiruaku has plenty of polish as a pass rusher and a toolbox that is nearly complete. He can win with a wide array of moves, and even when he’s not able to break free of offensive tackles, Ezeiruaku can still get to the quarterback with his long, 34-inch, pterodactyl-like arms. Ezeiruaku would be a fantastic first-round pick for Tampa Bay due to the fact that he’s built like Haason Reddick and can learn from the two-time Pro Bowler during his rookie campaign. While he’s not the fastest edge rusher in this draft class, Ezeiruaku is one of the quickest and most agile and plays with tremendous bend and great leverage.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER Rounds 4-7 Central Arkansas OLB David Walker
With an emphasis on improving the team’s pass rush, the Bucs will likely draft another edge in the first three rounds. Tampa Bay likes a few first-round prospects, including Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku and Georgia’s Mykel Williams, as well as some potential Day 2 targets like UCLA’s Femi Oladejo, Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen. But if the Bucs fail to land any of those edge rushers the team could turn Walker in the fourth round. The 6-foot-1, 263-pounder dominated FCS competition with 82.5 tackles for loss, 39 sacks and six forced fumbles over the past four years.
Walker, who was a team captain last year, was also a three-time consensus All-American, and won the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award as the top FCS defensive player as well as the conference defensive player of the year for three straight seasons. He even went to the Senior Bowl and proved that he belonged with the top college talent. Walker isn’t the fastest edge rusher (4.69), but is very sudden in his movements and has great pass rushing instincts. A whopping 33.8% of Walker’s tackles came in the backfield in college. He plays with very good speed-to-power and that’s a big reason why the Bucs formally interviewed him at the NFL Scouting Combine.
INSIDE LINEBACKER Rounds 1-3: South Carolina ILB Demetrius Knight Jr.
There’s a lot to like about Knight, whom the Bucs interviewed twice at the Senior Bowl and then had in for an official 30 visit. First, he’s got ideal size at 6-foot-2, 235 pounds and plenty of speed, running a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Knight graduated from Georgia Tech and then transferred to Charlotte for 2023 for more playing time. There he recorded 96 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks seven pass breakups and three interceptions, including a pick-six. Knight transferred to South Carolina where his instant leadership quality made him a team captain. He totaled 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles and an INT.
The only downside to Knight is that he’s already 25 years old and spent six years in college. Yet he’s married and has kids and is incredibly mature, so there is an upside to him being in his mid-20s. In fact, after his games at Charlotte, Knight would hop in the car and make extra money to support his family as a Door Dash delivery driver instead of hitting the bar district to celebrate like his teammates. His high character and work ethic have to be appealing to the Bucs. Knight will get drafted somewhere on Day 2.
INSIDE LINEBACKER Rounds 4-7: Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa
Bassa came to Oregon as a safety and hit the weight room, growing into a 6-foot-1, 228-pound linebacker. His natural position is weakside linebacker, but he played middle linebacker the last three years due to his outstanding communication skills. That’s something Todd Bowles covets in his linebackers. Bassa had a great week at the Senior Bowl, displaying leadership from the first practice, but his 4.62 speed will likely push him to the third or fourth round. His coverage ability will make him sought after by Tampa Bay and other teams in the draft. He had three interceptions in college.
The Bucs held a formal interview with Bassa at the NFL Scouting Combine and just drafted running back Bucky Irving from Oregon last year. He needs to do a better job of taking on blocks and shedding them at the next level, but moving back to the weakside in the NFL could help with that as he’s a better pursuit linebacker. Bassa is a solid blitzer, evidenced by 4.5 career sacks, but needs to make more plays. He only had two forced fumbles and 13.5 tackles for a loss in 55 games. Bassa is more solid than spectacular. He also has plenty of special teams value as he started on teams all four years at Oregon.
CORNERBACK Rounds 1-3: East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr.
If Revel hadn’t torn his ACL in practice after the third game of his senior season, there is a very good chance that he would be a mid-first-round pick in this year’s draft. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Revel has ideal size to play in Todd Bowles’ scheme as an outside cornerback. While he was unable to do any athletic testing this offseason as he recovered from ACL surgery, Revel was timed at 4.4 at East Carolina and is plenty athletic and twitchy to be a starting-caliber cornerback in the NFL.
Although he only played in three games this year, Revel had two interceptions, including a pick-six, along with four pass breakups. He only had one interception as a junior, but did recover a fumble for a touchdown, in addition to breaking up 12 passes. Revel also blocked two field goal attempts in 2023. He’s a physical cornerback who doesn’t shy away from tackling in run support and also recorded a sack on a blitz off the edge during his junior season. The Bucs had Revel in for an official 30 visit and formally interviewed him at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a legit option for Tampa Bay in either the first or second round.
CORNERBACK Rounds 4-7: California CB Nohl Williams
Todd Bowles wants ballhawks in the secondary, and Williams was the nation’s best ballhawk last year, leading the country with seven interceptions, including a pick-six against Miami’s Cam Ward. Williams also had 15 pass breakups last year at California. After three years at UNLV, Williams transferred to Cal for his final two seasons. He amassed 14 career picks and 38 career passes defensed along with three forced fumbles. While playing for the Rebels, Williams picked off Jayden Daniels when he was the quarterback at Arizona State.
Williams scored two touchdowns on fumble recoveries in 2023, and the consensus All-American also had an 80-yard kick return touchdown last year. At 6-foot, 200 pounds, Williams can play outside cornerback or nickelback in Tampa Bay’s scheme. His pedestrian 4.5 speed will keep him out of the first two rounds and may even cause him to slide to the early part of the fourth round. The Bucs had Williams in for an informal interview at the NFL Scouting Combine and had him in for an official 30 visit.
NICKELBACK Rounds 1-3: Kentucky NCB Maxwell Hairston
Hairston checks the ballhawk box for Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. He had five interceptions at Kentucky in 2023, including a pair of pick-sixes, and then had another pick-six last season for the Wildcats. Hairston also checks the speed box for Bowles, who likes fast cornerbacks. Jamel Dean has 4.3 speed and Zyon McCollum ran a 4.33 at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2022. Hairston was the fastest player at the Combine this year, clocking a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash. At 6-foot, 183 pounds, Hairston has nearly identical size to former Buccaneer Sean Murphy-Bunting, a second-round pick in 2019 who played in the slot and helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV.
While Hairston has great ball skills and the ability to run with any receiver, he still needs to refine his game. He’s beaten on double moves at times, and is prone to miss some tackles. Hairston will need to hone his instincts at the next level, but has the ability to play in the slot or even outside in Bowles’ scheme. That versatility could help propel him to be the Bucs’ first-round pick, or be drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round if somehow he’s still available. The Bucs brought Hairston in for an official 30 visit and also formally interviewed him at the Combine.
NICKELBACK Rounds 4-7: USC CB Jaylin Smith
Smith is an ideal nickelback given his toughness, tenacity and athleticism. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds with 4.45 speed, he’s got the measureables and traits that Todd Bowles likes in slot defenders. Smith was moved outside at USC last year and proved to be productive there with a pair of interceptions to lead the Trojans secondary. He has dealt with some injuries during his college career and has yet to play a full season. Those injury concerns, his lack of interceptions and good, but not great speed will likely cause Smith to fall to the later rounds.
The Bucs had Smith in for a formal interview at the NFL Scouting Combine and also brought him to Tampa Bay for an official 30 visit. There is a chance that the Bucs could draft two nickelbacks this year – one in the middle rounds and then add Smith in either round five or round seven (or round six if Tampa Bay makes a trade to acquire a pick in that round) for depth and competition. The hard-hitting Smith was a special teams standout at USC and was an exceptional gunner.
SAFETY Rounds 1-3: Georgia S Malaki Starks
If the Bucs are going to select a safety in the first three rounds it very well could be in the first round with Starks, who is clearly the best safety prospect in this year’s draft. Starks played strong safety and nickelback, in addition to seeing some snaps at free safety. He played with Tykee Smith at Georgia and can also bring some championship pedigree to Tampa Bay where he could team up with his former Bulldogs teammate again and help solidify the Bucs secondary. Smith and Starks already have some on-field chemistry from their time together in Kirby Smart’s defense.
Starks is a slightly better athlete than Smith is in terms of fluidity, and his versatility is attractive. Either he could play strong safety as a rookie and the Bucs could keep Smith at nickel cornerback or vice versa. The addition of such a versatile defensive back has to be intriguing for head coach Todd Bowles, whose secondary could use another playmaker. Starks had 23 pass breakups and six interceptions in three seasons at Georgia. He needs to become more of a sure tackler at the next level, but he’s certainly willing in run support.
SAFETY Rounds 4-7: Marshall S JJ Roberts
If the Bucs don’t address safety early in the draft, the team could select someone like Virginia’s Jonas Sanker in the fourth round. But Tampa Bay also brought in Marshall’s JJ Roberts for an official 30 visit, and he’s the only safety Pewter Report knows that visited One Buccaneer Place leading up to the NFL Draft. The Bucs typically draft special teams contributors late on Day 3, and the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Roberts fits the size profile that Todd Bowles likes in his safeties, while his 4.41 speed also checks that box.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said that Roberts looks like a cornerback, but plays like a safety given his penchant for making hard hits in run support. Roberts spent three years at Wake Forest before transferring to Marshall where he capped off his college career with a great senior season. He led the team with 94 tackles, five tackles for loss and also had a sack. While he didn’t have an interception in 2024, Roberts did have 14 pass breakups and finished with three picks in his college career along with 28 PBUs. Roberts forced five fumbles between Wake Forest and Marshall. He could wind up being the Bucs’ fifth- or seventh-round pick.
Join Pewter Report’s LIVE 3-Day Bucs Draft Show – April 24-26
Pewter Report will be broadcasting its annual LIVE 3-Day Bucs Draft Show from One Buccaneer Place on April 24-26 – presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Bucs fans are encouraged to watch nearly 20 hours of wall-to-wall draft coverage from the Pewter Report staff streamed on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel, which has over 18,000 subscribers.
The LIVE 3-Day Draft Show will also be streamed on PewterReport.com in addition to Pewter Report’s X and Facebook accounts – @PewterReport. Here are the broadcast times:
Thursday, April 24 – 7:00 pm ET / Day 1 starts at 8:00 pm ET
Friday, April 25 – 6:00 pm ET / Day 2 starts at 7:00 pm ET
Saturday, April 26 – 11:00 am ET / Day 3 starts at noon ET
Nobody covers the Bucs draft like Pewter Report, and we’ll publish our fifth and final Pewter Report 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft on Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET on PewterReport.com.
The entire Pewter Report staff will be on hand to preview and discuss each Bucs draft pick, offering insight and analysis found nowhere else – in addition to answering questions from fans and reading their comments from the chat on-air.
The Pewter Report staff will also be offering live reaction from interviews with general manager Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles and Tampa Bay’s draft picks following their selections.
