The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have this weird, almost supernatural ability to make us all look like idiots every April. You remember last year, right? Everyone and their mother screamed for an edge rusher at pick 19. Instead, Jason Licht grabs Emeka Egbuka, a wide receiver from Ohio State. People lost their minds. "We have Mike Evans! We have Chris Godwin!" Fast forward to now, and Egbuka just finished a rookie season where he basically looked like the second coming of Cooper Kupp, racking up over 900 yards and winning Offensive Rookie of the Month in September.
Honestly, the tampa bay nfl draft strategy has shifted from "finding pieces" to "building a bridge." We’re currently sitting in that awkward, slightly terrifying transition period where legends like Lavonte David and Mike Evans are closer to the Hall of Fame than their next contract extension.
The 2026 cycle feels different, though. It’s heavy. It’s defensive. And if the rumors out of One Buc Place are even half true, Licht is looking to rebuild the "Gravediggers" vibe that won them a ring a few years back.
What Most People Get Wrong About Jason Licht’s Draft Board
If you think the Bucs draft for "need," you haven't been paying attention for the last decade. Licht is a value hunter. He’s the guy at the flea market who finds a vintage Rolex for fifty bucks because the seller didn't notice the movement was pristine.
Take the 2025 class. The secondary was a disaster zone in 2024—4th worst in the league, giving up nearly 244 yards a game. So what did he do? He waited until the second and third rounds to snag Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. Morrison, coming off that hip surgery at Notre Dame, was a massive steal at 53. When Zyon McCollum went on IR late in the 2025 season, Morrison stepped in and played over 350 snaps without looking like a deer in headlights.
The "Best Player Available" Trap
Most fans get frustrated when the team ignores a gaping hole at linebacker to take a luxury receiver. But look at the roster today. By taking Egbuka, Licht insured the offense against the aging curve of Evans and Godwin. It wasn't a "want." It was a "tomorrow's need."
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The draft isn't just about who starts on Sunday in September; it's about who is still on the roster three years from now when the cap hits get ugly.
Why the 2026 Tampa Bay NFL Draft Is All About the Front Seven
Let’s be real: the pass rush has been kinda mid lately.
Aside from Yaya Diaby and the occasional Haason Reddick explosion, the Bucs haven't been scaring anybody's quarterback. The 2025 additions of David Walker (the sack machine from Central Arkansas) and Elijah Roberts from SMU were nice depth moves, but they aren't "blue chip" game-wreckers yet.
Current mock drafts for the 2026 tampa bay nfl draft are screaming for two specific positions:
- Edge Rusher: Guys like Cashius Howell from Texas A&M or Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami are the names popping up at pick 15.
- Off-Ball Linebacker: This is the big one. Lavonte David is 35. He’s a god in Tampa, but he's human. Sonny Styles from Ohio State is the name everyone is circling. He’s basically a 235-pound safety playing linebacker, which is exactly the kind of hybrid freak Todd Bowles loves to use in his blitz packages.
The Tight End Wildcard
Don't sleep on the offense entirely. Cade Otton is hitting free agency, and his 2025 season was... let's call it "uneven." If an elite playmaker like Kenyon Sadiq is sitting there in the middle of the first round, don't be shocked if Licht ignores the defense again. Sadiq is built like George Kittle and runs like a wideout. Putting him next to Egbuka and Jalen McMillan? That’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
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The Strategy Nobody Talks About: The Middle Round "Meat"
The secret sauce of the tampa bay nfl draft isn't the first round. It's the "bread and butter" rounds—Day 3.
Licht mentioned recently that his staff prides themselves on the sleep picks. Think about Bucky Irving or Tykee Smith. These guys weren't headliners, but they ended up being essential to the team’s identity. For 2026, keep an eye on the interior offensive line. With Ben Bredeson’s injury history and the need to keep Baker Mayfield upright, a Round 4 guard from a "small" school is almost a guarantee.
Real Talk: The 2021 Blemish and What It Taught Them
Every expert has a bad day. For the Bucs, that was the 2021 draft. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Kyle Trask, Robert Hainsey. None of them really became the cornerstones they were supposed to be.
But that failure changed how the Bucs approach the tampa bay nfl draft now. They stopped drafting for "potential" and started drafting for "production."
- 2024: Graham Barton (Duke) - Day 1 starter.
- 2025: Emeka Egbuka (OSU) - Immediate star.
- 2025: Elijah Roberts (SMU) - Led the FBS in pressures.
They want guys who have already done the thing, not guys who might do the thing if the stars align.
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What Really Happens Next: Your Draft Season Roadmap
If you're trying to track where the Bucs go from here, you've gotta watch the "futures" signings and the coaching carousel. With the team currently looking for a new offensive coordinator after missing the 2025 playoffs, the scheme might change slightly. However, Todd Bowles still runs the defense, and his "positionless" philosophy will dictate the draft.
Actionable Steps for Bucs Fans:
- Track the Senior Bowl: This is Licht’s favorite scouting ground. If a defensive lineman or linebacker dominates in Mobile, put them on your radar for the second round.
- Watch the Salary Cap: If the Bucs move on from Anthony Nelson (a potential $7M cap saving), the need for an edge rusher moves from "priority" to "emergency."
- Scout the Linebackers: Specifically Sonny Styles. If you see him slipping past the top 10, start dreaming of him in a Bucs jersey. He is the physical successor to Lavonte David.
The 2026 tampa bay nfl draft will be the defining moment for the post-Brady era. It’s no longer about staying relevant; it’s about whether this core is talented enough to win the NFC South for the fifth or sixth time in a row. Keep your eyes on the trench players—that’s where this draft will be won or lost.
Next Steps for Roster Management:
Start by evaluating the current "futures" contracts signed this January, particularly players like linebacker Nick Jackson and defensive lineman Jayson Jones. These internal moves often signal which positions the front office feels they've already "patched" versus which ones require a high-value draft pick in April. Following the compensatory pick announcements in late February will also reveal exactly how much ammunition Jason Licht has to trade up—or back—to secure his targets.