BR’s 2026 Buccaneers 3-Round Mock Draft 1.0

Pros:

• Dominant run fits with violent hands and leverage
• Chases ball carriers with frightening speed
• Elite play recognition and pre-snap diagnosis
• Versatile defender (LB, safety, slot coverage)
• Legit pass rush from multiple alignments
• Thrives in zone coverage with range and ball skills
• Special teams demon with frame and speed

Cons:

• Struggles in man coverage vs quick slot receivers: ◦ Stiff hips ◦ Limited tight-space movement
• Tackling technique needs work: ◦ Arm tackles ◦ Missed opportunities vs elusive backs
• Rush technique: ◦ Plays upright in interior gaps ◦ Vulnerable to cut blocks
• Aggressive playstyle: ◦ Bites on play-action fakes ◦ Vacates run fit responsibility
•  Limited LB experience: ◦ Learning gap integrity ◦ Communication responsibilities still developing

Summary:

Styles has the physical tools and football smarts to become a solid NFL defender, but he’ll need patience from himself and the team as he learns. His late start at linebacker means he’s playing catch-up on position fundamentals. The potential is there – he can cover TEs, rush the passer, and stop the run. Getting him ready for elite play will take the right development and realistic expectations.

Round – 2, Buccaneers’ Pick 46: Romello Height, DE/EDGE, Texas Tech

HT: 6’3
WT: 240 lbs

Accolades:

• First-team All-Big 12 (2025)

Video:

Pros:

• Explosive First Step: Height’s explosive first step allows him to immediately win around the edge, putting tackles in recovery mode and creating opportunities for pressure or sacks.
• Advanced Hand Usage: He showcases advanced hand techniques with multiple counters, including swipe, rip, and spin moves, keeping blockers guessing and off balance.
• High Motor: Height has a relentless pursuit angle, resulting in backside cleanup tackles and disrupted rushing lanes downfield.
• Rare Coverage Ability: He’s comfortable dropping into zones and carrying tight ends vertically, showcasing rare coverage skills for an edge rusher.
• Natural Bend: Despite average length, Height has a natural bend around the edge, flattening to the quarterback while maintaining balance.
• Smart Processing: He quickly processes blocking schemes, finding the ball carrier through traffic with urgency and decisiveness.
• Physical Finisher: Height accelerates through contact, driving his legs and finishing with authority when he arrives at the ball carrier.
• Adaptable Experience: His experience against top competition across multiple conferences shows adaptability to different offensive styles and tempo variations.

Cons:

• Size Limitations: At 240 pounds, Height struggles against offensive tackles who get clean hands on him, often getting stone-walled and having trouble disengaging.
• Run Defense Consistency: He sometimes chases splash plays, getting washed down the line or caught inside when trying to knife gaps aggressively, which affects his run defense consistency.
• Tackling Technique: Height’s tackling technique can break down in space, leading to high misses against shifty backs in open field opportunities.
• Lack of Functional Length: He struggles with stack-and-shed techniques, unable to hold his point against double teams and getting moved off his spot.
• Predictable Pass Rush: When speed doesn’t work, Height’s pass rush plan can become predictable, lacking power conversion moves or counter rushes to keep tackles honest.

Summary:

Height’s combo of pass rush production and legit coverage skills is a major selling point – that’s rare for edge rushers, especially at this level. He needs an NFL strength program to add 10-15 pounds of functional mass without losing his explosiveness, plus coaching on run fits and finishing tackles. But he’s got the foundation to be a rotational edge, providing 400-500 snaps as a rookie and growing into a starter by year three. Bust risk is if the weight doesn’t come or tackling doesn’t improve. But his versatility makes him worth the investment.

Round – 3, Buccaneers’ Pick 77: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

HT: 6’4
WT: 240 lbs

Accolades:

• First-team All-Big 12 (2025)

Video:

Pros:

• Athletic Profile: Golday’s 6’4″ frame and sub-4.6 speed make him a freak athlete, checking all boxes for a modern NFL linebacker.
• Closing Speed: He has a sudden, violent closing burst in open fields, allowing him to quickly erase cushion and catch ball carriers or quarterbacks.
• Contact: Golday fires into contact with pop, showing knockback power against tight ends and fullbacks.
• Range: His sideline-to-sideline speed and pursuit angles are impressive, chasing plays down from the backside and recovering quickly.
• Tackling: He wraps up reliably in space, finishing most tackle opportunities with solid fundamentals.
• Pass Rush: Golday’s defensive end background gives him a developed pass rush repertoire, creating pressure on third downs.
• Motor: He plays with consistent energy, pursuing every play with urgency, especially in critical fourth-quarter moments.
• Blocking: Golday takes on blocks with proper hand placement, improving his ability to stack and shed.

Cons:

• Zone Coverage Awareness: Golday struggles with zone coverage, drifting from assignments and getting manipulated by route combinations.
• Power vs. OL: He gets overwhelmed by ascending OL, lacking functional power to disengage or counter blockers.
• Run Diagnosis: Golday’s instincts lag behind his athleticism, causing him to arrive late at the fit point.
• Lower Body Strength: His lean build limits anchoring ability, getting washed out by power blocks.
• Backfield Vision: Golday’s eyes get stuck, failing to read QB vision and anticipate throws, leaving passing lanes open.

Summary:

Golday’s got the physical tools to be a difference-maker, but his processing speed and technique need work. He could develop into a three-down defender with the right system and coaching. However, adjusting to a traditional NFL defense from Cincinnati’s 3-3-5 scheme will be a challenge. Golday needs to improve his zone discipline, keys, and strength vs. blockers.