Buccaneers 2025 Midseason Mock Draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost three of their last four football games. Now they get ready to go on the road and play the team with the best record in the NFC. It has been a rough stretch and it’s likely going to feel even worse after next weekend.

If you’re one of those people who thinks that the sky is falling and the season is over then it’s time to start looking forward. It’s time to start thinking about draft prospects and how to make this team better for next year and reload for a hopeful Super Bowl run. As we approach Thanksgiving, we have most of the college season as data to tell us what prospects should be on your radar.

Here is my first mock draft Monday of the 2025 season.

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles is a converted safety in his second year at linebacker. After a 100 tackle season en route to a national championship, the light is finally starting to come on in year two. He is now more than just an athlete playing linebacker. He is learning the nuances of the position and has emerged as one of the best in the country.

As a former safety Styles’ coverage skills are very good. He’s also improved as a tackler this year and as someone who can take on a block and disrupt things at the line of scrimmage. He’s already going to be a first round pick. But it’s fair to say his best football is still ahead of him.

In addition to that Styles intangibles seem like they’re off the charts. He was awarded the number zero at Ohio State, which is only given out to the greatest leader on the team. He’s also involved  in his free time and charity work off the field and carries himself like a true professional.

Gennings Dunker, O-Line, Iowa

Dunker is an impressive right tackle for the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, his arms are shorter than average and could project to play guard or even center in the NFL. He is one of the better offensive lineman in college, but his professional projection is a little tricky.

This is exactly the prototype that Jason Licht loves on the offensive line. Dunker has excellent mobility and good strength to get pushed at the point of attack. It would be nice for the Bucs to develop one of these offensive tackle projects before they are thrust into the starting lineup and they could have the opportunity to do that here.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Outside of Cade Otton the Buccaneers tight end room has done basically nothing this year. The combination of Payne Durham and Devin Culp have combined for exactly zero catches this season. And with Otton and being a free agent, the front office will definitely want to invest in a second tight end.

Stowers is a true pass catcher at the position. You won’t ask him to do a ton of blocking, but he has all the athletic tools to be a great separator and playmaker in the NFL. With Mike Evans only having so long left in the league the Bucs have to find new playmakers who can impact the game and Stowers fits the bill.

Whit Weeks, LB, LSU

I don’t have to tell you that linebacker has been an issue for the Bucs this year. SirVocea Dennis has been a disappointment and Lavante David is very likely in his final season. The team needs to make a major investment in the linebacker room and that continues with the second pick of a double dip at the position.

Weeks led the SEC in solo tackles last season. He is very instinctual and can cut through the mess around him to make splash plays in the backfield. He could use a little polishing in both his tackling and his coverage, but I think all the tools are there and the mental aspect of the game looks very good.

Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

Rachaad White is a free agent after this season. I believe the Bucs would want him back, but there’s no guarantee that it will happen. If White were to walk in the off-season, the Bucs will need to find a replacement for him.

Allen is a big body back who would be a great compliment to a smaller, more finesse Bucky Irving. This is the type of player you use at the goal line to help you pound the ball into the end zone. The Buccaneers are lacking that element right now and we have seen that in a lower conversion rate in the areas of the field that matter most.

Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama

Did I mention that we’re investing in linebackers this year? Sometimes when you have a problem, the best solution is to continue to throw resources at it until it’s solved. That is why I’m going back to the well for a third linebacker pick in this draft.

Many know Jefferson as the other linebacker at Alabama as his teammate, Deonte Dawson has gotten much more attention. However, I’m not convinced that Jefferson won’t be the better pro. He is fast and physical and reminds me of former Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander in a lot of ways.

Cole Brevard, NT, Texas

As an analyst, some draft prospects stick with you. For me one of those players was Clemson nose tackle DJ Reader back in 2016. I never understood why such a dominating run defending nose tackle slid to the 5th round in the draft.

I get the same sense from Brevard here. At 6’3 and 345 pounds, Brevard is an anchor on a very good Texas run defense. I’m not trying to tell you he will ever be Vita Vea, but I really believe that Brevard is going to be one of the better space eating nose tackles in the NFL and as a rotational player in college will likely fall to later in the draft.