Buccaneers’ Mock Draft Following Embarrassing Loss To Rams

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now lost three games in a row and four of their last five. They are now 6-5 overall and hold a razor-thin lead in the division.

Things feel as bad for the Bucs now as they have all year.

At this point, I still believe this team can go all the way if things fall into place. But if you’re someone who is ready to scrap the season, I can understand that too. So for those of you who are ready to cash in their chips on the 2025 season, here is my latest mock draft.

Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

There might not be a better pass rusher in this year’s draft than Howell. He currently has 11.5 sacks which leads the Southeastern Conference. If you are looking to get pressure with the front four, this is the type of player you desperately need.

At 6’2 and 248 lbs, Howell wins with speed and bend around the edge. He’s also someone who is comfortable dropping into coverage and is used that way more often than you might expect, which would be ideal for a Todd Bowles defense. In terms of a physical profile, he reminds me very much of former Buccaneers start edge rusher Shaq Barrett. 

The only knock against Howell is his arm length. It’s said that his arms measured in just under 31 inches, which is well below average. This might scare some teams away, but everything we have seen on tape tells me that this is a dynamic pass rusher in the making.

Ja’Kobi Lane, Wide Receiver, USC

Emeka Egbuka has been a revelation this year after the Bucs spent their first round pick on the wide receiver out of Ohio State. However, as we have seen in recent weeks, Egbuka alone isn’t enough. This team needs to keep loading up at wide receiver to keep this offense dangerous.

Lane is a different style receiver than Egbuka. He’s a big body at 6’4 and 200 lbs, but he also has really good agility and hands. This makes him a dangerous weapon in the red zone, which is an area that the Bucs have struggled in this year.

Taurean York, Linebacker, Texas A&M

Linebacker is the biggest need on this team, so maybe it’s a position they target earlier, but they can get a good one here in York. He’s very quick and looks like someone who projects well to coverage at the NFL level. He’s a player who I think will slide in the draft further than he should and that will make him a good value at this point in the draft.

The reason he would slide is his size. He’s only 5’10 and 227 lbs, which is very small for an NFL linebacker. And while he does play bigger than his size, there will be questions about his ability to play in the box at that size in a bigger, faster, stronger league. 

Jalon Kilgore, Linebacker, South Carolina

I can’t tell you what Kilgore is exactly as a college player. He’s a safety or a corner or a linebacker, depending on what he’s asked to do. What I do know is that this looks like a coverage linebacker at the NFL level.

At 6’1 and 211 lbs he would be very lean for a linebacker. However, guys like Divine Deablo and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have shown these hybrid safety linebacker types can succeed in the NFL. And taking a shot like this on a guy in the fourth round could provide a legitimate answer for the Buccaneers biggest weakness.

Thaddeus Dixon, Cornerback, North Carolina

Dixon isn’t a perfect prospect. He’s someone who needs to be more physical, both in run support and at the line of scrimmage with pressing receivers. He’ll be a mid day three pick for a reason.

However, there are things to work with here. Dixon is a twitched up athlete who has all the athletic tools to mirror opponents. He might be a year away from being a contributor, but the Bucs have players ahead of him at corner where they can invest time into developing him. 

Rocco Spindler, Guard, Nebraska

If you are looking for trench play, then you want to go to the Big Ten. Spindler is a classic midwestern haus who wants to put defensive tackles in the dirt. He’s not the most athletic in space, but he’s a goon in the running game.

Spindler also brings a lot of experience who has been a starter at two major programs (Notre Dame and Nebraska). That shows up on tape with good awareness as a pass blocker. In terms of depth linemen, you could do a lot worse.

Mark Fletcher, Running Back, Miami

Fletcher is admittedly a niche player. He’s a big body between the tackles bruiser who will be a short yardage specialist. Don’t ask him to be the main guy and you probably won’t be disappointed with what he brings.

If Rachaad White walks in free agency, the Bucs will need to replace him. A power back might be ideal for a team that has struggled in short yardage situations. Fletcher might be a niche player, but the Bucs need that guy.