NFL Draft: Buccaneers GM Opens Door to Potential First-Round Trade

The 2026 NFL Draft is just eight days away, and anticipation is building as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to go on the clock with the No. 15 overall pick. With several roster needs still to address, this selection could play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s direction for the upcoming season.

Trades are a staple of the draft, though they tend to be less frequent in the first round. While Jason Licht isn’t dismissing the possibility for the Buccaneers, he understands how difficult it can be to find a trade partner willing to make a deal.

Via Scott Smith,

“Jason Licht says a trade down for the Bucs in the first round could make sense, but you have to find a trade partner and that’s not as easy as it sounds.”

One of the main reasons the Buccaneers fell short of the playoffs last season was an inconsistent defense. They added pieces in free agency with A’Shawn Robinson and Alex Anzalone, but it’s clear the unit still needs additional reinforcements.

Improving the pass rush is a clear priority for the Buccaneers, a point reinforced by head coach Todd Bowles during his comments earlier this month at the NFC Coaches Dinner in Arizona.

“I feel like there are some [inside linebackers] in this draft that can really play. There are quite a few of them – at least 10 or 12 of them, for sure. The trait we look for the most is probably instinctiveness. You look for instincts right there, how they read, how they scrape and how they go. And I think there’s a bunch of those in this draft.”

There’s no shortage of first-round talent at linebacker, with names like Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis, and Sonny Styles all in the mix. It’s a position worth monitoring, especially with the Buccaneers eventually needing to find a successor to franchise icon Lavonte David.

Buccaneers Have Their Draft Board Nearly Finalized

While speaking with Smith, Jason Licht revealed that the Buccaneers have nearly finalized their draft board ahead of Day 1 next Thursday.

NFL.com lists edge rusher, cornerback, offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker as the top needs for the Buccaneers, echoing earlier discussions. Offensively, Tampa Bay is in solid shape, though adding depth on Day 2 or 3 remains a possibility.

Buccaneers’ assistant general manager Rob McCartney recently emphasized that the offseason focus has been restoring a tough, gritty identity on defense for the Buccaneers, a sentiment Jason Licht made clear he fully shares:

“One of things that we’ve been looking for is just we want to get back to being a bigger defense with more toughness, with more ‘violence,’ I think is a word we’ve thrown around a lot in the scouting department this offseason,” McCartney said. “We want to go back to being the bullies — on both sides of the ball, really.”

Licht added,

“We do want players who have a nasty edge to them, that will win at all closts. You know, bring some noise.”

The Buccaneers finished 19th in yards allowed per game last season, while also sitting 27th in pass defense, and 20th in PPG allowed per contest, giving up 24.2.

This draft is a clear chance to add defensive talent, and by the sounds of it, that’s the primary focus for Tampa.

The Buccaneers ranked 19th in yards allowed per game last season, including a 27th-place finish against the pass and 20th in points allowed at 24.2 per game. With those struggles in mind, this draft presents a prime opportunity to bolster the defense—an area that appears to be Tampa Bay’s top priority.