Writing The Ship: Buccaneers All Crush Team

Valentine’s Day is upon us and love is in the air. If not for that special someone then for some of these prospects in the upcoming NFL draft. Everyone has their own draft crushes and I am certainly no exception.

Specifically, I love how some of these players fit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team has various degrees of needs at every position and there is a great option in the draft no matter what direction they want to go in. 

To highlight my favorite fits at every position for the Bucs, here is my Buccaneers All Crush team.

Honorable mentions

• Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
• Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
• Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
• Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
• Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
• Jalen Huskey, FS, Maryland
• Trey Zuhn, IOL, Texas A&M

Quarterback – Sawyer Robertson – Baylor

The Bucs will likely be in the market for a backup quarterback this offseason. If that isn’t addressed in free agency then it will be in the later part of the draft. Preferably a player with above average developmental tools.

Robertson fits the bill in a big way. At 6 ‘4 and 220 lbs, this kid just looks like an NFL quarterback. The flashes of brilliance are there with a good arm and accuracy to put the ball wherever it needs to go. With some polishing to his fundamentals, Robertson is the type of quarterback who can come in and win games down the line.

Running Back – Kaytron Allen – Penn State

We know that Bucky Irving is the main man coming into the season. He’s very quick and very elusive and that makes him a matchup problem for defenses. However, he also lacks an element of power and has dealt with injuries over his first two seasons.

The Bucs need a physical runner to get those short area yards and also eat up carries to take some of that burned off Irving’s shoulders. Allen is the perfect match. He is the all time leading rusher at Penn State due to his vision, physicality and ability to carry the load. He would make a perfect Boom to Irving’s Zoom.

Wide Receiver – Bryce Lance – North Dakota State

Mike Evans may or may not be returning to the Bucs in 2026. Regardless of what he does, the roster needs a big body outside wide receiver on the depth chart. And because the team invested a first round pick into the position last year and Evans still could return, I’d be shocked if Licht used a high end pick on this need. 

That’s a big part of why I love Lance here. He’s 6 ‘3 and 210 lbs, but he’s also going to be 25 years old as a rookie who will be drafted from a small school which will make him slide in the draft. This will allow the Buccaneers to bring in his skill set as a possession receiver with decent athletic tools on day three of the draft. 

Tight End – Oscar Delp – Georgia

Sometimes prospects turn out to be better as professionals than they were in college. I believe that Delp will be that type of player. He is very athletic and is a menace as a run blocker. Not to have expectations too high, but that’s exactly how you might have described George Kittle (one of the best tight ends in the NFL) when he came into the draft from Iowa.

The Buccaneers have a need at tight end. With Cade Otton as a free agent and very little depth behind him, it’s something the offense will definitely want to address. Delp makes for a perfect high floor blocker with high end play making potential.

Offensive Line – Matt Gulbin – Michigan State

The Bucs offensive line depth was tested last year more than you’ll typically see. This exposed the shortcoming of the position down the depth chart. Now bringing in an interior offensive lineman who can provide quality depth will be a priority this year.

Gulbin has a year of starting experience at all three interior positions. He’s a good athlete who can get into space as a run blocker and also get some push at the point of attack. Where he hangs his hat is his pass blocking, which should be a plus for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs.

Defensive Line – Christen Miller – Georgia 

Tampa Bay quietly has a need at defensive tackle. With Logan Hall likely leaving in free agency, his replacement will need to be brought in. I think Miller is a perfect guy to do that.

The Bulldog big man plays with a red hot motor and makes blockers work for everything. He is a very good run defender and he attacks blockers in an effort to get to the quarterback. Don’t let his pedestrian sack numbers fool you, this guy is disruptive up front.

EDGE – Cashius Howell – Texas A&M

This is the bendy speed rusher that fans are begging for. Howell is a twitched up athlete who uses a variety of pass rush moves to keep offensive tackles on their heels. He is a plus and play starter on this Buccaneers defensive line.

While run defense isn’t Howell’s strength, he also finds ways to make himself valuable when he’s not rushing the passes. Specifically, he’s a good player in coverage when he’s asked to drop as an outside linebacker. You already know that Todd Bowles will love that about his game.

Linebacker – Taurean York – Texas A&M

Some players are more than just the sum of their parts. York might be undersized at 5 ‘10 and 232 lbs, but don’t tell Lavonte David that you can’t be a star at that size (David weighed in at 233 lbs at his combine workout). York projects as a similar type player.

In terms of instincts, this guy is second to none in this class. York flies all over the field and is more than good enough in coverage to play at the NFL level. He is an outlier in terms of height and weight, but this is a big time player.

Cornerback – Hezekiah Masses – California 

The Bucs need to add depth and talent to their cornerback room. With Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum penciled in as the starters, it would be nice to have a third outside corner to challenge them and step in when called upon. I think Masses is a perfect fit to do that.

Masses is a well rounded corner who can play both man and zone coverage. He pulled in 5 interceptions last season and deflected an impressive 13 passes. I’m surprised he isn’t getting more buzz at this point, but he would be an ideal depth addition in the early parts of day three.

Safety – Genesis Smith – Arizona

Antione Winfield Jr. is at his best when he is playing near the line of scrimmage. The same can be said of Tykee Smith. Neither is truly that single high coverage safety that this team has lacked since Mike Edwards helped the Bucs win the Super Bowl.

Smith has excellent range on the back end. Combine this with what appears to be a high level of football intelligence and this becomes a player that quarterbacks have to fear any time they take a shot down field. Adding a player like this in the secondary would be a dream scenario for the Buccaneers.