Howell’s profile reads like a quintessential pass-rushing prospect: 11.5 sacks in 2025, 27 career sacks, and a prolific 75 pressures with 51 hurries and 43 stops across two seasons. Pro Football Focus has repeatedly graded him above 90 in pass rushing across his recent campaigns, underscoring his ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
The rationale for prioritizing defense at Pick 15 is clear. Tampa Bay allowed 24.2 points per game in 2025 (20th in the NFL) and recorded just 37 sacks (19th), numbers that suggest the unit could benefit from a disruptive edge presence to simplify what the defense must handle.
Beyond Howell, mock drafts have offered alternative paths at Pick 15, including Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. While Sadiq carries upside, the Buccaneers’ defensive questions—especially with longtime linebacker Lavonte David potentially retiring—keep the focus on strengthening the back end and edge pressure.
The defense-specific needs extend to linebacker considerations as well, with some projections spotlighting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles as a potential 15th pick, capable of helping fill a void if David steps away from the game.
Overall, Tampa Bay’s 2026 draft strategy appears likely to hinge on bolstering the pass rush and overall defensive depth to return the team to playoff contention, leveraging high-impact edge pressure as a catalyst for the entire defense.
