After a gritty, uneven 2025, Tampa Bay showed flashes on offense but also notable inconsistencies up front and in the middle of the field. The defense remained physical but struggled to generate steady edge pressure, and the secondary yielded too many big plays. The team’s needs center on a complete tight end, interior offensive-line depth at guard, fresh edge talent, defensive-line depth, a rangy linebacker, and improved cornerback play.
Round 1, 15th overall: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M. Howell represents a philosophical shift toward a versatile edge presence in a 3-4 front. His developing pass-rush toolkit, plus an inside counter move and early-down run defense, provide rotational pressure and a blueprint for gradual improvement on the front seven.
Round 2, 46th overall: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati. Golday is a projection pick aligned with a long-term vision at linebacker. His modest experience is outweighed by athletic upside and rapid development, offering the rangy profile the Buccaneers covet to modernize their defense.
Round 3, 77th overall: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State. Klare is positioned as an offensive pivot with receiving production and route-running nuance that help address the team’s middle-of-the-field concerns. Blocking is a work in progress, but the upside as a reliable target in rhythm passing concepts is appealing.
Round 4, 116th overall: Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama. Cuevas complements Klare with reliability, solid hands, a willingness to block, and special-teams value. This pick reinforces Tampa Bay’s belief that multiple tight ends can be a functional, versatile core for the passing game.
Round 5, 153rd overall: George Gumbs Jr, EDGE, Florida. Gumbs adds depth and early-down toughness to the edge rotation, leveraging his background as a former offensive player to understand blocking schemes and defensive fit. His ceiling may be modest, but his functional edge play supports the team’s immediate needs.
Round 6, 193rd overall: DJ Harvey, CB, USC. Harvey represents a typical late-round corner bet: instinct-driven coverage with limited size and athletic traits but strong understanding of spacing and timing—precisely the type of depth option Tampa Bay seeks.
Round 7, 229th overall: Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State. Traore is a developmental swing with rare-length and red-zone potential. While raw, his upside offers a long-term payoff that fits the Buccaneers’ appetite for upside late in the draft.
Overall, this seven-round haul centers on substance over spectacle: strengthening edge pressure, adding linebacker range, improving tight end depth and versatility, and boosting defensive back depth. No single pick promises an instant breakout, but together they aim to tighten Tampa Bay’s weakest seams and bolster the roster for a sustainable climb in the NFC landscape.
