Bucs' Day 3 draft picks highlighted by small-school gem that could be this year's Bucky Irving
Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers closed things out with another defensive run, just like Day 2.Jason Licht didn't make any trades, so the Bucs made three picks in total. The highlight of the bunch is easily Central Arkansas' David Walker, an EDGE rusher […]
Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers closed things out with another defensive run, just like Day 2.
Jason Licht didn't make any trades, so the Bucs made three picks in total. The highlight of the bunch is easily Central Arkansas' David Walker, an EDGE rusher who has the potential to become a steal if his play translates to the pros.
How's that for a tease? I'll make up for it by shutting up and diving into the Bucs' final three picks of the draft.
Round 4, No. 121 overall: David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
There is so much to like David Walker from an all-around standpoint. For starters, his college production is insane: He finished with 82.5 tackles for loss and 39.0 sacks over four years. It doesn't matter if he played in the FCS – he did what he was supposed to do, which is dominate the opposing competition.
The key with Walker's pre-draft process is the fact he held his own at the Senior Bowl, showing he can hang with the nation's top players. That certainly boosted his stock by helping answer concerns regarding the level of competition he faced in school.
He's a smaller prospect at 6-foot, but certainly has the size to be disruptive at 263 pounds. Walker uses that thick frame/core strength and leverage to power through blockers, but he also has the quickness, bend, and overall agility to work his way around guys. And to cap it all off, he has a solid array of pass rush moves that help him get into opponents' backfields.
The Bucs' outside linebacker/EDGE room is officially filled to the brim with competition and Walker should play a key factor in how things eventually shake out. Honestly, he has the chance to have a Bucky Irving-like impact based off what he can do on the field and the current construct/hierarchy of the Bucs' EDGE room.
Round 5, No. 157 overall: Elijah Roberts, DL, SMU Mustangs
Roberts bullied his way to 17.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss as a defensive end over the last two years and the Bucs hope he can bring that same disruptive element to an already-disruptive defensive line consisting of Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Logan Hall.
Remember, the defensive line led the team in sacks as a position group and recorded more than half (23.5) of the unit's 46.0 total sacks. Roberts can help boost that in a rotational role and he also has the potential to help in the run defense department, as well.
At 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, he's broad and powerful, but has some speed to his game. His play recognition/awareness is above-average and he has a non-stop motor that helps him close out plays. The Bucs can play him outside with his hand in the dirt and potentially kick him inside during obvious passing downs. Either way, he can provide some solid value if used correctly.
Round 7, No. 235 overall: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon Ducks
Did you have not one, but two wide receivers getting drafted by the Bucs this year? If so, you need to go buy a lottery ticket, stat, because you are Nostradamus at the max, my friend.
Johnson is a super-small wideout that can outrun defenses with the ball in his hands once he gets into space. He's best in the short/screen game, where he can maneuver through traffic and eventually break through.
He obviously enters an extremely crowded receiver room, so there's no telling how this plays out. But if he can show he's just as deadly after the catch in the pros as he is in college, then he'll make the final 53-man roster when it's all said and done.
