The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with the rest of the NFL, are a few houurs away from the start of the NFL’s two-day negotiating window.

The domino effect of free agency on the draft is always a hot topic of conversation, as teams will fill voids or bolster position groups over the next several days. If the Buccaneers sign a guy like Boye Mafe, their odds of taking a pass rusher at No. 15 drop and so on and so forth.

So, it’s the perfect time to do one last mock draft before things kick off. Our last two mocks, one pre-combine and one post-combine, featured Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles before becoming Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell.

Which players make the latest batch? Let’s dive in and find out.

Buccaneers 2026 mock draft version 3.0

Round 1, No. 15 overall: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell

Nothing has changed since our post-combine mock draft just yet, so there’s no reason to take Howell out of this spot.

Regardless, Sonny Styles blew the combine out of the water, as expected, basically putting himself out of the Buccaneers’ reach. Therefore, I’m doubling down on Howell after he impressed the collective of NFL GMs, coaches, scouts, and other executives on hand.

Howell is the quick-footed, bendy pass rusher the Buccaneers need opposite Yaya Diaby, who is more of a power rusher. Howell has a chance to be what Haason Reddick couldn’t be and that would be a major boon for the Bucs defense.

The Buccaneers taking a pass rusher is almost a lock at this point. The only way sizable change occurs is if they invest heavily in a free agent.

Honorable mentions: Miami Hurricanes EDGE Akheem Messidor, Georgia Bulldogs LB C.J. Allen, Oregon Ducks TE Kenyon Sadiq

Round 2, No. 46 overall: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez

I thought long and hard here about Texas LB Anthony Hill, Jr. in this spot. R Mason Thomas also came to mind, as the Bucs simply don’t have nearly enough good pass rushers on their roster, even after adding Howell.

But this defense absolutely has to get better in the middle of the field, and while I love Hill’s athleticism and potential cover skills — and I’m a stickler on seeing this group get better in coverage — Rodriguez just feels like a potentially special player in the middle. He’s just a playmaker against the run, and his numbers at the NFL Combine were impressive as far as his overall speed and footwork went.

The Bucs find their green-dot linebacker and future leader of the defense here.

Honorable mentions: Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill, Jr., Oklahoma Sooners EDGE R Mason Thomas

Round 3, No. 77 overall: Georgia Bulldogs TE Oscar Delp

At one point, I’d say it would be crazy to legitimately think the Bucs would take an offensive player, at any level, during the first two days of the draft.

However, the Buccaneers need to inject a dose of explosiveness into their tight end room and their looking to do just that. Therefore, enter Delp, an explosive seam threat who can split out, but is also effective as an in-line blocker thanks to his 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame.

There’s a good chance the Bucs lose Cade Otton in free agency. Delp would be a potential replacement who could really develop into a weapon down the line. He’s easily one of the top potential “gems” in this draft.

Honorable mentions: Texas A&M Aggies RB Le’Veon Moss, Georgia Bulldogs CB Daylen Everette, TE Sam Roush

Round 4, No. 116 overall: Arkansas Razorbacks RB Mike Washington

The Bucs are in the market for a running back after deciding not to tender restricted free agent Sean Tucker and with Rachaad White heading to free agency. With Bucky Irving missing a large chunk of the season last year due to injury, the Bucs need some quality options with the upside to make an impact.

I don’t know of many players who had a better combine than Washington. He ran the fastest 40 time among all running backs (4.33 second) with the fastest 10-yard split (1.51 seconds). His vertical jump of 39 inches and broad jump of 10 feet eight inches was second best among all running backs. And at 6-1, 223 pounds, he’s got the power to go with elite athleticism.

It’s hard to know if he’ll fall this far after such a big week in Indianapolis, but if he’s still in play here, his potential is worth running the card in.

Honorable mentions: Arkansas Razorbacks QB Taylen Green, Oregon Ducks LB Bryce Boettcher

Round 5, No. 153 overall: Texas A&M DL Albert Regis

Regis is a short, squatty guy, but he’s a rock-solid, explosive interior defensive lineman who plays with violence. Think Poona Ford, or even the Bucs’ own Greg Gaines.

The Buccaneers need to add defensive line depth and Regis has a great shot to have an Elijah Roberts-like rookie season where he rotates in and out and flashes in those moments. If the Bucs can get that from a consecutive fifth-rounder, it’d really help what the awaited defensive resurrection.

Honorable mentions: CB Ephesians Prysock

Round 6, No. 194 overall: Alabama Crimson Tide LB Justin Jefferson

I had a fleeting thought at Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis in the second round, to be honest, as his athleticism and coverage skills would bring an undeniable boost to a massive problem area on the Bucs’ defense over the last couple of seasons. But Rodriguez as a three-down linebacker was too tempting to pass up there.

That being said, I can still find some speed, athleticism, and prowess in coverage late in the draft with Jefferson. At 6-foot, 223 pounds, he doesn’t have the ideal size you want for a traditional inside linebacker in a 3-4 set. However, situationally, he could be an asset on passing downs, and in the sixth round, that’s the time to find some of that type of help.

Honorable mentions: Toledo CB Andre Fuller, Mississippi Dl Zxavian Harris

Round 7, No. 230 overall: North Carolina Tar Heels CB Thaddeus Dixon

Dixon has the size and length to play the perimeter at 6-f00t-1, 195 pounds and he has solid speed at 4.46. He also has enough athleticism to hang in the NFL. He also has the IQ and man press skills to play in multiple coverages.

The seventh round is all about finding upside and potential special-teamers and Dixon covers that, for sure.

Honorable mentions: WR J. Michael Sturdivant

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