Best remaining players on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft give Buccaneers plenty of chances to find some hidden gems
The 2026 NFL Draft is winding down, but there is still plenty of talent available when it comes to the best remaining players on Day 3. The Buccaneers have a solid shot at finding some impact players.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are three picks into the 2026 NFL Draft, but there is still plenty of value to be had with the best remaining players on Day 3.
Who are those guys? Let’s waste zero time finding out.
Best remaining players for the Buccaneers entering Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
Quarterback
I’d honestly be shocked if the Buccaneers take a quarterback on Day 3. They have Baker Mayfield obviously and signed Jake Browning in free agency. They also like Conner Bazelak’s development. UDFA, maybe, but no actual pick should be spent at this position.
Running back
Same as quarterback – it’s hard to envision the Bucs taking a running back on Day 3. They have a good three-man rotation and then they like a couple of players like Owen Wright and Josh Williams, as well.
Wide receiver
This position is off the board, as well, after the selection of Ted Hurst, who is a big-bodied downfield threat. That’s exactly what the Buccaneers needed to round out their receiver room.
Tight end
North Carolina State Wolfpack TE Justin Joly: Day 2’s run on tight ends took a big chunk out of the best remaining players for the Buccaneers on Day 3. Still, Joly is a solid option at No. 116 overall, or later.
Joly is an athletic tight end who would fill more of the “move” role on the Buccaneers offense. He would provide a vertical seam threat right off the bat, but can work all three levels of the field. Even though he’s not your typical tight end, he had a 71.4% contested catch rate, per Dane Brugler, which is great.
Granted, Joly probably won’t ever provide much as a blocker and he’s not the biggest guy at his position (6-foot-3, 245 pounds). He could also stand to work on his route tree. Still, he’d be a very good complement in Year 1 with the potential to make an impact here and there.
Alabama Crimson Tide TE Josh Cuevas: Like Joly, Cuevas is more of a move guy. He can also line up in the backfield, bringing H-back-like ability to the fold. He has a great feel for finding the soft spot in zone coverage, he’s competitive, and he’s a pretty solid route runner.
Cuevas isn’t the biggest guy, either, and that’ll limit his ceiling. He’s still one of the best remaining players at his position on Day 3, however, and could easily be one of the Buccaneers’ first picks of the day.
Outside of these two, I’d say the Buccaneers are better suited looking for a UDFA tight end.
Offensive line
Notre Dame Fighting Irish G Billy Schrauth: Arguably the best interior offensive lineman left on the board, Schrauth can do it all. He has the athletic profile, along with the experience and tape, to be a good player in the NFL.
His biggest deal is injuries, though, and there have been quite a few of them. An MCL sprain cut his 2025 season five games short, he had to get tightrope surgery in 2024 and out of high school, and then he redshirted in 2022 because of an injury.
Kentucky Wildcats G Jalen Farmer: It’s honestly a bit surprising to see Farmer still on the board. He has the ability to be an NFL starter and a good one at that. Farmer is a complete player who is proficient in both pass pro and run blocking. It took things a while to click in college, but he’s on the up-and-up and should be seriously considered on Day 3.
Defensive line
The Buccaneers could add a defensive lineman on Day 3, but my gut tells me they feel good with their top-5 guys in Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, A’Shawn Robinson, Elijah Roberts, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches. That doesn’t even include Elijah Simmons, who showed some flashes last year.
Still, a guy like Southeastern Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor, who’s fallen quite a bit further than expected, would make sense if the Buccaneers do in fact take a DL.
Linebacker
Josiah Trotter is the perfect complement to Alex Anzalone and really rounds out the Buccaneers’ linebacker room. With Christian Rozeboom, SirVocea Dennis, and Nick Jackson in the fold, it’s hard to envision them taking a linebacker on Day 3.
Cornerback
Florida Gators CB Devin Moore: I don’t think the Buccaneers have a lot of interest in Moore, but he’s a good player, so he’s worth mentioning, here.
His biggest issues are injuries. He also lacks elite speed, but he has the size and technique to play the perimeter in the NFL.
Washington Huskies CB Ephesians Prysock: This kid has an elite blend of size, length, and speed that many corners wish they had. He’s yet to put it all together, however, which is why he remains on the draft board.
Prysock is the ultimate developmental player, but man, the Buccaneers could land the steal of the draft if they can help him get on track.
Tennessee Volunteers CB Jermod McCoy: He’s only listed here because many thought he’d go in the first round. I think his knee is enough to keep the Buccaneers away, even through Day 3.
Safety
South Carolina Gamecocks S Jalon Kilgore: The Buccaneers should take a look at safety, mainly because they don’t know how J.J. Roberts and Miles Killebrew will perform in their first year back after major knee injuries. Regardless, Kilgore was built in a defensive back lab and has very good ball production (8 INTs) over the course of his career.
He is extremely raw and has some technique issues, but the Buccaneers can develop him behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith.
Texas Tech Red Raiders S Cole Wisniewski: Wisniewski is a big, physical safety who is better suited for the box, but does have some sneaky coverage skills. He’s also a very good tackler.
Wisniewski would provide more of a special teams impact early-on, but he can certainly carve out a nice depth role as time progresses.