We are just a little more than 24-hours out from finding who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Buccaneers have a lot of holes to fill and questions to answer. Unfortunately, they don't have a ton of draft capital to answer every single question. The team does have nine picks, but six of those nine come in Rounds 5 or later. That's not an ideal spot to be in, but we've seen general manager Jason Licht effectively work the phones in every single draft he's ran. So, it's not like the Bucs are pigeonholed, or anything.

Will the Bucs take an EDGE or a tackle in Round 1? At what point do they address tight end and nickel? Are there any quarterbacks worth bringing in for competition?

The Buccaneers will take a tackle in the first round of the draft

This kind of prediction is always tough, especially when a team is picking at 19 like the Bucs. It's because 98% of this prediction relies on what happens in front of them and as we all know, this year's draft is probably going to feature a pretty crazy first round.

But, there are enough tackle prospects worth taking in Round 1 to where the Buccaneers will be able to get their guy. If they have to trade up, stand pat, or trade back – there should be someone there.

In my opinion, keeping Tristan Wirfs at right tackle is the ideal scenario, but the Buccaneers shouldn't let that dictate their decisions. The most ideal scenario is to trade back a couple of spots and nab a guy like Anton Harrison, whom draft analysts say could play either right or left tackle at the NFL level. Drafting a guy like Harrison would allow the Buccaneers to let the situation play out, as opposed to drafting a guy like Darnell Wright, which would essentially guarantee Wirfs moves to LT.

The hit rate on high-quality tackles is much higher in Round 1 when compared to other rounds and the Buccaneers can't go into the season with Brandon Walton starting at left tackle. Honestly, it's not very assuring to have Luke Goedeke potentially at right tackle, either. Taking the appropriate tackle in Round 1 gives the Buccaneers a shot at having bookend tackles for the next four years, at minimum.

Expect a linebacker to get taken on Day 2

Due to his age and career accomplishments, Lavonte David is a year-to-year player at this point and as we all know, Devin White's future is murkier than ever. 

Combine that with an underwhelming 2024 free agent class at linebacker (outside of the Kansas City Chiefs' Willie Gay), it's clear the Buccaneers need to get a solid player that will be ready to step into the starting lineup, potentially, in 2024. They will be able to find that guy in Round 2 or Round 3, where plenty of solid prospects are awaiting their moment.

The Buccaneers will draft a player at each overall defensive position

The Buccaneers have needs on the defensive line, at EDGE, at linebacker, at cornerback, and at safety. They also don't/won't have a ton of cap room for veteran free agent signings after the draft. 

This has them in a spot where they will take at least one player at each of the aforementioned positions. There is a chance for the team to reunite with veterans from last season, but the Bucs seem pretty dedicated to getting their salary cap situation straightened out, which means they are going to limit pushing dead money in the future. That's what they'd have to do in order to bring in veteran free agents, even the cheaper ones.

Just take a look at Matt Feiler's deal, for example. It's a mere, one-year $2.5 million deal, but the Bucs tacked on four void years that result in just a $1.032 dead cap charge in 2024. Long gone are the days where the front office pushes upwards of $6-$7 million down the road like it did with Ndamukong Suh in 2021.

There will be plenty of logical prospects available at each for the Buccaneers. Even including potential trade ups/downs. So, go ahead and get ready for a lot of new faces on the defensive side of the ball in 2023.