Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft: Chris Godwin’s replacement, pass rush help, and a push to take this team to the next level

The season did not end the way that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted, falling to the Washington Commanders 23-20 this past weekend in the first round of the playoffs. This is a talented team who unfortunately had a couple of holes in the roster that didn’t allow for them to hit their potential. Now this […]

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Walter Nolen (2) and defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) celebrate a sack against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

The season did not end the way that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted, falling to the Washington Commanders 23-20 this past weekend in the first round of the playoffs. This is a talented team who unfortunately had a couple of holes in the roster that didn’t allow for them to hit their potential. Now this offseason is about trying to find those answers.

In a recent 2025 NFL mock draft, it was my mission to get creative and fill some of those holes. The Buccaneers currently hold six draft picks this April, and there are a lot of potential diamonds to find throughout the seven rounds. Here are some players to get familiar with as potential fits.

Round 1, Pick 20: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss

You won’t find many more naturally gifted pass rushers than Umanmielen. The former Florida transfer has always had the physical tools. It was more of a question centered around if he could put it all together, and be more consistent throughout the entirety of a football game. Umanmielen has done just that in his one year with Ole Miss, and could provide the Buccaneers some much needed pass rush help immediately.

Round 2, Pick 51: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Finding some answers at cornerback this offseason is a big priority for Tampa Bay. Thomas isn’t a player who gets enough attention, but is one of the better man cover corners in the entire class. Expect Thomas to start to get more and more hype throughout the process, especially for teams who will value a 6-2 cover man with outstanding movement skills, and a disruptive skill set.

Round 3, Pick 86: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

Mukuba was a good player at Clemson, but he transformed into a great one for Texas this season. He is a super smooth cover man, but his physicality really took a step forward this fall. Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of the absolute best safeties in the NFL, but Mike Edwards is set to hit free agency after 2025. Mukuba may be too good to pass up at this juncture.

Round 4, Pick 121: Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

KJ Britt is such a replaceable player next to Lavonte David. Paul is a steal at this point in the draft. While he might not be elite in one area, he is good in just about every facet of the game. Paul is an outstanding combination of size, movement skills, and instincts. There’s a good chance that he could be one of the bigger steals in the class when all is said and done.

Round 5, Pick 155: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

The future of Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay is very much up in the air, leaving a massive hole in the slot. While Noel may not be a plus and play guy, he has the route running chops, short area quickness, and YAC upside to develop into a strong contributor. Noel quietly hauled in 80 receptions for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns for the Cyclones this season.

Round 7, Pick 238: Benjamin Yurosek, TE, Georgia

Yurosek didn’t quite become the player some envisioned during his career at Stanford. He became just a good rotational player for Georgia, but the talent is absolutely there to continue to develop. Cade Otton is entrenched as the starter at tight end, while players like Ko Kieft and Payne Durham make up the depth. Neither of those backup options bring much receiving upside, which could play into Yurosek’s favor.

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