My First & Final Mock Draft for the 2026 Buccaneers
My First and Last 2026 Bucs Mock Draft
The Bucs decide to trade back from the No. 15 overall pick with the Houston Texans for the No. 28 overall pick. The Texans see one of their to rated offensive linemen prospects still there at 15, they take the opportunity to trade up and secure him. As for compensation the Bucs receive the Texans’ original 2nd round pick (No. 59), a 5th round pick (No. 167), and the Bucs give Houston their 6th round pick (No. 195)
Round 1, No. 28 - Malachi Lawrence, EDGE - UCF
I’ve waxed poetic about Lawrence enough on here. He has the ideal physical stature, speed/power combo, athletic explosiveness, bend, and pass rush moves that you look for an outside arc pass rusher. Not a finished product but with polish is arguably the edge with the highest ceiling in the draft.
Round 2, No. 46 - Christen Miller, DL - UGA
Maybe the best all around interior d-lineman in a weaker DT class. He can play all up and down the line, he can play nose, 1 tech, 3 tech, and be a 4i/5 tech. He doesn’t have quite the anchor Kayden McDonald has but he’s a strong stack & shed run defender. He has violent hands and his motor runs very hot. Not a polished pass rusher at all but the high end reps are very enticing.
Round 2, No. 59 - Kyle Louis, LB - Pitt
Might be my favorite pick. A versatile linebacker/nickel defender hybrid. This dude is a baller. If the Bucs don’t get Jacob Rodriguez then this guy is the ultimate consolation prize, he might end up being better than J Rod. Super instinctual, excellent in zone coverage, a playmaking machine. Elite blitzing tape too. He’ll be a weakside LB, he’s very undersized which goes against the motto this offseason. Not somebody that you want working through the trash and crashing down on big offensive lineman, but in the open field this dude can be a game changer.
Round 3, No. 77 - Oscar Delp, TE - UGA
Finally an explosive tight end. He can fly boi, reportedly ran in the 4.4s at the pro day, big strong hands. He’ll have way more production in the pros as a receiver and he has high potential as an in-line blocker. I honestly don’t think he makes it to 77, but the simulator still has him there so I took him.
Round 4, No. 116 - Keyshaun Elliott, LB - AZ State
Now here’s the compliment to Kyle Louis. This is the enforcer. He gets downhill and thumps a bitch. Whereas I said you don’t want Kyle Louis sifting through the trash and doing the dirty work in run support, ay, Keyshaun Elliott will do it. He’s not the biggest linebacker but he plays big, and his size and athleticism is more than adequate. Obviously better going forward than backwards, but his instincts can maybe improve in coverage. He’s not dissimilar to SirVocea Dennis, but perhaps a bit more physical and decisive.
Round 5, No. 155 - Charles Demmings, CB - SFA
This is Zyon McCollum 2.0. He’s got the coveted size, speed, and explosive athleticism any team builder would want for a CB1. From what I can tell by the little bit of tape I was able to watch and looking at his production, Demmings dominated in college. The problem? He didn’t play anybody, he went to Stephen F. Austin University (where tf is that?). Just like how McCollum went to Sam Houston, will Licht throw another dart at an uber athletic specimen at corner and see if he can develop? In the 5th round while already having your projected outside CB starters, why not?
Round 5, No. 167 - Jeremiah Wright, OL - Auburn
Can’t really say I studied a bunch of o-linemen. But when I did the mock he was on the board as a value pick. Watched some of his senior bowl stuff, he played pretty well. He is big as hell and is projected to excel in a gap-scheme. Some late round interior depth.
Round 7, No. 229 - Mikail Kamara, EDGE - Indiana
One more dart throw at edge rusher. Coming off a national championship, congrats. He offers some juice, he kinda reminds me of Markus Golden. He can get off and bend that corner, he’s twitchy, the man gets after it. 15 TFL’s and 10 sacks in 2024… I honestly think he doesn’t go this late… but again, I’m just doing what the mock gave me. I tried to make this picks within reason.
This is all fun & games cuz we probably not picking any of these guys. What do y’all think? Trash draft? Good? Mediocre? This week should be fun.