The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended the 2023 season with a record of 9-8, winning the NFC South but falling short in the divisional round. Despite their success in the regular season, the team faces several challenges heading into the NFL Draft.
The Buccaneers have a total of seven draft picks this year, including their first-round pick at No. 26. As they prepare for the upcoming draft, some of their top needs include cornerback, offensive line, and edge rusher. The team traded away top cornerback Carlton Davis to the Lions and did not address the position much in free agency. Additionally, longtime center Ryan Jensen retired and starting tackle Aaron Stinnie left in free agency.
With these pressing needs in mind, some potential fits for the Buccaneers could be Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama or Graham Barton from Duke in the first round of the draft. On Day 2 of the draft, players like Bralen Trice from Washington or Sedrick Van Pran from Georgia could be viable options.
In previous years, the Buccaneers have had success in finding impactful players through drafting. In fact, they received an A grade for their performance in last year’s draft and found standout players like Calijah Kancey and Cody Mauch. Calijah Kancey had a strong rookie season with 7.5 sacks.
As they approach this year’s draft, a dream fantasy pick for many fans could be a wide receiver to potentially replace Chris Godwin in future seasons. However, given their pressing defensive needs – especially in secondary – it is likely that they will prioritize addressing those issues first during this year’s selection process.
Overall, it will be interesting to see how Tom Brady and his coaching staff navigate this year’s complex decisions surrounding player recruitment as they look to build upon their recent successes and continue competing at a high level within one of football’s toughest conferences (NFC South).
