The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next April, a city where the Bucs found success this preseason with a last-second field goal to defeat the Steelers. Before next April, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft.
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Bucs were attached to a position in which many thought they would go in the 2025 NFL Draft. They went wide receiver and selected Emekea Egbuka and passed on what many expected to be a linebacker, so now Renner has them addressing that position by selecting Georgia’s CJ Allen.
Renner explains the pick, writing, “CJ Allen is the perfect type of linebacker to replace Lavonte David in Todd Bowles’ defense. He’s a no-nonsense linebacker who wants to inflict pain to whomever is in front of him. He’ll be a value add as a blitzer from Day 1.”
The Bucs are likely going to be getting their final year with the franchise legend in 2025. At some point, either linebacker SirVocea Dennis has to show he is the future leader of the unit, or they have to draft a replacement for David.
This upcoming season will be big for Dennis on that front, but even then, Allen would be a tremendous addition to this defense.