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.
Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Bucs were attached to a familiar name in Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen. The SEC defender has become a household name in the country’s biggest conference, and he is a leader of a very talented defense.
Sanchez explains the pick, writing, “The Buccaneers look to be true NFC contenders behind Baker Mayfield and this offense, with a combination of young players and veterans. The defense is where the Buccaneers need the most improvement. In this spot, the Buccaneers draft linebacker CJ Allen. Allen is a downhill thumper who also has sideline-to-sideline speed. He could be a great young piece to pair alongside Lavonte David, who is on the back end of his career.”
The Bucs will be needing help at linebacker, and it seems that C.J. Allen is a popular pick and a fit for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they get ready for the next era of their defense.