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.
ESPN’s Matt Miller recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Bucs were attached to South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse and Georgia linebacker CJ Allen. The SEC defenders would address two major needs for the Bucs heading into the 2026 offseason, and both could be plug-and-play starters on day one.
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Miller explains the Cisse pick, writing, “. . .Cisse has the length (6-foot, 190 pounds) to compete at the line of scrimmage, but it’s his turn technique and speed in phase that stands out. Cisse’s best trait is his ability to eliminate targets and win in contested situations. Although he might be more of a man corner, he’s versatile enough to be effective playing off the line in the Bucs’ fire zone scheme thanks to very good recovery agility and fast instincts.”
The Allen pick he highlights would be a replacement for franchise legend Lavonte David.
“Lavonte David’s decline this season was stark. Although Allen doesn’t have David’s hallmark agility and range, he’s an impactful downhill linebacker who can clean up in the run game and be a force player on first and second downs.”
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs load up on defense in Matt Miller’s latest 2026 mock draft