Brianna Dix: Inside Linebacker

Choosing an off-ball linebacker in the first round of the draft is no longer taboo, like it was in recent memory. With the 2026 class being deep at linebacker, several names have been featured on mocks going in the first round, including Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Ohio State’s Sonny Styles and Georgia’s CJ Allen. Each member of the multi-faceted trio has the skillset to appeal to various defensive-needy teams.

Lavonte David’s future is still an unknown. The 36-year-old legend could choose to retire or continue playing, but regardless the Bucs have to build for the future at the position. There would be no better time than 2026 to target a linebacker early, given the talent pool available. Tampa Bay needs another enforcer in the middle of the defense to solidify the unit. Last season, the Bucs struggled at times giving up chunk plays to tight ends over the middle of the field and to running backs out of the flat.

Acquiring a do-it-all chess piece to occupy the middle of the field, one who can blitz through the A- and B-gaps, defend the run in the box, cover running backs/tight ends and has the play recognition to quickly diagnose and trigger, would elevate Todd Bowles’ unit in 2026. If I could choose who Tampa Bay takes with the 15th overall selection, it would be adding an infusion of speed to the defense at the off-ball linebacker spot. The Bucs have had about as good of luck as you can have in the NFL in the draft process with hitting on both Derrick Brooks and David, who both became pillars of the organization and standouts in the league. Now, they have the shot to do it again in 2026.

Gabriel Kahaian: Edge Rusher

I understand why Bri chose off-ball linebacker, but I believe adding an edge rusher in the first round would provide greater value for the Buccaneers this April. Granted, if Ohio State’s Sonny Styles survives the first 14 picks, I’m turning that card in faster than Rickey Henderson rounding third. That said, I doubt Styles slips past the top 12, so I am turning my focus to the most realistic and high-reward position group available at our spot.

As noted multiple times throughout our Roundtables, adding defensive talent seems to be an overwhelming theme this offseason. Welcoming a new outside linebacker to the Krewe is a popular idea amongst many fans and mock draft experts. I also fall into this category and think using our first round pick on that position is a great play. You do not always need to draft for need (see Jason Licht last year), but, in this case, it makes sense for a lot of reasons.

An edge rusher is a key need for the Krewe heading into 2026. The Bucs need to generate more pressure and one of the best ways to make that happen is infusing the defense with a young and hungry prospect ready to make an impact at the next level. Additionally, the level of high-quality defensive ends at No. 15 makes “drafting for need” logical. Not only are you upgrading your roster at a premium position, the type of prospect you are going to get will have the opportunity to start as soon as Week One. I am talking up these prospects a good bit aren’t I? Let’s take a look at some of them.

First, we have the top two prizes in Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech’s David Bailey. They are considered widely to be EDGE 1A & 1B of this draft class. I have not seen either get past No. 11 and, if they do, I would not be surprised if Tampa Bay was tempted to trade up to secure one of them. As we continue down the first round, four names stand out. Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Clemson’s T.J. Parker and Miami’s Ahkeem Mesidor. Howell and Keldric seem to float consistently among the early-to-late teens and have a realistic shot at calling Tampa home. Although Parker and Mesidor are more often taken at the back-end of most one-round mocks, we are writing this Roundtable before on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine. They are one showcase away from skyrocketing closer to the top-ten.

What I am getting at is there are six, intriguing defensive ends that could be worthy of a Day-One selection. If the Buccaneers like one enough and believe they can land him later in the round, they could even trade back to acquire additional draft capital. There are numerous reasons the Bucs should select an edge rusher in the first round and I believe there is a strong chance they will do so two months from today.

Well, with both of the positions I would have considered first off the board, I have a chance to be creative. What I would do here is not draft for “need,” as in a position that clearly needs a talent infusion right now, but draft for “always-need.”

If you don’t have a clear picture of how valuable depth is at cornerback and how difficult it is to cultivate, look to last year, when Jamel Dean missed three games, Zyon McCollum missed four, Benjamin Morrison missed seven and by the end of the season the Bucs were starting two rookies (Morrison and Jacob Parrish) and a reserve safety in their nickel package. Now, that “reserve safety” was a versatile and experienced Christian Izien, but still…you can always use more cornerback talent.

There is also the matter of Dean’s impending free agency status. If Dean – who had a very strong 2025 season when healthy – does not return, the Bucs would head into next season with McCollum, Morrison and Parrish as their starting trio, with Parrish in the slot. That’s not bad, but I still believe there’s a need for at least one more trusted option at the position.

In addition, judging by the many, many mock drafts I’ve studied, the Buccaneers’ draft slot at number 15 looks like a prime position to get one of the top cornerback prospects. LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy seem to be heading the pack – at least before the Combine shakes things up, as Gabe noted – and in most mocks they come off the board in the 10-15 range. The Bucs might be able to nab one of them there, but even if they are gone there are still Clemson’s Aveion Terrell and the other Tennessee corner, Colton Hood, on the board. Not to be like Rickey Henderson and steal all of Gabe’s fine ideas, but this could be the type of scenario where the Bucs’ trade back, pick up an extra selection or two and still get the third or fourth cornerback off the board.

Again, I do agree that off-ball linebacker and edge rusher are the team’s two most obvious needs heading into the offseason. There’s a chance that tight end could be a glaring need, as well, depending upon what happens with Cade Otton and Ko Kieft in free agency, and that’s why a handful of mock drafts have paired the Bucs with Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq. Tempting, but that feels like a luxury pick when the offense is far more set than the defense. Thus, I’ll go with the “always-need.” You always need more good cornerback depth.