The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a month away. The NFL world will soon descend upon Pittsburgh and with the looming festivities comes a flood of mock drafts. Team personnel for each club are finalizing draft boards and pundits are making last-minute projections as to which prospects will hear their names called in Round One. For the Bucs, here is what analysts are predicting that Jason Licht and company will do with the 15th overall pick:
NFL.com
Pick: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Comments: “GM Jason Licht stated explicitly at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Bucs “need to get more pressure on the quarterback,” making this a natural spot to target help off the edge. Mesidor offers a ready-made, win-now fit as a high-motor, versatile front-seven disruptor who can strengthen Tampa Bay’s pass rush from Day 1.”
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (Mar.23)
Pick: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Comments: “They need more help for their pass rush. Faulk seems to fit the type of player general manager Jason Licht likes to draft. His best football is in front of him.”
The Draft Network
Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network (Mar.30)
Pick: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Comments: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to face the retirement of an all-time Buccaneers player, Lavonte David, which means this defense definitely needs an injection of youth and talent. While there aren’t any stand-up ‘backers to draft this high, they can address another need: the edge rusher position. The Buccaneers go with edge rusher from Texas A&M, Cashius Howell. Howell has the ceiling to be a consistent double-digit sack player in the NFL.”
PFF
Pick: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Comments: “A pass rusher was also a solid consideration here, but Kenyon Sadiq’s athleticism is just too good for the Buccaneers to pass up. At the NFL combine, Sadiq displayed incredible speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) and explosive leaping ability (43.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad) at 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds.”
The Athletic
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic (Mar.12)
Pick: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Comments: “Faulk was originally slotted to the Raiders at No. 14 in our pre-free agency mock. One of the youngest players in the class, Faulk is among the 10 best talents in the country, based on talent alone.”