Jake Slaughter And The Bucs
April 22nd, 2026
There’s a lot of buzz for a Florida Gators player in this week’s NFL Draft, and it’s not because the guy is an overweight lineman battling a huge personal challenge.
The buzz is for Gators center Jake Slaughter.
Iconic helmet-hair draft guru Mel Kiper was on ESPN TV barking about how Slaughter is one of his favorite players in the draft because he’s so damn tough and smart and works like a dog/dawg. Kiper insists Slaughter is a complete player who allowed only six pressures and three sacks over in 33 starts.
A two-year Gators captain, Slaughter measured 6-5, 303 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. Joe’s only question is whether he can play guard, because the Bucs desperately need a talent upgrade among their interior linemen. That was evident last year and the Bucs have yet to address it.
As Joe has noted, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has not had back-to-back Bucs drafts without drafting an offensive lineman. There was no O-lineman picked in 2025.
Joe’s eye says Slaughter is a better athlete than former Bucs center Robert Hainsey, currently the Jaguars starting center and Licht’s third-round pick in 2021.
Ira Kaufman Talks Bucs Future And Dives Into The Annual Podcast Mock Draft With Draft Guru Sean Sullivan, And More