Buccaneers 7-Round Mock Draft: Final predictions for 2026 NFL DraftRound 1, Pick 15: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami<\/p>\n
Akheem Mesidor to the Bucs has been picking up a lot of momentum, and it\u2019s hard to ignore. Tampa Bay desperately needs a game-changing pass rusher, and Mesidor seems to be the ideal fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Bucs have been burnt too many times betting on traits or potential at the edge position, and they need a player with proven production. Mesidor has the resume that\u2019ll get Jason Licht excited.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He recorded 35.5 sacks and 52.5 tackles for loss during his college career, including career-highs of 12.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs in 2025.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are concerns about his age and injury history \u2014 he\u2019ll be a 25-year-old rookie, but the Bucs claim to be in win-now mode, and Mesidor is ready to make an impact from day one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Round 2, Pick 46: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
Lee Hunter has been one of the players that Tampa Bay has shown the most interest in<\/a> during the pre-draft process. They met with him formally at the NFL Combine and also brought him in for a 30 visit, according to Pewter Report’s trackers,<\/p>\n The Bucs have been consistent all offseason in their desire to get bigger and more physical on defense. Hunter measures in at 6-foot-3, 318 pounds with long 33-inch arms that equate to a 6-foot-9 wingspan.\u00a0<\/p>\n He\u2019s a run-stuffing monster with 32 tackles for loss over the course of his college career, and he also recorded 7.5 sacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n If he\u2019s available at No. 46, the Bucs are going to have a hard time passing on a player that could be a future cornerstone of their defensive front.\u00a0<\/p>\n Round 3, Pick 77: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri<\/p>\n Trotter met with the Bucs formally at the NFL Combine and again for a 30 visit, so the interest is real.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trotter is one of the best downhill linebackers in the entire draft class. He plays with great speed and violence and is an asset in stopping the run and blitzing. He brings the competitive edge and demeanor that the defense has been missing.\u00a0<\/p>\n He finished his college career with 176 combined tackles including 17 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and an interception.\u00a0<\/p>\n Admittedly, he struggles in coverage, but the Bucs will feel comfortable that at only 21 years old, there\u2019s plenty of room for him to develop further.<\/p>\n Round 4, Pick 116: Justin Joly, TE, NC State<\/p>\n The Bucs need to add another viable receiving tight end to complement Cade Otton. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson utilizes 12 personnel more than just about any other play caller, but Ko Kieft, Payne Durham, and Devin Culp aren\u2019t going to get it done.\u00a0<\/p>\n Joly is one of the best receiving tight ends in this draft class. He caught 166 passes for 1,978 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns during his four-year college career.\u00a0<\/p>\n At 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, he\u2019ll add a new dynamic to the tight end room as a pure reviving threat that could see immediate production in Tampa Bay\u2019s new scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n Round 5, Pick 155: Hezekiah Masses, CB, California<\/p>\n Hezekiah Masses just feels like a Bucs cornerback.\u00a0<\/p>\n He\u2019s got Todd Bowles\u2019 desired height and length, standing 6-feet with 31-inch arms while running a 4.46 40-yard dash.\u00a0<\/p>\n Where he\u2019ll really catch the Bucs\u2019 eyes is with his ball production. He led the FBS with 18 passes defended in 2025 and also recorded five interceptions. He\u2019s also an aggressive, willing tackler.\u00a0<\/p>\n His durability is another major plus. He played in all 49 games during his college career and didn\u2019t miss a single start due to injury.<\/p>\n His biggest weaknesses are his weight and his habit of being grabby which results in a lot of penalties. At only 180 pounds, he\u2019ll likely need to bulk up to avoid being swallowed up by blockers so he can be a factor against the run at the next level.\u00a0<\/p>\n The overly-aggressive technique can be refined with the right coaching, but the upside outweighs the risk for a Day 3 pick like Masses. The Bucs had an informal meeting with him at the NFL Combine.<\/p>\n Round 6, Pick 195: VJ Payne, S, Kansas State<\/p>\n Nobody would be happier with VJ Payne landing in Tampa Bay than Jacob Parrish<\/a>, who was best friends and roommates with Payne at Kansas State. The Bucs held an informal meeting with him at the NFL Combine.\u00a0<\/p>\n Payne measures in at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, and he\u2019d be Tampa Bay\u2019s biggest safety by a wide margin. He started 42 games and was a team captain at KSU, where he played free safety, strong safety, and nickel and collected four interceptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n That versatility will make him an appealing fit for Tampa Bay, as Todd Bowles\u2019 love for versatile players in the secondary is no secret.<\/p>\n The Bucs could use Payne in a variety of different roles, and he\u2019ll be a great addition to the secondary depth and another chess piece for Bowles\u2019 scheme.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Round 7, Pick 229: Micah Morris, IOL, Georgia<\/p>\n The Bucs can\u2019t let this draft end without adding some depth to the interior offensive line. Injuries ravaged the guard position in 2025, and they simply didn\u2019t have the pieces to survive without their starters.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morris is a developmental prospect, but his traits are worth investing in. He\u2019s was one of the most athletic linemen at the NFL Combine, and he\u2019s got impressive strength to match.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a massive 6-foot-5, 334 pounds with experience at both left guard and right guard. He isn\u2019t credited with allowing a single sack over the past three seasons.<\/p>\n Scouts and analysts assert that he\u2019d be more effective if he played at a lighter weight, and express concern that his high pad level will be exploited at the NFL level. The Bucs have been great at developing offensive linemen under offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, and they\u2019re one of the best-suited teams to help Morris utilize his rare traits to reach his full potential. <\/p>\n
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