Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald.
Joe has been looking at a lot of credible folks who do schlock drafts. That may seem like an oxymoron but there are some schlockers, even if they are forced to change their schlocks nearly as often as their underwear, try to put thought, reason and research into them.
Weird, Joe knows, credibility.
So many have the Bucs taking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. And Joe gets it. He’s a dynamic playmaker at a position the Bucs don’t have a dynamic playmaker at. A guy who can also play slot and at times, wide out.
In other words, Sadiq is versatile which is a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
You could argue that the Bucs are one fast, stretch-the-field tight end away from an explosive offense. The Bucs are maybe four or five players away from having a suffocating defense.
So Joe gets the logic here.
Now Bucs coach Todd Bowles said at the owners meetings earlier this week that the Bucs need to draft or sign at least one corner, maybe two. Joe doesn’t disagree.
But a position that may be way overlooked is defensive tackle.
There may be a sect of fans that are frustrated with Calijah Kancey because of his injuries. The Bucs love Kancey but they have also come to realize until he proves otherwise, Kancey is a walking injury waiting to happen.
Notice you haven’t heard anything about Kancey getting a fifth-year extension? Joe isn’t saying he won’t but that May 1 decision is certainly a backburner item right now.
And let’s be real: Vita Vea is no pup. He’s 31. What’s his shelf life? And, oh yeah, Vea is in a contract year.
So by next February, the Bucs could be down two starting defensive tackles.
Currently, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network has the first defensive tackle coming off the board to be Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald to the Patriots at No. 31. So this is not a great draft for elite defensive tackles.
Jeremiah stressed that McDonald is strictly a run-stopping tackle.
McDonald has excellent size and strength for the DT position. He’s at his best against the run. He can press out blocks and disengage with violent torque. He’s very firm and stout, collecting tackles from guard to guard. He doesn’t offer much impact as a lateral chase player. As a pass rusher, he flashes some pocket push but lacks twitch and polish to consistently win. He’s more of a steady force than a dynamic playmaker. Overall, McDonald will provide value on run downs, but he needs to develop a better plan of attack as a pass rusher.
Hey, it’s not stupid to build up beef in the trenches. But it sounds like if the Bucs were interested in McDonald or other defensive tackles, those guys would be targets for the Bucs after a trade down.
Kayden McDonald is one of the safest draft picks you can make as an NFL GM. This is what he did to one of the best OL’s in College Football⬇️ https://t.co/aO6Kq1UHnu pic.twitter.com/2rZN4lLNdz
— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) February 20, 2026