The 2025 Bucs offseason is here and it’s time for Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 4.0 – presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
Be sure to tune into Pewter Report’s Mock Draft Show to discuss the fourth Bucs mock draft live at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 3 on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
Tampa Bay showed some improvement in the 2024 regular season, winning 10 games and a fourth straight NFC South championship – the third under head coach Todd Bowles. But the Bucs couldn’t advance past the NFC Wild Card round, losing a home playoff game to the Commanders, 23-20.
The team didn’t have nearly the amount of pending free agents that it did in 2024, and they were able to re-sign all three of its starters who were set to explore free agency in left guard Ben Bredeson, wide receiver Chris Godwin and linebacker Lavonte David.
Free agency began a few weeks ago, and the team addressed a couple of pressing needs in addition to re-signing the above three along with reserve defenders Anthony Nelson, Greg Gaines, Bryce Hall and backup quarterback Kyle Trask. The Bucs signed edge rusher Haason Reddick to replace Joe Tryon-Shoyinka opposite Yaya Diaby. They also signed punter Riley Dixon to provide consistency on special teams, as well as reserve inside linebacker Anthony Walker and reserve cornerback Kindle Vildor.
The Bucs would like to sign three players to contract extensions this offseason if possible – right tackle Luke Goedeke, cornerback Zyon McCollum and tight end Cade Otton, as all three are entering contract years in 2025.
Taking all of this into consideration, here is a look at the team’s personnel needs, listed in order of importance.
Bucs Personnel Needs
Cornerback
Slam Dunk Madness 6The Bucs moved on from Carlton Davis III last year. His big salary did not match his lack of interceptions, and Davis struggled to stay on the field with numerous injuries over the past couple of seasons. Tampa Bay was lucky to find a trade partner in Detroit and receive a third-round pick for Davis.
Jamel Dean is in a similar situation, as he has just one pick in two years and has missed a total of nine games over the past two seasons. And Dean missed the second half of the playoff loss to Washington, which proved to be costly.
Cutting or trading Dean would save the team nearly $8.3 million in cap room, but that hasn’t happened yet. The cornerback market has exploded in free agency and Dean’s cap hit of $15,136,941 could be considered a bargain right now. When healthy, Dean is a quality starter, but the Bucs need a more reliable cornerback sooner rather than later.
If Tampa Bay moves on from Dean, the Bucs will need another starting-caliber cornerback to replace him and pair alongside Zyon McCollum. That could come in the 2025 NFL Draft with a premium pick.
Bucs G.M. Jason Licht has only spent one first-round pick on a cornerback and that didn’t turn out well, as Vernon Hargreaves III was a bust in 2016. Tampa Bay has had better success drafting cornerbacks in the middle rounds like Davis (second round, 2018), Sean Murphy-Bunting (second round, 2019) and Dean (third round, 2019).
The Bucs could use at least two more talented cornerbacks behind McCollum on the depth chart. Bryce Hall is returning from a broken leg he suffered in Week 1 last year, and Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk showed they are not starting-caliber players in their limited playing time in 2024. The Bucs need to seriously upgrade the cornerback room, and need a starting-caliber nickelback if Tykee Smith moves to strong safety.
Inside Linebacker
Bucs Ilb Sirvocea Dennis
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Lavonte David joins SirVocea Dennis as the only current starters. Dennis, saw his second year in Tampa Bay cut short by a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4, made a strong impression early on in coverage and as a blitzer. But given his penchant for being injured, the Bucs need to add at least one more quality inside linebacker and did that with veteran Anthony Walker, who is better in coverage than either K.J. Britt or J.J. Russell.
Britt, who signed with Miami, lacks the athleticism to be a starter and was supplanted in the starting lineup at the end of the season by Russell, whom the Bucs have not elected to re-sign. Veteran Deion Jones, 30, was already re-signed to a cheap, one-year deal, but he’s not a lock to make the roster.
Just because this is the Bucs’ top need doesn’t mean that this will be the team’s first-round pick. Tampa Bay used the fifth overall pick on inside linebacker Devin White in 2019, and while he helped the team win Super Bowl LV in his second season, his play fell off considerably in his final two years in Tampa Bay. Of the four Pro Bowl inside linebackers this year, only one – Baltimore’s Roquan Smith – was a first-rounder.
Outside Linebacker
Bucs Olb Yaya Diaby
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs are happy with Yaya Diaby, who enters his third season, as one starter at outside linebacker. While Diaby’s pressures were up – he finished with 65, which was the ninth-best among edge rushers – his sacks were down. Diaby had 7.5 sacks as a rookie and just 4.5 sacks last year.
Newly signed Haason Reddick represents a buy-low play with a ton of upside. He was one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the NFL from 2020-2023 and still showed plenty of burst and bend to win the high side last year in limited action for the Jets. That’s a quality the team has not had since before Shaq Barrett suffered a torn Achilles in 2022. But the deal is still for just one year and carries a fair amount of uncertainty. Jason Licht has shown an ability to both build for the present and the future and could look to double down on the position.
That could mean there is still a good chance that the Bucs spend another premium pick on an outside linebacker. Licht has hit on several defensive tackles in the NFL Draft over the years but has struggled to find a stud edge rusher capable of becoming a double-digit sacker. Noah Spence, a 2016 second-round pick, flamed out quickly, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, a first-round pick in 2021, did not live up to expectations. Diaby, a third-round pick in 2023, has been a good player, but the jury is still out on 2024 second-rounder Chris Braswell, who has been slow to develop.
The contracts of Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson were up, and the team opted to have Nelson return as a reserve outside linebacker once again while letting JTS walk in free agency. The Bucs also have Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez under contract, but both are considered reserves and are not locks to make the team in 2025.
Wide Receiver
Bucs Wr Chris Godwin And Gm Jason Licht
Bucs WR Chris Godwin and GM Jason Licht – photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs’ plans to re-sign Chris Godwin this offseason became a reality. Godwin turned 29 in February but proved to be an ideal fit in Liam Coen’s new offense before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7. His return gives new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard the team’s three top three receivers again in 2025 with Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan. But the Bucs need another starting-caliber receiver for the No. 4 spot in case injuries strike the receiver position again, as well as for the future as Evans is entering a contract year and turns 32 in August.
Trey Palmer could be on the outs with the organization after underwhelming in 2024 and losing the WR3 role to McMillan during his rookie season. He played no better than practice squad receivers Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett. Veteran Sterling Shepard was elevated to the role of a starter for a while with Evans and Godwin out, but he turns 31 this year and had too many costly drops to count on as WR4.
Look for the Bucs to draft a bigger body at wide receiver to join the mix in 2025. Tampa Bay has too many 190-pound receivers, and Grizzard’s offense would thrive with bigger receivers like the 220-pound Evans and the 205-pound Godwin.
Safety
Bucs Fs Antoine Winfield Jr. And Ncb Tykee Smith
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and NCB Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today
Tampa Bay has one of the most talented safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr., who was a bona fide playmaker during his first four years in Tampa Bay until this past year when injuries cost him eight games during the regular season. Winfield should return with a vengeance in 2025 and be back to his regular playmaking self.
But the Bucs need another playmaker at the other safety position. Jordan Whitehead was a huge disappointment in his return to Tampa Bay on a two-year deal after a two-year absence and the team declined his 2025 option, making him a free agent.
The Bucs spent a third-round pick on Tykee Smith last year and he started 14 games at nickelback but can also play strong safety if Todd Bowles wants to go that route. Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather don’t make enough plays to ideally crack the starting lineup, although both are quality reserves with Izien offering a lot of flexibility.
The Bucs could very well draft a safety in the middle rounds, or double up on the cornerback position with one of them playing in the slot and moving Smith to strong safety. Smith and Mike Edwards, who just went back to Kansas City, were third-rounders, and Whitehead was a fourth-rounder.
Defensive Tackle
Bucs Dts Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey And Logan Hall
Bucs DTs Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs have two of the best defensive tackles in football in Pro Bowler Vita Vea, who recorded a career-high seven sacks in 2024, and Calijah Kancey, who led the team with 7.5 sacks in his second year in Tampa Bay. Logan Hall, the team’s top pick in 2022, had a breakout year with 5.5 sacks as a reserve and enters a contract year in 2025.
Despite having three quality defensive tackles, the Bucs would have drafted Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton with the No. 26 pick last year if offensive lineman Graham Barton was off the board. G.M. Jason Licht believes in having quality depth at defensive tackle, and Vea turns 30 in 2025. Tampa Bay re-signed Greg Gaines for another year for depth, but the team might move on from Will Gholston, who turns 34 in July.
If the right defensive tackle is there in the right round and he’s the best player available, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Licht and head coach Todd Bowles the pull trigger and draft another one this year. This year’s draft class is loaded at defensive tackle and Tampa Bay might lean into that position and take advantage of the depth there.
Bucs’ 2025 NFL Draft Picks
The Bucs currently have six picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. They traded their sixth-round pick and cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Lions last year in exchange for Detroit’s third-round pick, which was used on wide receiver Jalen McMillan. The Bucs did not receive any compensatory draft picks this offseason.
Pewter Report’s 2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft series is presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – with three locations in the Tampa Bay area in Wesley Chapel off I-75, Midtown Tampa down the street from Raymond James Stadium and Lakeland. Download the FREE Walk-On’s Rewards app and get a FREE order of mozzarella logs.
Walk-On'S
2025 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft 4.0 By Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo
Round 1 – Georgia S Malaki Starks
Senior • 6-1, 197
Walk-On'SThe Bucs start by continuing to bolster their defense by selecting a versatile defender in Georgia’s Malaki Starks, who can play either safety or nickel. This would allow for head coach Todd Bowles to play Tykee Smith where he truly wants him. It would also give the Bucs pure versatility with all three of their safeties, Starks, Smith and Antoine Winfield Jr., to move them all around the field and create havoc for opposing offenses.
Some may say this is a bit of a wasted pick, as no matter where the Starks plays, the team is effectively addressing the slot corner position. But the reality is that nickels are becoming one of the most important positions on defense. Especially, when you consider how much offenses are attacking the flats with tosses, sweeps, perimeter and bubble screens as well as pops, jets and end-arounds.
Starks is awesome. He is a rare blend of movement skills, amazing instincts and sure tackling all together. He is an incredibly versatile chess piece with over 500 snaps in the box, up top and in the slot in just three seasons. This makes him a potential fit for just about every team in the NFL, including the Bucs.
With Tampa Bay though, he adds an additional opportunity, as they already have a chess piece in Antoine Winfield Jr. The combination of the two would give the Bucs an incredible chance to get extremely multiple in their pre- and post-snap pictures with both players moving all over the field.
In the slot, he can play man coverage both inside and outside whether the rep requires man or zone coverage. In man, he sifts through traffic from stacks and bunches quickly and rarely gets lost in the wash. He can keep up with almost any receiver with quick feet and solid long speed. And he can get his head around to make late plays on the ball.
Oh my goodness. This is why Malaki Starks is a blue chip prospect pic.twitter.com/NqkR9qS3G9
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 31, 2024
Malaki Starks’ Defensive Statistics 2022: 68 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 INT’s, 7 PBU’s
2023: 52 tackles, 3 INT’s, 7 PBU’s
2024: 77 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT, 3 PBU’s
From the box or deep, he has active eyes that empower him to make quick decisions with good burst to pinch and crash routes quickly. But he never comes in uncontrolled, so he is consistent in his breakdowns and a secure tackler who rarely misses. Because of this, he works well in the box as a run enforcer who can pick up over the ball routes from in-line tight ends and run the seam well.
While not a complete player, that may be less due to a lack of skill and more due to a lack of opportunities. He was only asked to rush the passer a total of 21 times in his career at Georgia, generating just five total pressures. But given the rest of his skill set, I believe this is an area of his game that still has quite a bit of room to grow.
Round 2 – South Carolina ILB Demetrius Knight Jr.
Senior • 6-2, 235
While the Bucs are high on 2023 fifth-round pick SirVocea Dennis and made strides to bolster their depth with veterans in Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr., the team still takes a swing on a long-term option at inside linebacker in the second round. Demetrius Knight Jr. is a bigger-bodied, downhill player who has received praise for his coverage skills and could also spend at least one season learning from and next to Lavonte David while also giving additional insurance in case Dennis’ injury concerns arise again.
Turning 25 in July, Knight is an older prospect who is widely considered more mature and pro-ready than most. His larger frame is a throwback to years gone by. And that bodes well when you consider over the last two years the NFL is becoming more run-centered and less pass heavy. He can stack and shed and control the line of scrimmage with a physical demeanor. He is a powerful hitter who delivers a strong pop.
South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr (#17) closes space like a missile, whew pic.twitter.com/UCdP1qMxUO
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) March 12, 2025
Demetrius Knight’s Defensive Statistics
2019: 18 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 PBUs, 1 FF
2020: 18 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF
2021: 6 tackles, 1 FR
2022: 9 tackles
2023: 96 tackles, 6 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 3 INTs
2024: 82 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 INT, 3 FFs
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles likes to work from a “stop the run first” mentality, and Knight would be an immediate contributor with his larger frame and longer arms. That’s helped him maintain a low 11% missed tackle rate. He is also an adept add-on rusher, scoring a 40% pressure rate last year.
Knight is considered one of the best zone coverage linebackers in the draft class. Pro Football Focus credited him with a 91.9 coverage grade in 2023 when he was at Charlotte and a 74.9 grade last year at South Carolina. But I think those skills will struggle to translate at the next level where he will compete against much more fluid athletes running more varied, advanced and precise routes.
Knight is fast like a freight train, running a 4.58 40-yard dash, with a more modest 1.63 10-yard split. But he has tighter hips that limit his functional, multiple-plane movement skills. But working downhill, there are few ‘backers in this class who can match him. Knight, who has an official 30 visit with Tampa Bay, would compete with Dennis at Mike during his rookie season and then takeover as the starter in 2026 with Dennis likely moving to Moneybacker to replace David next year.
Round 3 – UCLA OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo
Senior • 6-3, 259
Walk-On'SWhile the Bucs addressed their more immediate needs in the outside linebacker room by signing Haason Reddick, they use their third-round pick to continue to invest in the long-term outlook of the room with developmental edge rusher Femi Oladejo out of UCLA. Oladejo, a converted off-ball linebacker, gives Todd Bowles a similar body type to Yaya Diaby with an advanced drop skillset for an edge rusher.
And by bringing him in with Reddick, Diaby, Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson ahead of him on the depth chart, it gives him the time to learn more of the nuances of the position in a less pressurized environment while also allowing the team to utilize him in specific packages for 4-5 snaps per game and on special teams.
Oladejo is a raw, linear athlete with great a great length/burst/power profile combined with strong hands, not dissimilar to Diaby. Currently, he is at his best when he attacks tackles through their chests, rocking them backwards by utilizing his speed-to-power and leverage to win. He has some bend in his hips and ankles, but it’s not elite. And he’s not afraid to try and set up moves, although his bag is not very full at the moment.
. @femigokrazy Femi Oladejo(#2, LDE) is a twitchy and powerful edge player. Shows all the traits you love from an edge. Burst, power, length and tenacity. He’s still got a ton of room the grow. The ceiling is sky high for this kid. pic.twitter.com/bwawRSvA4C
— JonnydelsFA (@jonnydels) March 29, 2025
Oluwafemi Oladejo’s Defensive Statistics
2021: 38 tackles, 3 TFLs
2022: 91 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR
2023: 54 tackles, 3 TFLs, 0.5 sack, 3 PBUs, 2 FRs
2024: 57 tackles, 14 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 2 PBUs
He needs to learn how to use his hands better beyond an initial punch and keep his eyes in the backfield to better react to pocket movements from quarterbacks, but his explosiveness and refusal to quit on any down will help him continually dent the pocket and get clean-up sacks.
Oladejo, who was impressive during Senior Bowl week and had two sacks in the game, has the ability to turn into a useful hybrid player in the same vein as a Kyle Van Noy and Andrew Van Ginkel and has more overlap with the best usage of a Jihaad Campbell than most might care to admit. He had a formal meeting with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine and also an official 30 visit.
Round 4 – Kansas CB Cobee Bryant
Senior • 6-0, 180
Walk-On'SThe Bucs use their fourth-round pick to improve the depth of their cornerback room. Bryant has a tenacity and aggressiveness to his game that could lead to impressive ball production at the NFL level. It has certainly served him well in college where he has recorded 13 interceptions, including two that he has returned for touchdowns. And that’s precisely something the Bucs have been missing of late – ballhawks. Bryant has the height and wingspan to play outside but can also kick inside to the slot.
Bryant would immediately add depth in the secondary, and when added to Starks, Tykee Smith and Christian Izien, gives Tampa Bay four players with multi-positional versatility in the defensive backfield to help weather potential injuries.
Bryant, who had a formal meeting with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine, has a slight frame that belies his tough-as-nails playing style. He is at his best in zone coverage, where he can use his excellent vision and instincts to make bite down on routes and make plays on the ball. He is tough at the catchpoint to disrupt passes. But it is that same tendency to look in the backfield that can get him in trouble in man coverage. But early in the rep he is impressive with a consistent punch to lead off press coverage and disrupt route timing.
In some ways, Bryant should remind Bucs fans of receiver Sterling Shepard or Bucky Irving. An undersized player competing aggressively in a world with larger players leads him to getting flagged more often than one might like. But such is the nature of a fighter’s mentality. As a tackler, there is something to be desired in his form as he has a tendency to lead with his shoulder and fails to wrap up consistently.
Cobee Bryant’s Defensive Statistics
2021: 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 1 PBU
2022: 38 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INTs, 9 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR
2023: 32 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 INTs, 5 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR
2024: 37 tackles, 4 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 7 PBUs, 1 INT, 7 PBUs, 1 FF
Despite his tough demeanor, Bryant can have trouble with bigger, more physical receivers who aren’t afraid to use their mass to play through him at the stem of the route. He can get caught opening his hips too early and get caught drifting off his landmark in an effort to be opportunistic.
As a run defender, Bryant’s lack of mass shows. He struggles to work through and off of blocks and can get run through when offensive linemen pull or flow to him. He offers special teams value with almost 250 collegiate snaps in the third area of the game.
Round 5 – Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane
Senior • 5-10, 191
While the Bucs set a variety of records last year in yards after catch due to former offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s system, the team does not have a truly special yards-after-catch weapon in their receiver room. Lane could bring that natural skillset, which would amplify the system creativity to a new level.
The Bucs used a variety of players last year as returners, starting with running back Bucky Irving. But they currently do not have a lock to hold that position in 2025 and Lane could move into that role, effectively giving general manager Jason Licht a starter in the fifth round.
Lane is an after-catch creator in the same vein as Oregon’s Tez Johnson, with considerably less production. He is more of a slot-only option, as he lacks strength and size necessary to win against big and strong corners on the perimeter. He is a quick-twitch athlete with impressive speed that spins him up quickly.
He works best when he is getting quick touches that let him accelerate quickly to create yards after the catch. But Lane’s YAC-ability is more concentrated on his impressive wind up and less due to his lateral cuts/moves. Lane is a limited route runner who exaggerates his false moves. But one area where he can fit into the Bucs offense well is as a defense-stretcher who can get on top of safeties quickly. That was a quality lacking from Tampa Bay’s offense last year.
#Hokies #NFLDraft
Jaylin Lane in the open field. pic.twitter.com/9OlAkskxl8
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) December 23, 2024
Jaylin Lane’s Receiving Statistics
2020: 13 catches, 122 yards, 9.4 avg, 1 TD
2021: 42 catches, 466 yards, 11.1 avg, 4 TDs
2022: 69 catches, 940 yards, 13.6 avg, 5 TDs
2023: 41 catches, 538 yards, 13.1 avg, 6 TDs
2024: 38 catches, 466 yards, 12.3 avg, 2 TDs
Lane, who had a formal meeting with the Bucs at the NFL Scouting Combine, also provides special teams value as a returner. He has a career 10.6 yards per punt return average along with two career punt return touchdowns and could wrest that job away from the unspectacular Trey Palmer in 2025.
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Round 7 – Oregon CB Nikko Reed
Senior • 5-9, 183
The Bucs round out their draft taking their third defensive back and fifth defensive player in the diminutive Reed. He has plenty of experience on the outside, but in Todd Bowles’ system that prioritizes length on the outside, he would likely be considered a slot in Tampa Bay with outside versatility. Reed would compete with Kindle Vildor for the final defensive back spot on the roster and possibly be pushed to the practice squad in year one.
Reed is a smooth mover, who like Cobee Bryant, is hyper competitive with impressive ball skills. Over four years, he posted 22 passes defensed and five interceptions. He is patient in zone coverage and does a good job to keep his eyes in the backfield. This allows him to click and close quickly when the ball is in the air and contest passes at the catch point.
Nikko Reed vs Jeremiah Smith pic.twitter.com/MsUxHRXIrx
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) March 23, 2025
Reed has a smooth hip transition that enables him to mirror and match and he does well to keep his body positioned in phase on deep vertical routes. As a tackler, his frame does him a disservice as he lacks impact and often has to drag down or swipe the ankles of ball carriers. And this is where having him in the slot may not turn out well as he lacks the mass and pop to really contribute well as a run defender.
Nikko Reed’s Defensive Statistics
2021: 9 tackles, 2 TFL’s, 1 INT, 1 PBU
2022: 42 tackles, 3 TFL’s, 1 sack, 2 INT’s, 7 PBU’s, 1 FR
2023: 25 tackles, 2 TFL’s, 1 sack, 7 PBU’s
2024: 39 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 INT’s, 7 PBU’s
Ultimately, Reed’s ability to stick at the NFL level will come down to his athleticism. He has enough long speed and deceleration, but I’m not confident his lack of size, burst and change of direction will work as a nickel defender in the NFL and I don’t think he can stick on the outside. But for the Bucs, or any other team, a bet on his want-to, combined with some really fun tape and ball skills, is worth a Day 3 flyer. Reed is scheduled on a 30 visit to Tampa Bay.
Bucs Mock Draft Show 4.0 – Presented By Walk-On’s – Airs Thursday At 8:30 p.m. ET
The Bucs Mock Draft Show 4 podcast – presented by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – will be broadcast live on Thursday, April 3rd at 8:30 p.m. ET on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel as well as live-streamed on our X and Facebook channels – @PewterReport. Join Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo to discuss the latest PR Bucs mock draft as well as your questions.