Although Tampa Bay won the NFC South for the third straight season in 2023, head coach Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht must patch a flawed roster.
Tampa Bay — which selects 26th in the first round of the April 25-27 NFL Draft — has two key weaknesses: a terrible running game and a defense that ranked 23rd last season in yards allowed.
The Buccaneers had an impressive draft last season, selecting a starter at guard in second-rounder Cody Mauch, a standout linebacker in YaYa Diaby in the third round and talented defensive tackle Calijah Kancey in the first round.
Another solid draft could put the Bucs in position to win the weak NFC South again. QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans — both of whom the Bucs re-signed in the offseason — can’t continue to carry the offense without an above-average running game to relieve pressure.
In 2023, Tampa Bay ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards and yards-per-carry for the second consecutive year.
With running back devalued in the NFL, the Bucs should be able to fill their need beyond Round 1, perhaps even in Round 3, where it has two picks (Nos. 89 and 92). Per Pro Football Focus, the top three backs in the draft are Jonathon Brooks of Texas, Jaylen Wright of Tennessee and Blake Corum of Michigan.
On defense, Tampa lost cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions in free agency and must bolster the secondary.
Besides cornerback, Tampa Bay also needs an edge-rusher but probably won’t have a shot in the first round at Alabama’s Dallas Turner and Florida State’s Jared Verse, the top players at the position, per PFF. However, UCLA’s edge-rusher Laiatu Latu could be available in the first round at Tampa Bay’s spot.
They also need a tight end. A star at the position could diversify an over-reliant offense on Mayfield and Evans. TE Cade Otton is a solid player (47 catches, 455 yards in 2023), but the Bucs need more production than that.
The draft includes under-the-radar tight end prospects who can add playmaking ability to the passing game, including Cade Stover of Ohio State and NFL Scouting Combine star Ben Sinnott of Kansas State.
By filling these needs, the Bucs can become a Super Bowl contender. If not, another early playoff exit may await.
