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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2026 Buccaneers Mock Draft Roundup 10.0 

The Draft is just a couple weeks away, sending the last-ditch flurry of mock drafts across the NFL landscape. Here is what analysts are predicting that the Bucs could do with the 15th overall pick in the first round

MDR Apr.13

Christmas morning for football fanatics is nearly here. The 2026 NFL Draft commences next week on Thursday, April 23. 257 prospects will hear their names called at the draft, fulfilling their dreams. Each club is finalizing draft boards as the combine, Pro Days and top-30 visits have provided detailed evaluations for team personnel and scouts. The overarching consensus in this week's compilation of mocks is that Tampa Bay will take an edge in the first round to bolster the pass rush. Here is what pundits are saying:

NFL.com

  • Pick: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
  • Comments: "The Bucs haven't had a player hit the eight-sack mark since Shaq Barrett registered 10 in 2021. Mesidor is an absolute force to be reckoned with off the edge and should provide a big time pass-rush presence in Tampa."
  • Pick: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
  • Comments: "Mesidor stays in state to fill a pass-rushing void for the Bucs. His age (he will be 25 when the season begins) shouldn't concern general manager Jason Licht, because Tampa needs polished players to contend for a Super Bowl in 2026."
  • Other Bucs picks: LB Jacob Rodriguez (second round), CB Davison Igbinosun (third round), WR Ja'Kobi Lane (fourth round) and DT Kaleb Proctor (fifth round).

CBS Sports

  • Pick: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
  • Comments: "GM Jason Licht has shown a willingness to invest in offensive linemen early in the draft, using two first-round picks and two second-round picks at the position since 2020. All four are still starting for Tampa Bay. Now, he adds the top interior lineman in the draft; Olaivavega Ioane would start at left guard from Day 1 and bring some nastiness to the position."

The Draft Network

  • Pick: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
  • Comments: "Cashius Howell has escaped some—some—of the arm-length backlash that Bain Jr. has received. But like Bain, the production can't be ignored. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need more juice in the pass-rushing department and they turn to Howell with this pick. He's incredibly explosive off the snap, plays with a high motor, and has proven he can produce double-digit sacks at the college level."

PFF

  • Pick: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
  • Comments: "Faulk has been a polarizing player throughout the pre-draft evaluation cycle, but he's still only 20 and a high-level run defender — having secured at least an 83.4 PFF run-defense grade in both 2024 and 2025. Tampa Bay continues to need consistent playmakers along its defensive front seven, and Todd Bowles could take a swing at a developmental piece in Faulk. The former Tiger feels like a player who could hear his name called earlier than anticipated."

The Athletic

  • Pick: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
  • Comments: "Faulk is 2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams without the injury history. One of the youngest players in the class, Faulk's potential (at 6 feet 6 and 276 pounds with nearly 35-inch arms) is pretty wild. Todd Bowles could have fun with this pick."
  • Other Bucs picks: CB Colton Hood (second round), LB Kyle Louis (third round)

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