Free agency trades and maneuvers have impacted mock drafts, shifting needs for each club. The Buccaneers picked up linebacker Alex Anzalone and running back Kenneth Gainwell in free agency amongst others, while Mike Evans and Jamel Dean departed. Those moves resulted in many pundits taking an edge at No.15, with a couple linking Keldric Faulk to the Bucs and another pair selecting Cashius Howell. Here is an overview from recent mocks:
NFL.com
- Pick: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- Comments: "Head coach Todd Bowles is all about creating pressure. Like Fano, Howell's arm length fell below the standard for his position (30 1/4 inches), but the Bucs are more interested in his production (33 tackles for loss, including 25 sacks, in the last three seasons)."
CBS Sports
- Pick: Edge, Keldric Faulk, Auburn
- Comments: "Keldric Faulk is young but not productive, a description that has fit Travon Walker, Shemar Stewart, etc. Those players tend to be quality edge-setters at the very least, and the hope is they can expand their pass-rush profile. Tampa Bay needs help rushing the passer after getting shut out in free agency, and Faulk has the length the team covets."
The Draft Network
- Pick: WR Makai Lemon, USC
- Comments: "The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost Mike Evans in free agency to the 49ers, and Chris Godwin is no longer a sure thing. To seek a replacement and add to this room, the Buccaneers draft USC WR Makai Lemon. Lemon, paired with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, should give Tampa Bay a good young WR trio for the next few years."
PFF
- Pick: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- Comments: "The Buccaneers would likely love for either of the two Ohio State linebackers to drop to them, but Howell could be a good fallback for a team that needs to improve off the edge. Howell earned a 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade last season, winning 19.9% of his pass-rush reps. Both numbers placed him in the top 15 among draft-eligible edge defenders."
The Athletic
- Pick: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
- Comments: "Faulk was originally slotted to the Raiders at No. 14 in our pre-free agency mock. One of the youngest players in the class, Faulk is among the 10 best talents in the country, based on talent alone."
