April is quickly approaching, setting the grand stage for the 2026 NFL Draft. As the confetti settles, 257 prospects will hear their names called in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tampa Bay currently has seven selections, all of which are their original picks, not receiving any additional ones from other teams. The Bucs own the 15th overall selection in the first round for the third time in team history (1999, 2004).
In the initial slew of mock drafts on Buccaneers.com, Senior Writer/Editor Scott Smith, Contributor Gabriel Kahaian and I followed the conventional mold, making projections for all 32 teams in the first round. For this installation, I will be making a pick for the Buccaneers in all seven rounds. Tampa Bay could have trades during draft weekend, but for the purposes of this mock, I stuck with the original selections. I would have traded up in the second round to snag linebacker Jacob Rodriguez – in a similar maneuver that the Bucs pulled off in the 2012 Draft moving up 10 slots to nab Lavonte David – but the Texas Tech product was still magically on the board.
Let's get started. Here is my All-Bucs mock draft 8.0:
Round One, 15th Overall: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
The Bucs are not deterred by Akheem Mesidor's age and take one of the most polished pass rushers in the 2026 class. Developed by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor at Miami, Mesidor attacks oversetting tackles with a relentless ferocity. He has a tactical rush plan entering games, including a cross-chop, elongated double swipe and club-rip. Mesidor is effective at using both power and finesse moves and proficiently stacks moves in sequence with seamless adjustments. He plays with the hustle that the Bucs' brass covets and was top-10 in the Power 4 in pass rush win rate (20.8%).
Against the run, Mesidor plays with relentlessness and elite short-area quickness. In 2025, he posted 63 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks while forcing four fumbles. Mesidor earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honors and nabbed two sacks in the College Football Playoff National Championship game against Indiana. Mesidor pairs sensational snap anticipation with an advanced and timely punch, beating blockers. He creates advantageous angles for himself and sets a firm edge against the run. With a litany of counter moves in his toolkit and fiery demeanor on every snap, Mesidor checks all the boxes. Rather than relying on pure athleticism, Mesidor achieves success with effort, textbook technique and feel for blockers. He would elevate the club's outside linebacker room featuring Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker.
Round Two, 46th Overall: LB Jacob Rodriquez, Texas Tech
Jacob Rodriguez's rare transition from quarterback to linebacker shows up in his instincts on the field. He left Texas Tech with tantalizing tackle, interception and forced fumble production. Rodriguez possesses twitchy ballhawk skills and outstanding lateral movement agility, staying square against running backs in his side shuffle. He combines efficient read-and-react ability and led the FBS with seven forced fumbles in 2025. Rodriguez makes quick keys and plays with a commanding presence.
Rodriguez reached a top speed of 18.43 miles per hour during the backpedal and react drill at the Combine, the fastest by any linebacker over the last four years, bypassing Jack Kiser, Jihaad Campbell, Trevin Wallace and Carson Bruener. Rodriquez earned the Chuck Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and Lombardi Award during his collegiate campaign and led linebackers in the 20-yard shuttle and the 3-cone drill, showcasing his burst. Rodriguez finished fifth in Heisman voting and is adept at blowing up designed quarterback run plays. He is physical at the point of attack and voiced his desire to "win the mental game" while at the Combine. The green dot player at the Senior Bowl nabbed 13 career forced fumbles, six interceptions and five fumble recoveries for the Red Raiders. The two-year captain elevated the play of teammates and would bolster the Bucs' linebacker room alongside Alez Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom.
Round Three, 77th Overall: DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
The Buccaneers signed A'Shawn Robinson during free agency but that would not preclude the club from adding another defensive tackle to the mix, solidifying the depth at the interior. Gracen Halton can push the pocket and fires off the snap. He emerged in 2024 during his junior year in Norman in which he accumulated 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety (vs Houston) in three starts.
As a senior captain, Halton boasted 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 2025. He earned his second Defensive Lineman of the Week accolade for his production against Missouri and consistently popped off the ball before guards could set their feet. He takes effective angles on twists – a trait that would benefit Halton in Todd Bowles' system. Halton is synchronized with his hand placement and body control while coming off blocks and searches for any lane to collapse the pocket. He has the athleticism to track ball-carriers from gap-to-gap and the Bucs add value on Day Two.
Round Four, 116th Overall: C/G Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
The Buccaneers starting five are entrenched after Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson return from injured reserve but if last year taught the team anything - a year in which the unit went through nine different starting combinations - there can never be enough quality depth along the offensive line. In the middle rounds, the Bucs snag Michigan State's Matt Gulbin.
Gulbin possesses versatility across the interior, with 11 starts at left guard, 11 at right guard and 12 at center across his career. He projects as a fit for a gap-heavy running scheme, which has predominately been the Bucs' bread-and-butter with counters and gap principles to maximize Bucky Irving's ability. Injuries impacted the team's direction in 2025 but the club will likely get back to that approach in 2026. Gulbin only allowed two sacks and five total pressures across 405 pass-blocking snaps during his final year at Michigan State and is a rancorous drive blocker. He plays with a nasty disposition and finisher mentality, befitting of the Bucs' offensive line creed. Gulbin has a high upside and stout anchor in pass pro with reset capability.
Round Five, 155th Overall: CB Devon Marshall, North Carolina State
Jamel Dean departed in free agency and even through the club likely has their starters in Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison with Jacob Parrish manning the nickel and cross-training at outside corner, the Bucs grab a comfortable island technician in Devon Marshall to boost competition.
Marshall is on the shorter side for a corner at 5-foot-11 but ball skills and stickiness in coverage make up for perceived size limitations. He concluded his 2025 senior season with a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 90.1. Marshall racked up two interceptions and an FBS-leading 16 pass deflections in 2025. He has the speed to stay with vertical threats and matches and redirects with ease. His most notable performance came against Florida State and wide receiver Duce Robinson, where he put up one of the best stat lines by a Wolfpack corner in program history. Marshall intercepted quarterback Tommy Castellanos twice, broke up eight passes and allowed just four catches on 14 targets.
Round Six, 195th Overall: WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss
The Bucs receiver room is still stacked following the departure of franchise legend Mike Evans, with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson, Acquiring another weapon for Baker Mayfield, however, would undoubtedly pay dividends. De'Zhaun Stribling is a long-strider and vertical threat with instant acceleration off the line to work over the top. Stribling is able to make smooth adjustments downfield and nabbed 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games following his transfer to Ole Miss in 2025.
Stribling makes corners pay playing off coverage, forcing them into recovery mode, and has natural extension. He tracks the deep ball well downfield without sacrificing speed/momentum and is adept at settling into the soft spot in zone on crossers and comebacks. Stribling's speed would force defensive coordinators to account for the deep ball and he showcased notable growth each year during his collegiate career at three different programs. He held up against SEC competition, accumulating 122 yards against Georgia in the regular season and would add another dimension to the Bucs' receiver room.
Round Seven, 229th Overall: TE Dan Villari, Syracuse
The Buccaneers did re-sign Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, the latter of whom is predominately a blocker; however, boosting the offensive arsenal with a mismatch threat is always a solid investment. Villari, a multi-faceted playmaker and quarterback-turned-tight end, stepped into a starting role for Syracuse in 2025 after initially serving in a gadget role with a heavy influx of tunnel screens. Whether going in motion pre-snap, running up the middle between the tackles, delivering a tight window dart at quarterback on designed rollouts or off play-action, or generating run-after-catch, he became the Swiss Army Knife for Syracuse. He served as a reliable option on checkdowns and improved as a route runner. In the new era of positionless players emerging, Villari's versatility would help him compete for a spot on the Bucs' roster.
