Bucs 2024 Mock Draft Roundup: Thanksgiving Weekend Edition

Many teams know by Thanksgiving Weekend whether they’ll be in for a playoff push in December or if they’ll be buckling down on draft preparations by evaluating their current roster and diving into college football tape. The Bucs aren’t currently one of those teams, as they’re 4-6 heading into the final seven games of the season and find themselves right in the thick of the NFC South race.

Tampa Bay has been a very inconsistent team this year and odds are high that the team will miss the postseason for the first time since 2019. That could signal another transition period, perhaps in the form of a new head coach and possibly a new quarterback. It ultimately comes down to what happens over these next seven weeks. Can Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield do enough to solidify themselves in the Bucs’ future plans? Or will Jason Licht and the Glazers want to go in another direction? Time will tell.

But as much focus as there will be on the final stretch of the season and the push for a third straight division title, draft season is right around the corner. The Senior Bowl is 70 days away and the NFL Scouting Combine will soon follow. The 2024 Draft itself will begin in 152 days. So it’s never too early to look ahead at some potential future Bucs. Not only that, but it’s good to know who to keep an eye on as the college football regular season winds down and bowl season approaches.

With all of that in mind, PewterReport.com is here to take a look at what the latest round of mock drafts have in store for Tampa Bay next April. This time around, there are quite a few names who commonly pop up in connection with the Bucs.

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards 

Round 1, Pick 10 – Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

“Tampa Bay needs to concern itself with adding young, cost-controlled talent to the roster and not necessarily worry about filling certain positions. The Bucs would probably love to add a quarterback if the right prospect were available.”

Yahoo’s Nate Tice

Round 1, Pick 10 – Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Georgia TE Brock Bowers – Photo by: USA Today

“I’m not sure how the Buccaneers are going to navigate their wide receivers (or quarterbacks) room in the future, with Mike Evans a pending free agent and Chris Godwin becoming one in 2025 (and with a $27 million salary-cap hit in 2024). So, rather than go with the next Godwin in Rome Odunze, let’s go with a game-changing tight end who has all the makings of having the capital “P” word that brings even the toughest of football guys to their knees: “Positionless.”

Bowers is a true needle-mover with the ball in his hands. He can quickly get north after the catch and a true ability to play across the formation. He has winning snaps from in-line, off-ball, in the slot, backfield and isolated outside, creating damage that translates no matter the offensive scheme. So, rather than forcing a successor in the WRs room, it gives the Buccaneers a chance to pivot to a new build for their offense.

I stayed away from taking a tackle here because Luke Goedeke has had a promising second year on the right side after Tristan Wirfs’ (highly successful) shift to the left. So I don’t think a player like JC Latham will be in the cards for the reconfiguring Buccaneers.”

DraftWire’s Curt PopeJoy

Round 1, Pick 10 – Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Pro Football Network’s A.J. Schulte

Round 1, Pick 10 – UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu Photo by: USA Today

“Tampa Bay will also likely look to figure out their long-term quarterback situation this offseason. For now, the team has struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season and needs some help on that side of the ball.

Laiatu Latu is a dynamic pass rusher with superb technique and is capable of being a 10+ sack-a-year player. His medical history will have to be checked out, but Latu is a prospect worthy of being a top-10 pick.”

Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema

Round 1, Pick 8 – UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

“The Buccaneers could entertain picking a quarterback if they end up with a top-10 selection. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. would be the most likely next signal-caller off the board. He’s also from Tampa Bay, so it would be a homecoming if they went that direction.

But right now, the Buccaneers’ defensive line unit ranks in the bottom 10 in sacks, total pressures and pass-rush win percentage. Their defense has been disappointing this season, and fixing that starts up front. Latu has been the most productive pass-rusher in the country over the past two seasons, notching pash-rush win percentages above 20% in each of those campaigns.”

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling

Round 1, Pick 10 – Georgia TE Brock Bowers

“The Bucs could have a long list of needs next offseason, and tight end isn’t exactly one of them. But what every team needs is as many mismatch weapons as possible, on either side of the ball, and Bowers definitely qualifies. He’s a top-five prospect in this class, and would be an absolute steal if he’s still on the board here.”

Round 2, Pick 41 – Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

The 33rd Team’s Connor Livesay

Round 1, Pick 10 – UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are near the bottom of the league in sacks and despite needing some help on offense, the value here for Laiatu Latu is too good to pass up. Latu is the most pro-ready pass rusher in this class, showing the ability to win with speed, power and technique. The addition of Latu would work to get the Buccaneers’ defensive line back to what it was when it won the Super Bowl in 2021.”

Walter Football

Round 1, Pick 10 – Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy – Photo by: USA Today

“Baker Mayfield has been fine thus far, but the Buccaneers need a real franchise quarterback for the long haul. J.J. McCarthy is an accurate quarterback with a solid arm and mobility.”

Round 2, Pick 41 – Illinois OT Julian Pearl

“The Buccaneers have a weak offensive line that wasn’t tested until the blowout loss to the Eagles. They’ll have to address it early in the 2024 NFL Draft. Julian Pearl is a versatile, athletic blocker.”

Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell

Round 1, Pick 10 – Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

“The Tampa Bay secondary has been a big disappointment in 2023. The team could move on from Carlton Davis after the season, and that could help the organization to re-sign Antoine Winfield Jr. Even if Davis survives, he will be in the last year of his contract, so the Buccaneers could draft his replacement a year out and play him as the third corner in 2024.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wiggins has height to go along with serious speed and athleticism. Wiggins is fast and fluid to run the route and prevent separation. He could stand to add some strength to tackle in the NFL, but Wiggins is the most talented cover corner in the 2024 NFL Draft. This season, he has 22 tackles, six passes broken up, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack. In 2022, Wiggins broke into the starting lineup with 39 tackles, an interception and 11 passes defended.”

Round 2, Pick 41 – Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

“Even if Baker Mayfield is brought back next season, the Bucs could consider adding another option in case Mayfield needs to be replaced.

So far this year, Penix has completed 67 percent of his passes this year for 3,695 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has three rushing touchdowns on the ground. The former Indiana Hoosier turned in a breakout season for Washington in 2022. His previous high total of 1,645 yards in 2020 was almost tripled, as he threw for 4,641 yards while completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for four touchdowns. The Tampa, Florida product Penix has a live arm and can fire missiles into tight windows. Penix (6-3, 214) needs to show improved ability to handle pass pressure, improve his field vision, and polish his pocket passing overall.”

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