Bucs Mock Draft Roundup 2024: Draft Month Is Here

With the calendar flipping to April, it’s now draft month. The 2024 NFL Draft runs from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27, and the Bucs will soon add a new crop of rookies to their roster.

Tampa Bay had itself a successful free agency period, succeeding in bringing back its high-priority free agents. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, linebacker Lavonte David and kicker Chase McLaughlin are all back on new deals, while safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was franchise tagged.

The Bucs also traded cornerback Carlton Davis III and picked up a third-round pick in addition to releasing outside linebacker Shaq Barrett and wide receiver Russell Gage. The team also let some free agents walk, with inside linebacker Devin White being the most notable.

In terms of outside free agents, the Bucs added strong safety Jordan Whitehead, cornerbacks Bryce Hall and Tavierre Thomas and interior offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta.

Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, the team generally has needs at outside linebacker, center/guard, wide receiver, running back, tight end and inside linebacker.

So, with the draft now just a few weeks away, why are the latest mock drafts projecting for the Bucs? Let’s take a look in the latest Bucs Mock Draft Roundup.

Bucs Mock Draft Roundup

NFL.com’s Eric Edholm

Round 1, Pick 26: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson

Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Photo by: USA Today

“The loss of Shaq Barrett opens a hole at pass rusher, and Robinson could jump right into the mix with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and YaYa Diaby to create some great third-down potential. The Bucs also ask their ends to work from a two-point stance and drop into coverage; Chop has the athleticism to do that.”

NFL.com’s Charles Davis

Round 1, Pick 26: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

“Trading Carlton Davis created a need at cornerback. Head coach Todd Bowles will always take care of his defense, and it plays hard for him. A center like Graham Barton could also be in the mix with this pick as the Bucs look to replace the retired Ryan Jensen.”

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks

Round 1, Pick 26: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

“Bucs head coach Todd Bowles loves to bring pressure from all angles. Latu is the most natural pass rusher in the draft, with the potential to rush from a three-point stance or stand-up position.”

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (4-Round)

Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

Round 1, Pick 26: Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson

“Powers-Johnson is an excellent replacement for the retired Ryan Jensen, as his strength and nasty attitude are reminiscent of the Bucs’ longtime starter.”

Round 2, Pick 57: Penn State EDGE Adisa Isaac

Round 3, Pick 89: Penn State TE Theo Johnson

Round 3, Pick 92: Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen

Round 4, Pick 125: Tulane CB Jarius Monroe

CBS Sports.com’s Kyle Stackpole

Round 1, Pick 26: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson

“The Buccaneers replenish the pass rush with Chop Robinson coming in after Shaquil Barrett signed with the Dolphins.”

The Athletic’s Ben Standig

Round 1, Pick 26: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson

“The reigning three-time NFC South champs were creative in keeping their pieces together this offseason but did release veteran edge rusher Shaquil Barrett. Robinson’s college stats were underwhelming (11 1/2 sacks in 30 games), but his athletic testing at the combine punctuated his standing atop Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks” list.”

Pro Football Network’s Cam Mellor (7-Round)

Florida State EDGE Jared Verse Photo by: USA Today

Round 1, Pick 22 (via trade with PHI): Florida State EDGE Jared Verse

“With the edge defender market dwindling, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a move to ensure they nailed the most coveted player on their board. From Albany to Tallahassee to Tampa, Jared Verse is the potential next game-changing edge defender in Bucs’ franchise history.

“Verse offers up a ton of value at 22 and certainly warranted swapping a second-round pick for a sixth-round selection with the Eagles, as the Bucs need immediate help off the edge.”

Round 2, Pick 57: UConn G Christian Haynes

“We’re going with the most talented senior offensive lineman from this past college football season in Christian Haynes, who can play either guard spot in Tampa.”

Round 3, Pick 89: Florida State CB Renardo Green

“Trading back was an option here for the Bucs, as multiple offers were on the table. However, Tampa stays put with some reconstruction efforts necessary in the defensive backfield. Renardo Green is a fierce, CB1-type alpha on the outside for a new-look Bucs cornerback room in 2024 and beyond.”

***The Bucs traded their other third-round pick in this mock draft — “Kansas City traded pick Nos. 131 and 137, as well as a 2025 fifth-round pick, to Tampa in exchange for pick No. 92 and a seventh-round pick in 2025.”

UCF WR Javon Baker Photo by: USA Today

***The Bucs also traded pick No. 125 (a fourth-rounder) in this mock draft — “Dallas traded pick Nos. 174 and 244, as well as a fifth-round pick in 2025, to Tampa in exchange for pick No. 125.”

Round 4, Pick 131 (via trade with KC): Georgia S Tykee Smith

Round 5, Pick 137: UCF WR Javon Baker

Round 5, Pick 174: Baylor DL Gabe Hall

Round 6, Pick 210: Air Force DB Trey Taylor

Round 6, Pick 220: Boston College G Kyle Hergel

Round 7, Pick 244: Kansas QB Jason Bean

Round 7, Pick 246: UL-Monroe WR Tyrone Howell

PFF’s Brad Spielberger

Round 1, Pick 26: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

“The Buccaneers traded cornerback Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions at the beginning of the 2024 league year and now have a bit of a void opposite Jamel Dean, so Wiggins would immediately step in as a long, smooth athlete at cornerback. We’ll hear about Wiggins’ slender frame in the pre-draft process — he weighed in at 173 pounds at the NFL scouting combine — but he battled well with Florida State wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, who are both big, physical players.”