The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had something special brewing this season before injuries lowered their ceiling somewhat. Early in the year, Baker Mayfield was a fringe MVP candidate and the offense was positively humming. However, injuries and a lackluster defense were enough to stall their season as a Wild Card Round exit.
As a result, for most people, the focus of the offseason in Tampa Bay has to be on the defensive end. Yet, one premier NFL analyst is going against the grain, with a wide receiver making their way to Florida with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predicted To Add Another Weapon for Baker Mayfield
Last season, despite their early playoff exit, the Bucs were an elite offensive unit, ranking third on PFSN’s Offense+ metric. However, their defense was equally bad, finishing exactly 16th on PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
Still, Charles Davis of NFL.com believes the Buccaneers will go after a wide receiver with their 19th overall pick. After drafting Jalen McMillan in the third round last year, they go after his brother, Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona.
The reason for Davis is simple. It is a familiar sight in Tampa Bay as he describes McMillan as “Mike Evans Lite in size, stature and play style. McMillan fits into the Bucs’ scheme perfectly.” Of course, if they do go after a wide receiver, it could spell the end of Godwin’s tenure with the franchise.
They would also be pairing him with his brother, who had 461 yards and eight touchdowns last season, as he saw more opportunity than initially anticipated with the dearth of injuries they had to deal with. The Wildcat, on the other hand, had his second-straight elite year in Arizona, tallying 1,319 yards after going for 1,402 in 2023.
In his three years, he has already recorded 26 touchdowns to his name, an elite feat that could pair increasingly well with the high-flying offense led by Mayfield.
However, according to the latest mock draft from PFSN, Tampa Bay isn’t going against the grain, instead selecting Jihaad Campbell to shore up as a linebacker. With Bobby Wagner set to enter free agency, bringing him back alongside a solid rookie could be crucial in rebuilding their defense.
Jacob Infante of PFSN believes the fit for Campbell in Tampa will be seamless as “His aggressive playstyle would fit right in with head coach Todd Bowles’ system.” And if looking for a historical president, Infante believes Campbell could be the next great LB for the Bucs after Derrick Brooks, Lavonte David, and Devin White.
Simply, “Jihaad Campbell is a long and explosive linebacker who provides excellent versatility as a three-down defender,” and that should be enough to sell a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad that desperately needs a stronger performance from its defensive unit.