For a moment this past Sunday, it looked as if Tom Brady would pull off another heart-wrenching comeback against a Super Bowl hopeful. But in the game’s closing moments, a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass closed the door on Tampa Bay, bringing forth questions about the future of the Buccaneers. Can those questions be answered in the 2022 NFL Draft? With change on the horizon, this Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-Round NFL Mock Draft can help Bruce Arians and Jason Licht kick off a new era.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-round NFL Mock Draft
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have seven total selections in the 2022 NFL Draft — one in each of the first five rounds and two in Round 7. After losing to the Rams ahead of the Conference Championship, the Buccaneers are locked in at No. 27 overall in the updated NFL Draft order. It’s always tough to lose, but as they say: Every ending is a beginning. Using the free PFN Mock Draft Simulator, let’s begin 2022 on a strong note.
Round 1, Pick 27: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
After the Buccaneers’ playoff loss to the Rams, Brady didn’t definitively say whether he’d be back in 2022 or not. Conventional knowledge would imply that Brady’s competitive edge won’t let him walk away without one more ring. 2021 was also one of his best seasons. But age eventually beats everyone — and that includes Brady. He’ll be 45 years old in August. The clock has been ticking for a while, and it’s no longer a certainty that he returns.
Even if Brady does return, the Buccaneers need to look at quarterback as a possible option, depending on how the board falls. Kyle Trask may have been a second-round pick, but he doesn’t have the raw talent to develop into an impact starter. However, Malik Willis does. Preferably, Willis gets to sit behind Brady for a year and learn. But if he does have to play early, the Buccaneers are an ideal situation given their protection, weapons, and coaching.
Other alternatives at No. 27: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia; Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Round 2, Pick 60: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
The Buccaneers have a lot of free agents on deck this year, so they’ll have to be selective with who they retain. With the long-term uncertainty at quarterback, there’s a scenario where the Buccaneers prioritize offense to help incubate a potential successor’s growth. Either way, there’s bound to be a few talented players walking out the door. One of those players could be cornerback Carlton Davis. And given the Buccaneers’ health concerns elsewhere in the CB room, it makes sense to re-invest.
Kyler Gordon checks a lot of the Buccaneers’ boxes at the cornerback position. The Washington pipeline certainly has weight, with players like Vita Vea and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka joining the ranks in Tampa Bay. But beyond that, the Buccaneers love hyper-athletic cornerbacks, and that’s exactly what Gordon is. He’s insanely explosive and agile, but he also has a strong 200-pound frame.
Other alternatives at No. 60: Logan Hall, DL, Houston; Lecitus Smith, G, Virginia Tech
Round 3, Pick 91: Zachary Carter, DL, Florida
Another area of concern for the Buccaneers is the defensive line. On the interior, Ndamukong Suh and William Gholston are both likely to move on, while edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul also has an expiring contract. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have players like Vea, Tryon-Shoyinka, and Shaquil Barrett in the wings, but they’ll need to conduct some maintenance on their front in this 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
In Round 3, Florida defensive lineman Zachary Carter brings plenty of appeal. The 6’4″, 285-pound defender logged 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 2 pass deflections, and a forced fumble in a career-defining 2021 campaign. He has the athleticism to line up on the edge, but his frame and his natural power are both translatable at 3-technique. Having a versatile player like Carter could help alleviate some pressure amidst a rebuild up front.
Other alternatives at No. 91: John Metchie III, WR, Alabama; Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska
Round 4, Pick 130: Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
Also among the pending free agents for the Buccaneers this offseason is offensive guard Alex Cappa. If Tampa Bay can’t re-sign Cappa, they’ll need a potential starter on the interior. They could end up taking a gamble on another non-FBS talent in Chattanooga’s Cole Strange. A Senior Bowl invite, Strange has NFL size and athleticism, and he proved himself worthy of greater respect in a standout game against Kentucky this past year.
Other alternatives at No. 130: Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida; Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky
Round 5, Pick 169: Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Buccaneers have multiple pending free agents at this position. Running back is relatively replaceable, so we bypassed the position in Round 1. But it would still be smart for Tampa Bay to use one of their middle-round picks on the position. In this Buccaneers 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft, Hassan Haskins makes sense as a potential value deal. In-between the tackles, he has the patience, vision, and straight-line physicality to be a steady player.
Other alternatives at No. 169: Luke Fortner, OL, Kentucky; Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami-Ohio
Round 7, Pick 247: Kaylon Geiger, WR, Texas Tech
It’s always a good idea to keep a reliable stable of wide receivers. The Buccaneers have had that for a while. Now, however, they lost Antonio Brown midseason, and they could lose Chris Godwin in free agency. This is a position that should be addressed by Tampa Bay in this 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Kaylon Geiger fits the mold of the receiver Bruce Arians likes to bank on late. He’s a bit undersized, but he’s a speed threat with great body control and ball skills, and he can use deception on routes as well.
Other alternatives at No. 247: Brock Hoffman, C, Virginia Tech; Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
Round 7, Pick 259: David Anenih, EDGE, Houston
With the last pick in this Buccaneers 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft, Licht and Co. select Houston edge rusher David Anenih. Anenih could be one of the bigger sleepers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3″, 249 pounds, but he has elite proportional length. He’s also supremely explosive off the line, and he has some bend as well. He could end up being a steal in a thinner EDGE rotation.
Other alternatives at No. 259: Ben Stille, DL, Nebraska; Derrick Deese Jr., TE, San Jose State