Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft projects that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will focus on revamping their defense in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers have glaring needs on all three levels of the unit, and the roster would certainly benefit from an infusion of young talent.
What Are the Buccaneers’ Biggest Needs Entering the Offseason?
EDGE
The Buccaneers are in desperate need of a dominant pass rusher to take their defense to the next level. The defensive line has a strong foundation with Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and YaYa Diaby, but Tampa Bay still needs one more piece to complete the puzzle.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2021, failed to live up to his draft status and is unlikely to return to Tampa Bay as he is set to enter free agency this offseason.
Anthony Nelson notched four sacks in 2024 and has served as an effective rotational player over the years for the Bucs’ defense, but he’s also an impending free agent.
Tampa Bay drafted Chris Braswell out of Alabama in Round 2 last year, and he registered 1.5 sacks with limited playing time. The team will need to see a larger sample size before making a verdict on Braswell.
The expectation is that the Buccaneers will make a major investment at the position this offseason — either through the draft, free agency, or trade.
Inside Linebacker
The linebacker spot has become a major need for the first time in a long time in Tampa Bay. Lavonte David, the Buccaneers’ defensive leader and the team’s longest-tenured player, just completed his 13th season with Tampa Bay. Now, with retirement a serious consideration this offseason, his future is in limbo.
Even if David does return for one more season, upgrading the inside linebacker spot for 2025 and beyond remains a key priority for the Buccaneers to address.
K.J. Britt was once considered a potential option for the future at the position when he did a serviceable job replacing a struggling Devin White. However, he turned in a brutal effort in 2024, and as an impending free agent, he’s unlikely to return next season.
SirVocea Dennis has shown flashes and has many believers within the organization. Yet, he’s been unable to stay healthy in his young career, and despite his potential, Tampa Bay ultimately needs to add more to its LB room.
Cornerback
The Buccaneers’ rash of injuries and lack of depth in the secondary were among their major downfalls throughout the 2024 season.
Zyon McCollum looks to be the Bucs’ best option at cornerback going forward, but they need to find a reliable starter to pair with him. The team can’t continue to rely on the injury-prone Jamel Dean, who, five years into his career, has never been able to play a full season.
Disaster struck during the Bucs’ playoff matchup against the Washington Commanders when McCollum and Dean both left with injuries. Tampa had to rely on Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk as their starting corners in a one-score playoff game, which ultimately doomed the Buccaneers.
They must overhaul the position so they don’t end up in a similar situation in 2025.
Bucs Draft EDGE in First Round of Latest PFN Mock Draft
The last time general manager Jason Licht used his first-round draft choice on a prospect from Texas A&M, it was future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans. In Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft, Licht dips back into the Aggies’ well to address the roster’s biggest need, selecting EDGE Nic Scourton.
Scourton is listed at 6’4″ and 285 pounds, and his impressive size and strength allow him to be effective against both the run and the pass.
“Scourton might be the most aesthetically pleasing pass rusher in the class. He’s wise beyond his years regarding his arsenal of rush moves, and his well-developed frame is NFL-ready despite only being 20.
“…If he becomes more consistent as a run defender, Scourton could be one of the league’s best dual-threat defensive end/outside linebackers in the league. His fluidity and manipulative nature as he closes the gap on blockers makes him a weapon on interior rushes as well, making him a prime candidate to move about the formation on obvious passing downs to find matchups to exploit,” PFN’s Dalton Miller said of Scourton in his scouting report.
After a strong 2023, where Scourton registered 10 sacks and a forced fumble for the Purdue Boilermakers, he transferred to Texas A&M, where he notched five sacks and a forced fumble in 2024.
Scourton’s athletic profile, production, and positional flexibility will make him an appealing target for the Buccaneers.
Tampa Targets Cornerback in Round 2 and Linebacker in Round 3
In the second round of the mock draft, the Buccaneers took Kentucky Wildcats cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Hairston fills an obvious positional need and possesses the key qualities that head coach Todd Bowles looks for in a cornerback.
Bowles is known to prefer lengthy corners with long arms on the perimeter. Both Carlton Davis and Dean measure in at 6’1″, McCollum is 6’2″, and all were hailed for their impressive frame as prospects before being drafted to Tampa Bay.
In addition to the ideal size for the scheme, the Bucs are also in search of a ball hawk, someone with a knack for turnovers who can help generate more takeaways after recording an NFL-low seven interceptions in 2024. Hairston fits what they’re looking for to a tee, registering six interceptions and three forced fumbles in his college career.
With David approaching the end of his NFL career and the team having no proven depth behind him, adding an inside linebacker is a priority for the Buccaneers this offseason. Understanding so, Miller had Tampa Bay grab Ole Miss Rebels LB Chris Paul Jr. in Round 3.
Paul would be a solid fit for Bowles’ defensive scheme and has the potential to become Tampa Bay’s next great linebacker.
The 2025 NFL Draft is a crucial opportunity for the Buccaneers to overhaul an underperforming defensive unit and put the finishing touches on a championship-caliber roster.
