2025 Buccaneers 7-Round Mock Draft: Post-Free Agency Edition

With the roster picture a little clearer, let’s investigate some potential draft scenarios.

The 2025 NFL Draft is sneaking up quick, now only 5 weeks away.

The final act of the process will accelerate quickly with college pro days, top 30 visits and final medical checks that allow teams to put their finishing touches on painstaking evaluations they’ve built over several months.

The Bucs enter draft season with an even more defined focus than when free agency started: upgrade the defense.

Who might be a possible target? Let’s run through some possible names.

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Round 1, Pick 19 – LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

This one requires some outside-the-box thinking that I feel Todd Bowles and Co. may be more open to now than they were before, and I think it’s strongly evidenced by who they signed as a free agent a week ago.

Walker is, by all accounts, a marvel on and off the field. A dynamic athlete with unimpeachable leadership and character should already skyrocket him high into the realm of interest given how much emphasis the Bucs have placed on those traits in their first-round evaluation process (see Tristan Wirfs, Calijah Kancey, and Graham Barton).

What he does on the field as an early down off-ball linebacker with potentially game-wrecking pass rushing skills should further intrigue Tampa. I view this as a 2-for-1 opportunity if it’s played the right way, and it should be considered as a very real possibility given how the Bucs approached last year. They hoped to play Lavonte David alongside the tandem of K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis, with the former serving as the early down enforcer and the latter taking over passing downs. That didn’t really work out when Dennis got hurt early and Britt turned out to be pretty terrible.

In theory, this wasn’t a terrible plan and the team could see a much more successful iteration play out with Walker and Dennis. Walker is light years more athletic and dynamic than Britt, which would allow him to handle those early down off-ball duties better while pinning his ears back on passing downs (which Britt also could not do).

You know what player has served similar roles in his past? Haason Reddick, who the Bucs just signed to be a proven veteran pass-rusher. Theoretically, you could have Walker play this hybrid role and find out what he does best while learning a wide swath of knowledge from some excellent on-field role models in Reddick and David.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

(TRADE) Round 2, Pick 55 – CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

The term “ballhawk” has been the buzz word of the offseason, and for good reason given how the Bucs managed a paltry 7 interceptions all year (tied for fourth-worst in the league). They simply must improve both their cornerback depth and overall playmaking ability, and Hairston represents a very intriguing option in that regard.

Hairston posted six interceptions (three returned for TDs) over his last 20 games. He shows a strong understanding of zone coverage with the ability to diagnose route progressions and read the quarterback, pairing that with tremendous burst to the ball. He lit up the Scouting Combine with a 4.28 40-yard dash and some explosive jumps to boot, demonstrating his athleticism that pops on and off the field. He’s undersized bulk-wise at just 183 pounds, and the tackling still needs to improve a lot despite good, consistent effort, but he does have good length that the Bucs look for at almost 6-foot with 31” arms.

In this scenario, the Bucs drop back a couple spots and gain a 4th round pick from the Los Angeles Chargers while forfeiting their seventh rounder, giving them valuable flexibility on Day 3.

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Round 3, Pick 84 – DL Ty Robinson, Nebraska

Jason Licht goes back to his alma mater for the first time in years to pick Robinson as added support for the defensive front 7.

Someone who prides himself on roughneck, blue-collar style football, Robinson isn’t flashy but he’s smart with elite-level physicality, strength, and toughness to put guys through the ringer for 4 quarters. At 6’5”, 288 pounds, Robinson has the ideal size to fit into Will Gholston’s role as a base end in Todd Bowles’s scheme.

His length and overall quickness / pass rushing skill aren’t remarkable, which puts a cap on his overall ceiling, but finding a reliable grinder with some unexpected pop who can play an effective role in a rotation is always a win you’ll take, especially in the third round.

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Round 4, Pick 121 – CB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane

A double dip? Licht has done it before at the cornerback position twice and there’s a good chance he’ll do it again this year.

With the idea that Hairston lines up on the outside, the Bucs might look to bolster their nickel spot if they plan to play Tykee Smith, last year’s standout draft pick, at safety more. Christian Izien is a bulldog who plays hard, but he’s a limited player who’s better served as a versatile role player / backup.

Enter Ransaw, another player who fits that “bulldog” mentality but with better top-end athletic traits. Ransaw may be the best run-defending big nickel in the class thanks to his well-built frame and excellent fundamentals, which the Bucs desperately lacked at times in 2024. He’s not the most fluid athlete though, which could lead to struggles in man coverage in the rare instances Tampa actually plays it, but he’s more than adequate in zone.

Ransaw shows the necessary package of traits to also continue the team’s pipeline of corner-to-safety cross-trains if they decide it prudent.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

(TRADE) Round 4, Pick 125 – WR Pat Bryant, Illinois

Getting back Chris Godwin served as a big relief for a roster than could not only ill-afford to lose him offensively but also because of how badly they need to build on defense.

After four straight picks to bolster all three levels of the defense, Tampa uses this hypothetical extra fourth rounder to invest in its receiving corps further with the savvy Pat Bryant from Illinois. Though he rarely got to show it because of the Illini’s anemic pass offense, the 6’2”, 208-pound Bryant still made second-team All-Big 10 in 2024.

Built similarly to Godwin physically, Bryant showcases some excellent body control and ball skills to make focus catches through traffic and up in the air, which the Bucs could use more of in their depth players. He’s a long strider who can eat turf quickly if given open space, though he lacks the shiftiness and route polish to consistently get open against stickier corners. He’ll find more success getting schemed open on short and intermediate routes to utilize his good YAC instincts.

Bryant gives the Bucs more high-upside depth beyond their top 3 while giving an intriguing option to develop for the future, which they attempted but failed to receive from Trey Palmer. Bryant is also a very willing run blocker, which the Bucs typically value highly.

Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Round 5, Pick 157 – IOL Clay Webb, Jacksonville State

The Bucs are all set for starters on the offensive as they completely return all 5 guys from last year, but they could continue reinforcing the backup spots.

Elijah Klein is an upside pick from last year’s draft so he’s in good standing, but their other interior options are lacking a bit – especially with no clear backup center currently on the roster. The Bucs had such a huge leap in success last year in large part to a young offensive line that continually receives investment, so someone like Webb would be good to develop behind budding star Graham Barton at the keystone.

Webb originally attended Georgia as a top center recruit, but he rarely saw the field and transferred. He did play guard at Jacksonville State, which gives him some flexibility that Tampa values, but his optimal position is definitely center due to unideal length and bulk.

He’s a good mover with solid body control and the smarts needed to step into playing time in a pinch, which is all you can hope for from a Day 3 offensive line pick.

---

What say you, Bucs Nation? How would you feel about this hypothetical draft haul for the Buccaneers? Let us know in the comments and by voting in the poll below!