The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a difficult team to figure out before the 2026 NFL Draft. Tampa’s roster has not changed that much over the past few years. After all, QB Baker Mayfield, RB Bucky Irving, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. are all still on the team. But some of the Buccaneers’ recent loses give this offseason an ominous vibe.
Mike Evans leff the Buccaneers for the 49ers and Lavonte David announced his retirement from the NFL. The loss of two legendary franchise players will be a big change for the Buccaneers in 2026.
The best way to move forward is to draft the next generation of playmakers in Tampa Bay. But which players might the Buccaneers target in the 2026 NFL Draft?
These are the prospects who analysts are mocking to the Buccaneers just weeks before the draft.
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Daire Carragher, PFF; Tim Crean, ClutchPoints
The Buccaneers simply need to add more playmakers on offense. So it should be no surprise that multiple mock drafts are connecting Tampa with Sadiq.
“Regardless of the Buccaneers re-signing Cade Otton this offseason, this selection feels like a natural fit given the departure of franchise stalwart Mike Evans,” Carragher wrote. “Sadiq can effectively operate as a wide receiver thanks to his combination of size, speed and explosiveness.”
Sadiq has impressive size at 6-foot-3, 241 pounds. The fact that he could line up at wide receiver, effectively replacing Evans’ role, should make him even more attractive to the Buccaneers.
But he is far from a perfect prospect.
“Sadiq battled drops and saw a decline in production after the catch in his final year at Oregon, but if he returns to the trajectory he was on 12 months ago, the Buccaneers could be getting him at a significant value,” Carragher concluded.
The Buccaneers could even make a big move up the board to get their guy. In fact, Crean has them moving up two spots with the Rams to land Sadiq.
EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
If the Buccaneers do not add an offensive weapon, they’ll almost certainly address their defense.
Edge rusher should be a priority for Tampa Bay with Yaya Diaby and Anthony Nelson as their current starters. The Buccaneers have made some investments at the position in recent drafts (Mohamed Kamara, David Walker), but those players have yet to pan out.
Therefore, it makes sense that Tampa could invest a first-round pick in a starting-caliber edge rusher.
Most Buccaneers fans would probably be shocked to see Howell come off the board at 15. But Acosta made a solid argument for why Tampa might take a chance on him.
“Howell has historically short arms (30¼ inches), but he’s one of the best finishers in the class,” Acosta wrote. “His bend and ability to flatten are among the best at the position and should help a Bucs team that finished third in pressure rate but 23rd in sack rate last season.”
EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Rhett Lewis, NFL.com; Nick Shook, NFL.com
Fans should be much more excited about Mesidor for a few reasons.
First, there’s the name recognition. Mesidor made a name for himself in 2025 with the Hurricanes and Buccaneers fans have to be familiar with what he can do. He logged 12.5 sacks at Miami in 2025.
Mesidor also has an ideal build for an edge rusher at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds. He is capable of playing well both as a pass rusher and when setting the edge against the run.
One factor that could turn teams off of Mesidor is his age. He will be 25 years old during his rookie season, making him significantly older than other rookies. As such, he comes with longevity concerns.
If the Buccaneers do draft Mesidor, they should do it with their eyes wide open. It would be shocking if he played beyond his rookie contract, unless he becomes a truly incredible edge rusher in the NFL.
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Peter Schrager, ESPN; Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports
The Buccaneers need options at cornerback, which should put McCoy and other first-round caliber corners high on their draft board.
Tampa enters the draft with Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, and Jacob Parrish as their starting cornerbacks. McCoy has true CB1 potential, which would make him a transformational player if he achieves his full potential.
“McCoy had an outstanding 2024 but missed all of 2025 with a knee injury. But he is a legit No. 1 corner when he’s healthy,” Schrager wrote. “McCoy has a 77-inch wingspan and is viewed as one of the top two CBs in this class, alongside Delane. By the end of last season, Tampa Bay was relying on some very inexperienced players at the position, and it did not add anyone in free agency to replace Jamel Dean.”
If McCoy passes his medical evaluation, he should be in play for Tampa at pick 15.
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