Another stupid mock draft where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers end up doing something entirely different than what everyone expects, because that’s just the way it is (things will never be the same).
The Bucs—who finished with a 10-7 regular season record and fourth consecutive NFC South title—have the luxury of not having any super glaring needs, just a few positions that could use some depth or future starters.
Consensus seems to have General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles taking a defensive player, which is fair as their defense was the far weaker group last year, but with receivers Mike Evans and Cade Otton on the final year of their contracts they could try to get ahead of those issues, especially with strong classes at the wide receiver and tight end positions.
This mock 2025 draft isn’t that bold; you’ll see ahead, but the consensus is there for a reason, the Bucs have a lot of positions on the defensive side of the ball that could at the very least use some quality backups if not outright replacements for the starting options they currently have.
Here are the rules of this draft:
- No trades. The draft is unpredictable enough with the picks themselves, I’m not going to try and guess what they’re going to do in the trade market with these picks.
- Try to stick to the consensus. Everyone has their own rankings and everything, so I try to stick to the consensus boards and drafts that have been put together combining all of the major outlets’ rankings of the upcoming draft prospects.
- Picking guys that I’m fairly confident will be there. This will never be perfect and I’m never going to be able to quite get it right, but I’m trying to be realistic but also not reach.
If other corners Will Johnson out of Michigan or Jahdae Barron out of Texas are there, yes, go for it, they’re who the Bucs should prefer.
If linebacker Jihaad Campbell out of Alabama is there, I would love for the Bucs to take him instead, too.
But, none of those guys are projected to make it to no. 19 in most mock drafts, and the Bucs do have a need for a cornerback of the future and a current backup, as Jamel Dean always seems to struggle to stay healthy and is on the second-to-last year of his contract (fellow starter Zyon McCollum is on the final year of his rookie deal).
So, the Bucs wouldn’t be totally silly to select a corner, and Amos is a solid guy at this spot.
He’s more than likely going to be there, and his Relative Athletic Score (or RAS, a metric that combines a player’s measurements of height and weight with his combine measurements like the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, etc. to give a score on a 1-10 scale that compares the player to others at his position from every draft class since 1987).
He gets there mostly via an elite 40-time, speaking to his great speed, decent height, weight, and bench for his position, and a very good broad jump score, which measures his explosiveness.
Amos also had an 85.6 PFF grade (scaled from 1-100) for the 2024 season and showed steady improvement throughout his time in college.
Round 2, Pick no. 53: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
One of the most athletic coverage linebackers in this class, Schwesinger (if they do pick him we’re all going to have to work on spelling his last name) managed an eye-popping 9.86 RAS via his combine results and measurements, with enough size (six-feet two inches, 240 pounds), explosiveness, and agility to make him one of the biggest risers of this offseason.
Schwesinger’s time at UCLA wasn’t nearly as productive as a lot of the other linebackers in the class, as he struggled his first couple of years in college and didn’t play much but managed a decent ending to his Bruin career as he earned a starting spot and took it all the way to becoming a First-Team All-American.
He’s exactly the type of player that the Bucs GM Jason Licht loves; uber-athletic and what seems like room to grow as a player, the type of guy Zyon McCollum was coming out of Sam Houston in 2022.
Schwesinger would immediately compete for that second starting linebacker spot alongside free agent acquisition Anthony Walker, Jr. and 2023 fifth round pick SirVocea Dennis.
Some point to the Bucs’ secondary as the main reason for the struggles in pass defense last season, but their linebackers were just as bad, and Schwesinger would immediately raise the ceiling of that position for 2025 and beyond.
Round 3, Pick no. 84: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
Had to get one LSU guy in here, and Taylor’s a good one.
It would be weird for Tampa Bay to not go for a pass rusher at this point in the draft, but unfortunately the fit simply isn’t there at this point in my mind. And with Cade Otton on an expiring deal, the Bucs could draft a tight end to eventually supplant Otton as a starter if the Bucs deem it too costly to re-sign the former Washington Huskie.
Taylor certainly has his warts, as he came into 2025 with high expectations and fell a bit short, only managing 4.6 yards after catch per reception in his final season and a pair of touchdowns, but his eight contested catches (tied for eighth most among tight ends with at least 25 targets) speaks to a player with enough physicality to win against skinnier safeties.
Add in a 40-yard time of 4.68 that was pretty darn good for his position and you’ve got a potentially very fun tight end of the future.
Taylor could be snatched up by an aggressive team earlier in the third round, but where the Bucs are picking is a pretty good spot for this selection.
Round 4, Pick 121: Billy Bowman, Jr., Safety, Oklahoma
“No edge rushers by round 4, what the hell?”
Yeah, I get it, but these other needs are just as pressing, and the Bucs brought in some veteran help with Haason Reddick and may opt to stick with him, YaYa Diaby, and last year’s 2nd rounder Chris Braswell as their main pass rush rotation.
Their safety room is dry and frankly it wouldn’t be surprising to see them address it even earlier than this in the draft, but Bowman, Jr. is a fun mid-round selection due to his straight-line speed and grit.
What he lacks in size he makes up for in effort and physicality, and that shows up in many different phases of his game, but especially in run defense.
He’s also proven to be a high-IQ player, almost like a quarterback in the back of the defense, and can line up at many different positions.
Sprinkle in some special teams experience for good measure and Bowman, Jr. would be a valuable mid-round selection to fill out their safety room and give them some special teams help.
Round 5, Pick no. 157: Tonka Hemingway, Interior Defensive Lineman, South Carolina
Hemingway had a strong 2023 campaign and looked to be on the verge of breaking out in 2024, but he was outshined by teammate and SEC Defensive Player of the Year winner Kyle Kennard on the defensive line.
Hemingway is still not without his flaws, as he may need to add some size to hold up on the interior in the NFL, especially against the run, but his pass rush ability can allow him to provide value especially as he develops in more of a backup role.
He’s one of the most athletic interior defensive linemen in the draft, slightly making up for his smaller build, but it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up positionally and if he can truly use that athleticism to his advantage in the trenches.
Regardless he certainly poses enough upside to be selected this early in day three, but the Bucs will more than likely be comfortably taking him at this spot, as he’s projected to maybe even slip into the sixth round by some outlets.
Round 7, Pick no. 235: Malachi Moore, Safety, Alabama
Is he a product of Nick Saban’s defense, where he was a (forgive my pun) STAR in the special role he was given in Saban’s creative and unique defense with the Crimson Tide?
Moore wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination in his last year at Alabama, and he’s projected in very different places depending on who you’re reading, but for the sake of this mock draft (and for the Bucs drafting two safeties like I think they need to do) he’ll last until no. 235 and the Bucs will snatch him up.
Similar to Bowman, Jr., Moore lacks the mind-boggling athleticism to make up for his smaller stature, but Moore hasn’t shown the same tenacity in the run game that Bowman, Jr. had during his time at Oklahoma.
But, Moore plays with a similarly amazing football IQ, and he showed it off in his earlier years at Bama in that STAR role, essentially operating as a second QB for the defense.
He, too, has enough special teams experience to contribute in that area, and while he wouldn’t be a lock to make the roster, the Bucs could at least feel comfortable adding him to their practice squad as a fun, smart player who they could call up for the inevitable injuries that will unfortunately come for their secondary.
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The Bucs had a fine draft despite the weird start
This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2025.