The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 10 games in 2024 and secured their fourth straight division title in the process. They are now the third seed in the NFC side of the NFL playoffs and are poised for a matchup with the Washington Commanders, a rematch of their Week 1.
Despite their success and the playoff seeding they achieved, there is a drastic need at a certain position that requires their attention in the NFL draft.
Where will the Bucs be drafting?
As things currently stand, the Bucs would have the 21st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This would put the Bucs in a position to draft a middle-tier player in a draft class that many experts lack any excitement when discussing.
However, what could fall in favor of the Bucs is that the defensive talent is deeper than the offensive side in the 2025 NFL Draft. That is where the Bucs have proven to need the most help. This point brings us to our point of what position the Bucs need to draft in April in the first round.
Top position needs
- Cornerback
- Safety
- Edge Rusher
The Bucs are lined up to be able to take best player available from those three positions when they draft. Whether it be 21st or later, some players fit their needs and could impact in 2025 and beyond.
At cornerback, they could select Shavon Revel out of East Carolina. Revel was seen as a top-ten player before tearing his ACL in October. He is a big corner who thrives in man coverage and is not afraid to get physical in coverage or in run support.
At safety, there is Malaki Starks out of Georgia who is a dynamic playmaker in the secondary. Kirby Smart does a good job of coaching up his defensive backs, and Starks is no different. He could be a playmaker alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. and be used in dynamic sets by Todd Bowles.
Last but not least, the edge position is the deepest in the entire draft. The top-tier guys such as Abdul Carter and Nic Scourton most likely will be gone. However, there are players such as James Pearce Jr. and Mykel Williams who are toolsy projects. They both have been mocked inside the top ten over the course of the year and would be great additions to this defense.