If you’re interested in early projections for the 2025 NFL draft, there’s a new mock draft for next year up at Tankathon, and it has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers adding another dynamic edge rusher to their defensive ranks.
This first-round forecast has the Bucs owning the No. 13 overall pick, which they use on Penn State’s Abdul Carter.
Carter played off the ball last season, but will be making the transition to edge defender in 2024. Much like fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons, Carter is an impressive athlete whose explosiveness might make him more valuable chasing quarterbacks off the edge than playing at the second level.
Abdul Carter won't be playing inside linebacker in the NFL like he did last year, but man can this dude make plays. Ridiculous athlete at 6'3" 250lbs pic.twitter.com/mJnTVVn9AP
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) June 13, 2024
The Bucs just spent a second-round pick in this year’s draft on Alabama’s Chris Braswell, and they have a young stud in Yaya Diaby who led the team with 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2023. But former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is facing a make-or-break season this year after his fifth-round option was declined, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Tampa Bay spend more premium resources to upgrade their pass rush.
To check out the full first-round mock draft at Tankathon, click here.
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