Just like every other team in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the 2024 NFL draft over the coming weeks, as they look to land another instant-impact class that fills their biggest needs and adds talent and value to the roster.
The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from ESPN’s Matt Miller goes all seven rounds, projecting every pick for every team, and it sends a pretty impressive haul to One Buc Place.
Let’s break down each of Tampa Bay’s picks in this mock draft, and how well they would fit in the team’s plans moving forward:
One of the biggest remaining needs for the Bucs after free agency is a starting-caliber edge defender to replace departed veteran Shaq Barrett. Yaya Diaby was a stud as a rookie, but the Bucs aren’t likely to pick up the fifth-year option on 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
That would make Latu an ideal first-round pick, though he’ll come with some medical concerns, after a neck injury early in his college career led him to medically retire before eventually transferring to UCLA and getting back on the field. He’s been able to stay healthy since, and his play has been nothing short of dominant. If he avoids major injury at the next level, landing him at the No. 26 spot would end up being a huge steal.
Tampa Bay has a gaping hole in the starting lineup at left guard, despite making a couple of solid depth additions in free agency (Sua Opeta, Ben Bredeson). Day 2 would be an ideal spot to find an immediate starter to fill that void, and Beebe would be the perfect fit.
Beebe is a four-year starter with tons of experience at both guard and tackle, giving him valuable versatility. He’d be a solid value late in the second round, and he’d be an instant upgrade with the opportunity to grow into a Pro Bowl-caliber blocker.
After trading away Carlton Davis III, the Bucs have an open spot in the starting lineup across from Jamel Dean on the outside at corner. Zyon McCollum has shown promise over his two seasons in the league so far, but his presence shouldn’t prevent the Bucs from investing another early pick at the position.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht has landed quality corners from Auburn (Dean, Davis), so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go back to that well once more. James is smooth and athletic, and would be a solid value late in the third round. Florida State’s Renardo Green, who went a few picks later in this mock, would have also been a strong fit.
Lavonte David is back on another one-year deal, but he just turned 34 years old, so this could be the last season of his legendary NFL career. The Bucs let Devin White walk in free agency as expected, and while K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis have shown promise, the team could still look for another high-upside prospect to push them for that other starting spot opposite David.
The son of a Pro Bowl linebacker of the same name, Trotter has the instincts and physicality to be a strong run defender on early downs. His athleticism might be tested in space when asked to cover quicker skill players, but at this point in the draft, he’d be a solid value pick with starter potential at a position of need.
Bringing back Jordan Whitehead should be a huge boost for the Tampa Bay secondary, but his return shouldn’t stop the Bucs from looking to add a young prospect with long-term potential to develop behind All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. and Whitehead for the future.
Taylor-Demerson has an intriguing blend of athleticism, range and instincts that should allow him to make plenty of splash plays at the next level. His physical tools would be maximized in Todd Bowles’ aggressive defense, and the opportunity to learn behind experienced players like Winfield and Whitehead would accelerate his development and set him up for success.
The Bucs traded away their original picks in both the fifth and sixth rounds of this year’s draft, so after that fourth-rounder, they’re not currently scheduled to pick until the final slot in the sixth round with this compensatory selection. That makes this pick a bit puzzling, as the Bucs grab a second linebacker despite having other depth needs that are more pressing after already landing Trotter in the third round.
Chambers would be a solid addition for special teams purposes and overall depth, but there was plenty of value on the board at other positions the Bucs hadn’t yet addressed in this projection. North Carolina State center Dylan McMahon would have been an ideal replacement pick in this scenario.
Tampa Bay obviously has one of the best starting wide receiver tandems in the NFL (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin), and Trey Palmer showed tons of big-play ability and potential during his rookie season. They could use some more quality depth behind that trio, though, and this year’s deep draft class at the position should give them some solid value on Day 3.
Flournoy is a small-school prospect who brings an intriguing blend of size and speed to the table. He turned in a strong week of practice at this year’s Senior Bowl, proving he can succeed against top competition. He’d be a strong addition to the receiver room, with plenty of upside.
This is a solid haul for the Bucs, especially through the first four rounds, which are the most important. Tampa Bay has five picks in that range, and this projection hit on all of their biggest needs with solid value picks who fit their schemes on either side of the ball.
Double-dipping at linebacker was a strange move, especially considering the potential to add another solid interior blocker in McMahon over Chambers, but otherwise, this would be a strong class for Tampa Bay that continues to build on their recent success.