Perfect Picks 2026: Tampa Bay buccaneers
By J.T. Olson
The 2026 NFL season is a make or break year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This season will determine if the Bucs can reclaim their division crown and make a push for a Super Bowl or if they clean house with the coaching staff and pivot in a new direction. Much of that will depend on the success or failures of the upcoming NFL draft class.
This Perfect Picks article explores what an ideal draft could look like if the board breaks the right way. Rather than predicting draft weekend outcomes, the focus is on fit, value, and long-term roster construction, identifying prospects who align with the team’s needs at each stage of the draft.
The selections below account for scheme, roster holes, and realistic draft ranges, moving from early-round building blocks to mid-round value and late-round upside.
Round 1 - Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
The Buccaneers are in desperate need of pass rusher help. The team will not be bringing back Haason Reddick after a disappointing season last year. They will be looking for a running mate for Yaya Diaby to give the defense a pass rush tandem that they’ve lacked since moving on from Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul.
Howell is an ideal fit in Tampa. His speed and bend brings a pass rush element that Diaby lacks as more of a power rusher. However, Howell is also very skilled with his hands and also has a power element to his pass rush repertoire that keeps blockers on their heels.
Many will point to Howell’s underwhelming run defense as a turn off and I don’t disagree. However, this is balanced out by an above average ability to drop into coverage. Todd Bowles drops his defensive linemen into coverage more than any other coach in the NFL as part of his exotic blitz packages, so Howell would still bring significant value beyond just his impressive pass rush ability.
Round 2 - Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
For 12 consecutive years, Bucs general manager Jason Licht has drafted a player from the Senior Bowl on day two of the draft. Like the old saying goes; once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and 12 times in a row is as locked in as it gets. You can expect that trend to continue in 2026 as well.
Perhaps the most impressive player at the Senior Bowl was linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. His high level of football intelligence and his ability to force turnovers stands out above his peers. Combine his excellent college production with an outstanding combine workout and it’s safe to say that this guy won’t be getting out of the second round.
The Buccaneers have a desperate need at linebacker. They will likely need two new starters with the potential retirement of Lavonte David as well as depth at the position off the bench. If you look at trends, talent and need then this pick is a perfect fit.
Mid Round Gem - Oscar Delp (TE, Georgia)
The Bucs could be losing their starting tight end Cade Otton in free agency. If that is the case, there is very little in house talent to replace him. That’s a problem for an offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson who used the second most two tight end sets in the NFL last year.
Delp is a well rounded player. He looks like a plus athlete on film, despite not being able to show it at the NFL combine due to a foot injury. We’ve seen him apply that as a blocker as someone who can generate some power at the point of attack and navigate making blocks at the second level.
Georgia was never really able to maximize Delp as a pass catcher. He never cracked 300 yards receiving in a season in his three years as a starter. With his athletic gifts I believe he will be a more productive receiving threat at the next level and can give teams a high floor as a blocker.
Late Round Sleeper - Matt Gulbin (IOL, Michigan State)
The depth of this interior offensive line class is pretty good. With three guards and a center currently in my top 50 overall prospects, it’s natural that we are likely to see some good players slide in the draft. I expect Gulbin to be one of these players.
The three year starter at Wake Forest has experience at both guard positions. After transferring to Michigan State last year he then got a year of playing center under his belt. This gives him incredible versatility to play any of the interior positions in the NFL.
Gulbin is a good athlete and pass protector. With his experience I think he’ll step into the league as a valuable backup. This will be important for a Buccaneers team who had terrible injury luck along their offensive line last season.
Draft in full
15 (R1) – Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
46 (R2) – Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
77 (R3) – Domonique Orange (IDL, Iowa State)
116 (R4) – Oscar Delp (TE, Georgia)
154 (R5) – Matt Gulbin (IOL, Michigan State)
195 (R6) – Kaelon Black (RB, Indiana)
228 (R7) – Jalen Huskey (S, Maryland)