The Buccaneers exceeded expectations in 2023, reaching the divisional round of the playoffs. That has left the team near the back of the first round draft order, and a move up the board may be required for Tampa Bay to land a highly-coveted prospect. 
The Bucs currently own pick No. 26, and many of the best prospects at several positions will be off the board by that point. Tampa Bay has shown considerable interest in some of the 2024 class’ top edge rushers, and a trade aimed at securing one of them could be in play depending on how Day 1 shakes out. General manager Jason Licht recently acknowledged the team is putting together plans for a potential move up the order in anticipation of the first round.
“Right now, we have five to seven guys we think might be there,” Licht said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “Then you start kind of falling in love with them and you’re like, ‘Okay, one of these guys is going to be there, and we’re going to be so happy.’ Then, there’s the chance that none of them are. I think that’s the hardest part about picking down there late.”
Dallas Turner is widely considered the likeliest edge rusher to be selected, putting him firmly on the top-10 radar. Other options – such as Jared Verse, Laiatu Latu and Chop Robinson could be in play elsewhere in the first round, though. Tampa Bay has met with Verse, and the team’s pre-draft evaluation process has included work on the latter two prospects. While Robinson could fall to the No. 26 slot, moving into range for Verse or Latu would likely require a trade-up maneuver.
As Licht noted, Tampa Bay has the capital to pull off a small move up the board. The Bucs acquired a third-round pick in the Carlton Davis trade, and the team has seven 2024 selections in total. Licht added the team will wait until around the 20th pick to make a determination on whether or not trading up will be a worthwhile endeavor.
Regardless of what happens in the first round, Tampa Bay could be one of the teams in the market for a running back addition during the draft. Rachaad White is firmly atop the backfield depth chart, but the Buccaneers have finished last in the league in rushing each of the past two seasons. Veteran Chase Edmonds and 2023 UDFA Sean Tucker are in the fold, though Licht noted adding another back capable of providing depth behind White is under consideration. How the team will have operated prior to making such a Day 2 or 3 selection will be worth watching as the first round takes shape.
TB could trade up to #15 with IND to take Verse or Latu before the run on EDGE begins.
TB gets #15
IND gets #26 #57 and a 3rd next year.
Just an idea.
I’d rather have the best edge available at #26 AND #57, than the best edge available at #15. Not to mention that the third round pick could come in handy next year. Trading up is a fool’s game.
Usually it is a mistake, I agree. Just saying if TB wanted to trade up, which the articled suggested, that IND is a team they could target. I have the Bucs taking Chop Robinson from Penn at 26 and a WR at 57. Draft is getting closer everyday, I cannot wait.
I feel as though Robinson could be gone, then, so maybe the Bucs are thinking the way you are. Robinson looks like a good prospect, and probably will be a good pick, but I don’t know that he’s worth a trade up, personally-only because I think that they could get someone else of a similar value by not moving up. That depends on the cost, of course.
Although, given the Bucs’ needs and the comments about waiting until around 20, does it feel like Licht has unnecessarily tipped his hand?
I don’t think they move up for Chop, I figure he will be there when they pick. If he isn’t TB can just draft a similar Edge.
Latu could be they best Edge in the draft, the neck injury is a concern for teams because they don’t know if it is a chronic issue that is going to plague his career. If he didn’t have that injury he would have a higher grade. I think the team that takes the risk picking him will find it very rewarding. If TB makes a big move I think he could be the guy they go after.
Just my thoughts.
I agree. Good points.
Good analysis, I think they won’t trade up but I could see them trade down a few spots to pick up another 2nd. Especially if a qb or 2 drops. With the way this draft seems headed qbs are going early which means other positions become deeper. Meaning top 10-15 1st round can be had outside that range. It also means a desperate qb team if all but one or 2 are off the board start working the phones to move up.
I agree probably not , but maybe they will. There could be a lot of reason too. For starters we need starters ready to go asap and have a lot of needs, but also one could argue that would be the reason to not trade up. Needs are:
CB1 – Traded Carlton Davis.
LG – Still haven’t been able to replace Ali Marpet.
C – Cut Ryan Jensen injuries/retirement.
OLB – Cut Shaq Barrett. Joe Tryon probably fails us. YaYa isn’t enough. Need pass rushing specialist.
ILB – Kj Britt probably ain’t that guy. Let’s see how he does in coverage. Also sent D White packing.
.
DE – Logan hall is ehh, Gholston resigned but older and average. Good tackler, but that’s about it. Probably won’t draft DE. Too many other needs. Any DT can fill in at DE and stop the run probably.
LaTU has neck problems I don’t want that risk reward. I don’t believe in the hype either. I’m all set with that guy…Next!
Just for everyone’s sake please clarify which Robinson you’re talking about. Thanks. Chop and Darius both really nice pieces available at 26 I think.
Trading up makes a lot of sense! It’s not really a fools game. You’re scoring elite talent and putting them next to other elite talent and in time creating faster better results and in turn selling more tickets for more money faster. It creates a better team that wins and looks better established and experienced skilled on the field. Role players also are needed and depth needed for injuries and for playoff contention so not wrong but it’s hard to establish and win from both sides you can’t just keep all picks and hold out forever. Eventually you get nowhere. It’s a loss.
I agree and point is arguable and valid about Bucs need for Pass rusher opposite of YaYa. Simple fact is it’s not our biggest need not even close. Both CB1 and OL/C are way more important. We still have Joe Tryon and we signed Randy Gregory. While I’m not banking on those guys it’s at least a chance. We don’t have a chance at CB1 or LG/C you can argue Robert Hainsey chance but really he has no chance. He’s not improved and his hands and feet are slow and he’s just not strong or fast enough. Decent backup at best. Latu is huge red flag no thanks. If we trade up it probably wouldn’t be in the teens anyways. Would likely be around pick 22-28. Would also have to give up the 2nd and two 3rds this season to get that. Maybe even add a 5th or 6th next season. Idk some teams might want that.
Trading up to ensure you get both a LG and C is huge. Especially if you are able to get both. Like I said previously, imagine landing both Jackson Powers Johnson at C , and Graham Barton at LG. That would solidify our O-line for another 5 years probably at least. I’m not sold entirely on Cody Mauch RG or RT Luke Goedeke as of yet. I think both have the potential to make big impacts going forward next season, but tbh if they don’t do it by next year they probably never will do it. That’s going to be an even bigger problem if they don’t. It’s also going to be a lot harder on them without a skilled starting LG/C on that line. With 5 skilled OL it’s a lot easier to look better as a unit.
As far as drafts go though it’s always going to be a risk/reward game. Take a chance and fail you lose and fall. Have to make sure you take the right guy and it’s not always easy. Take the wrong one and you’re stuck with him or have to sacrifice at another position. We also paid a lot of money for a QB. He needs protection, but again we have lot of needs and this is also a pass happy league. Carlton Davis needs replaced so maybe Nate Wiggins is our guy. Jamel Dean slides to #1 CB for a little while until Nate is ready then Jamel stays out as the #2? We have a good slot CB in Christian, good safeties in Whitehead and Winfield. Heck even Zyon McCullom not bad and is quickly adapting. Resigning Gholston probably means DE is probably not the pick and we almost never draft the DL I want so taking Robinson at 26 seems slim.
OL
CB
That’s what Tampa Bay selects at pick 26.
Without trading up that leaves 2nd and two 3rds left.
My best guess is CB and two OL or OL and (2) CBs?
That’s just how I see it. You wouldn’t take two CBs and talent at CB deeply falls in later rounds even at 2-3. You would have to look for skill positions like WR/RB or LB if we go OL first. Could look at C , but that talent kinda drops quick too. I will be happy with whoever they draft, but it needs to make sense. OL & CBs make it make sense.
Wow you just kept on typing didn’t ya?
That was a lot and I love how passionate you are about TB. Give me some time to go over all of this and I will get back to you my friend.
Lol well I did type a lot yes, however football is a team sport it’s always gonna be about the matchups and there is always going to be 11 guys on each side of the ball at the same time. If we want another SB you have to have the best 22 guys on the field. Offense & Defense. That’s all there is too it. I simply just went over the 11 on defense. It’s a team sport so if you want the best defense it takes the best players. The best players translates to wins. If you want average so so players for cheap then we can do that, but then next thing you know we go from SB champion contender Bucs to the Carolina Panthers taking shottt QBs from Alabama #1. We may have won the division and a playoff game for that matter, but TB is in rebuild mode. Nothing is guaranteed and it never will be guaranteed. Get what you can afford when you can and hope for the best next season. Build this team up! Yep. Won’t be any cheaper later on. Not in this era.
Okay, so picking at 26 is going to make it difficult to get Powers-Johnson and Graham Barton (unless they fall to 26). So without trading up at 26 TB could get either CB Kool-Aid or IOL Zach Frazier West Virginia (Frazier isn’t considered a 1st rounder but he is good). In the 2nd they could get IOL Christian Haynes UConn or CB Max Melton Rutgers. 3rd Round is interesting they have 89 and 92 so they should be able to grab Best Available IOL to solidify the O-line and maybe grab the Best Available LB.
Obviously we don’t know how things are going to play out but if I were picking for TB I think CB Kool-Aid at 26, IOL Christian Haynes at 57 would be a nice start. Grab another IOL and BA player in the 3rd.
One thing to watch for in the draft is which teams are going to view some of these “College OT’s” who are not going to ever be good enough to play OT in the pros but will do very well at the G position in the pros.
OT Jordan Morgan Arizona is an example of a guy who could be the 4th or 5th best G in the draft but he is ranked as the 10th best OT in the draft. If TB thinks highly of Morgan and believes he could transition from LT to LG then he could be the #26 pick for TB.
Yeah those are some good pick I would agree with and they very well may be the guys we want in rd 2-3…. Grab a guy like OLB Chop Robinson in Rd 1. Follow that up with rd 2-3 selections:
Christian Haynes LG
Zach Frazier C
Max Melton CB
Something among those lines…
Gotta be careful picking first because not all 1st rounders are safe picks anymore. Lot of them are just barely as talented as the 2nd and 3rd rounders.