Many mock drafts out there in the mock-verse have the Bucs drafting LB Jihaad Campbell. Comments typically state that the team must find a replacement for long-time star Lavonte David. This is lazy mocking by generalist analysts who are not Bucs-centric.
Yes, the team will need linebacker help in the post-David era (presumably 2026 and beyond) and the LB crew is a team weakness for 2025, but IMO a Jihaad Campbell selction is unlikely for two reasons. First, LBs are not generally viewed as first round draft material - their skill set is best obtained in RD3 and below. Second,
Campbell's recent surgery render's his availability for the 2025 season a question mark.
Jason Licht has GM'ed the Bucs since 2014 and we can glean some insight into his draft strategy based on his
historical drafts:
- Licht has been great at drafting players in the secondary, with few failure and multiple successes. He prefers to find secondary players on Day 2. Only once did Licht draft a CB in RD1 - back in 2016 with Vernon Hargreaves - one of his few flops.
- Licht successfully drafts WRs on Day 2 of the Draft. Future HOFer Mike Evans in 2014 represents the only RD1 WR pick.
- Licht's Bucs have an abysmal success rate in finding EDGE help in the draft, yet they mightily keep trying. Yaya Diaby in 2023 might actually be the best in his (Licht's) era.
Given the Bucs' biggest needs in this Draft - primarily LB, EDGE, CB, S and secondarily IDL and WR - I think EDGE is where Licht will go, despite past failures in drafting EDGE players, with Donovan Ezeiraku and Nic Scourton taking precedence over the sackless phenom Shemar Stewart and the enigmatic James Pearce. A darkhorse (non-EDGE) pick will be WR Tetairoa McMillan, who could learn from Evans and Chris Godwin (and add a 2nd McMillan to the WR corps!).
POLL! Given who is available
IN THIS MOCK...