After pulling off a Day 1 coup with Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., the Buccaneers will look to build off a strong start to the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday during rounds 2 and 3.
Tampa still has work to do on both sides of the ball, so we’ll go over some names to watch out for.
OFFENSE
Wide Receiver
Denzel Boston, Washington: If the Bucs somehow have Boston waiting for them at pick 46, they could be very tempted. He fits the prototypical X receiver mold with excellent size, awesome ball skills, and reliable hands.
Ted Hurst, Georgia
State: In round 3, a fluid, 6-foot-3 target like Hurst could appeal. He’s got impressive feet and long speed for his size (4.42 40-yard dash), though a lean frame and lesser competition will likely make him more of a developmental option.
Tight End
Oscar Delp, Georgia: We’ve covered Delp extensively in mock drafts, so not much to be said here. An amazing athlete with a well-rounded profile, he fits perfectly as a high-ceiling TE2.
Sam Roush, Stanford: Roush offers less receiving upside than Delp but is a huge presence (6-foot-6, 266 pounds) who has considerable upside as a blocker while still having receiver utility.
Offensive Line
Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M: A college left tackle who will be forced inside at the next level, the athletic Zuhn has experience snapping the ball in-game and would supply much-needed guard/center flexibility.
Gennings Dunker, Iowa: Adding another red-headed bully to the offensive line wouldn’t be the worst idea. Dunker isn’t a technician but he compensates with pure power and aggression.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Kayden McDonald, Ohio State: The top nose tackle is still available and feasibly within Tampa’s grasp. A force versus the run, he’d immediately slot in as Vita Vea’s heir-apparent.
Christen Miller, Georgia: Miller is another borderline first-round talent who aligned across the formation for Georgia. He’s not fully consistent yet but the big-time flashes of block deconstruction are enticing.
Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M: A likely third-rounder, Onyedim possesses favorable physical and athletic traits and shows intriguing ability as a run defender and pass rusher.
Chris McClellan, Missouri: A long, powerful player who played all 51 games in the last four seasons, McClellan would add the size and power the coaching staff wants to inject into the roster.
Linebacker
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: A turnover machine with A+ instincts and good-enough athleticism, Rodriguez has the requisite traits to overcome subpar size.
C.J. Allen, Georgia: A field general with a great feel for blitzing and run defense, Allen needs to keep improving in coverage but provides great upside as a traditional MIKE.
Jake Golday, Cincinnati: Golday is huge and fast, but he’s not used to traditional linebacker roles so it will take some time to acclimate. Still, he’s shown encouraging flashes of technique, instincts, and reliable tackling form.
Josiah Trotter, Missouri: Coming from NFL bloodlines, Trotter shows some real savviness as a pass rusher and run fitter. He contributes almost no utility in coverage right now, but he’s young enough that he’s not a lost cause in that area.
Secondary
Colton Hood, Tennessee: Another first-round snub, Hood offers plus skills in press-man with an alpha corner mindset. He’s a physical tackler and challenges wideouts, but he’ll need to keep improving his patience and footwork.
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: McCoy’s knee condition pushed a top-15 talent into Day 2. McCoy’s blend of man and zone chops combined with excellent fluidity would make any team happy to roster him as long as the knee holds up.
Daylen Everette, Georgia: Big and long (6-foot-1, nearly 32” arms), Everette still needs tweaks to his technique and route recognition but possesses considerable physicality and twitchiness.
Bud Clark, TCU: If the Bucs want to add another player with nickel / safety flexibility, Clark will be the best option in Round 3. Clark showcases strong range and awareness but gets a little too trigger-happy and needs to add more mass.
