Though the Bucs simply put the ending touches on what has been broadly thought-about a profitable offseason in re-signing gamers and including expertise by means of the 2024 NFL Draft, there’s at all times an eye fixed towards the long run and what it holds.
The 2025 NFL Draft remains to be far-off, however that doesn’t imply one can’t look into the gap and ponder which gamers and workforce wants might have to be addressed. ESPN’s Matt Miller lately put collectively a 2025 NFL mock draft (ESPN+ subscription required) and shared some early predictions, together with which path the Bucs might go when they’re on the clock subsequent April.
Who Does ESPN Have The Bucs Deciding on In 2025 NFL Mock Draft?
LSU EDGE Harold Perkins Jr. – Photograph by: USA At the moment
Slotting the Bucs in at No. 12 on this mock draft situation, Matt Miller has Tampa Bay choosing LSU outdoors linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. In explaining his reasoning, that is what Miller needed to say about Perkins and the way he may slot in head coach Todd Bowles’ protection.
Perkins was misused at linebacker final season, however he’ll transfer again to edge rusher in new defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s scheme this 12 months. And we may see him use his nice pace to eclipse his 13 profession sacks this season alone.
That may entice the Buccaneers, who’re in search of a defensive finish to interrupt out and emerge as a real menace to opposing offenses. Veteran Shaquil Barrett is gone in free company, and Tampa Bay’s 27.3% strain charge ranked twenty fourth within the league final season, so including to this group might be a frontline want come subsequent offseason.
How Would LSU EDGE Harold Perkins Jr. Match With The Bucs?
There’s little query that Harold Perkins Jr. has an intriguing ability set and would give the Bucs a big-name pass-rushing prospect to pair with YaYa Diaby presumably, however he does include dimension issues. Listed at simply 6-foot-1 and 220 kilos, Perkins is an undersized participant off the sting and whereas he has put collectively two extremely productive seasons with the Tigers, he might want to proceed including dimension if he seems to compete towards a lot greater NFL offensive linemen.
LSU EDGE Harold Perkins Jr. – Photograph by: USA At the moment
Nonetheless, Perkins made the 2022 First-Crew All-SEC workforce with a formidable freshman season, enjoying all 14 video games and recording 72 complete tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 4 pressured fumbles, and an interception. His numbers in 2023 had been very related regardless of being requested to play a unique position, as he recorded 75 complete tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pressured fumbles, and an interception. Taking a look at his manufacturing, scouting report, and highlights, and really properly might be one other chess piece for Todd Bowles to creatively make the most of and deploy.
Professional Soccer Community’s Ian Cummings made an intensive listing of Perkins’ strengths and weaknesses in a scouting report profile final month, and right here had been essentially the most notable issues he needed to say:
Strengths
Extraordinarily agile, energized mover whose twitched-up lateral mobility can assist restoration.
Has gravity-defying bend capability as a rusher, pinching the nook whereas conserving pace.
Can use his higher and decrease physique in sync and levy easy chop-rip combos to win.
Has very keen physicality, hitting runners with power and deconstructing blocks.
Has proven to launch into tackles and successfully wrap up together with his size.
Weaknesses
Is notably mild and underweight, each as a conventional linebacker and a move rusher.
Doesn’t have high-end proportional size and is below-average dimension general.
Non-elite play energy inhibits his potential to halt momentum as a solo tackler.
Nonetheless comparatively inexperienced at navigating congestion and processing gaps.
Naturally lacks an amazing energy factor as a pass-rushing menace.
Bucs OLBs Yaya Diaby and Markees Watts – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Because it stands now, the Bucs outdoors linebacker room has one starter locked in with Diaby, however there are query marks outdoors of him. Second-round decide and former SEC rival Chris Braswell might be given each likelihood to start out, however veterans Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are additionally round and can eat into the enjoying time, though every might be a free agent after this upcoming season.
Markees Watts or Jose Ramirez may even make a Diaby-level leap and go from backup to starter in some unspecified time in the future. There are nonetheless loads of shifting elements that would issue within the team-building that Tampa Bay’s entrance workplace will need to see play out, in addition to another positional wants that might want to even be thought-about.
Which Crew Wants Will The Bucs Additionally Have To Contemplate?
Though the Bucs nonetheless have a full season to determine which wants might be on the high of the listing heading into the 2025 offseason, every of those positions may probably be addressed with the workforce’s 2025 first-round decide:
Left Guard
Bucs OL Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Whereas the Bucs added veterans Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta earlier this offseason to compete for the beginning left guard spot, the workforce might very properly be in search of their long-term reply once more subsequent 12 months. As an alternative of going with extra band-aids to plug the place, it will behoove Tampa Bay to safe the final of their offensive spots with a long-term answer.
With Tristan Wirfs, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, and Luke Goedeke, the offensive line has been fully overhauled in latest seasons and all of the sudden has a high quality core in place. Including one last younger piece to the group would solely assist shield Baker Mayfield and probably solidify the offensive trenches for years to return.
Vast Receiver
That is an attention-grabbing positional want, as Mike Evans might be a 12 months older and Chris Godwin might be a free agent. Whereas the Bucs ended up drafting Jalen McMillan within the third spherical this 12 months, it doesn’t rule out the workforce choosing one other huge receiver if Godwin departs. That may be a large storyline heading into this season, and in some unspecified time in the future, the workforce must make one other large funding into the place.
When Evans was drafted within the first spherical again in 2014, Tampa Bay already had Vincent Jackson as he was enjoying in his age-31 season. With Evans enjoying 2024 on the identical age, it might be the 12 months that they think about taking somebody to study from him and turn into his successor as the following No. 1 huge receiver.
Defensive Sort out
Bucs DT Logan Corridor – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs at the moment have two-thirds of their beginning defensive position locked down for the foreseeable future with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. After this season although, the workforce may look to search out their final beginning defensive lineman. Logan Corridor is coming into his third season, and it is extremely a lot a make-or-break one for the 2022 second-round decide after two up-and-down campaigns to start his NFL profession.
Corridor could also be higher suited to fill a Will Gholston position as a rotational defensive lineman than as a starter, and if head coach Todd Bowles desires to proceed having the most effective run defenses within the league, including one other above-average contributor up entrance will solely assist his protection.
Cornerback
After buying and selling away Carlton Davis III this offseason, the Bucs have put extra strain on Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum heading into 2024. With Dean’s availability being an enormous query mark and McCollum having but to determine himself as a starting-caliber cornerback, there’s a variance of outcomes that would result in cornerback changing into a place of want. Ought to Dean wrestle to recapture his earlier kind and McCollum fail to proceed his upward trajectory, including a shutdown nook is one thing the workforce will certainly think about – particularly if Bryce Corridor, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, doesn’t pan out, both.
