What positions do the Buccaneers need to draft? Exploring Tampa Bay’s needs in 2024 NFL Draft

Despite losing to the Detroit Lions in a close game in the divisional round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shocked the league last season by taking the NFC South title and defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening round of the playoffs. This has given the fanbase a reason to be hopeful for the future.

The Bucs were successful in retaining experienced players such as wide receiver Mike Evans, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and linebacker Lavonte David at the beginning of the offseason. This decision proves beneficial as these individuals were crucial to the team’s triumph in the previous season and will remain integral members for the upcoming campaign.

The Bucs’ draft plans, set to begin later this month, are difficult to predict. Nevertheless, we have evaluated the team’s primary draft needs below, which consist of inside linebacker, offensive line, wide receiver, and cornerback.

Analyzing the Buccaneers’ Draft Needs in 2024

The number one position is inside linebacker.

Despite being a 34-year-old linebacker, Lavonte David has continuously performed at a Pro Bowl level. However, the Bucs should still prepare for the future and consider drafting an inside linebacker in the upcoming month, even if David maintains his high level of play. It is important for the Bucs to plan for life after David.

The team is also in need of more depth at the position, making it highly probable that Tampa Bay will use their early draft picks to select an inside linebacker.

Number 2, the offensive line

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ desire for offensive line support is widely acknowledged. In order to address this, the team should focus on selecting a center and a guard during the upcoming draft in Detroit.

Fortunately, there is a plethora of skilled players at the interior offensive line positions in this year’s draft. The Bucs would be wise to keep an eye on notable prospects such as Boston’s Christian Mahogany, Duke’s Graham Barton, and UCM’s Dominick Puni.

The player who wears the number 3 on their jersey is a wide receiver.

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had not been able to reach a deal with veteran Mike Evans, selecting a wide receiver in the first round would have been a crucial decision.

Despite already having him on the team, the Bucs should still take advantage of the wealth of talented receivers in this draft and consider selecting one in the second or third round to secure a strong future at the position.

Cornerback, #4

Todd Bowles, the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is known for his emphasis on defense and his high regard for the team’s cornerback group.

Jamel Dean currently holds one of the starting outside cornerback positions on the team. However, he faced persistent injuries last season which caused him to occasionally miss games as a starter.

Following the trade of Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions, the organization must now focus on finding a suitable replacement. Fortunately, the Bucs received a third-round pick in this year’s NFL draft as part of the trade, which they can use to bolster their cornerback depth.