With the draft just over 48 hours away, we are looking ahead to some draft options the Bucs may have when they get on the clock. General manager Jason Licht has been open about his team’s process this cycle, so much so that he has publicly stated he wouldn’t be against trading back in round one.
Where the Bucs pick at 15 overall is the sweet spot for a team that has its needs. Someone seems destined to fall to them at that pick, but it seems up in the air in regard to who it will be that does. We wanted to lay out three options for the team if they do not trade back and are forced to make a selection with the 15th overall pick.
Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
The Bucs have a history of taking the best player available on their draft board. Not many players are better in this class than Vega Ioane out of Penn State. If he were an offensive tackle instead of a guard, he would be in the top-five discussion. However, being a guard pushes him down despite the recent run of interior offensive linemen showing they are becoming more important. The Bucs have some needs on the interior line so the pick wouldn’t be just for value, but it is one that won’t be as exciting as some others.
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
This linebacker class has a lot of depth at the linebacker position, but the top-end talent is where the Bucs need to be focused. They lost Lavonte David and need to find a suitable replacement, and based on mock drafts, they may be forced to settle for CJ Allen. The Georgia linebacker has shown the ability to lead the middle of a defense, make plays in run and pass coverage, and range to be used effectively in Todd Bowles’ defense.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
This seems to be the most likely pick if they do not get a value on an edge rusher in Round 1. Several mock drafts from analysts have the Bucs attached to Kenyon Sadiq, despite the team signing Cade Otton this offseason. Sadiq has a different skillset than that of Otton, so the appeal is there on that front. What also would be enticing for the Bucs is his ability to perhaps be used in the slot as a wide receiver alongside Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 3 Options for the Bucs in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft?
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
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