The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next April, a city where the Bucs found success this preseason with a last-second field goal to defeat the Steelers. Before next April, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft.
ESPN’s Matt Miller recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Bucs were attached to a new defender compared to recent mock drafts: Cornerback. They end up with LSU defender Mansoor Delane, who has emerged as possibly the best cornerback in the country in 2025.
Miller explains the pick, writing, “Jamel Dean has been great this season, but the 29-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. That increases the likelihood of Tampa Bay drafting a cornerback early. Delane, who transferred to LSU from Virginia Tech before the season, has been the best coverage corner I’ve seen on tape. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, he shows remarkable toughness through the route and battles with receivers for the ball. Delane has grabbed two interceptions and allowed a completion percentage of just 29% when targeted by opposing quarterbacks this season. Some teams might flag his shorter than ideal arm length, but Delane has the feisty traits that Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles appreciates in his corners.”Delane replacing Dean in the secondary would be a dream fit for the Bucs’ defense.
A young trio of Delane, Benjamin Morrison, and Jacob Parrish would have every cornerback spot covered on the roster. Delane is needed on this defense, and for them to get him in the second half of the first round would be a home run selection.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers get much needed secondary help in latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
