Final Bucs Mock Draft: 7-rounds of selections for Tampa Bay
We've made it to draft day, Bucs fans, and the reward is one final mock draft before we see who Jason Licht and his staff actually select.
We have put out an endless number of speculation pieces, projections, scouting reports, and rankings. All of that is coming to a head here as we make one final projection of their picks in one of the biggest drafts in recent memory for the Bucs franchise. The team is very close to contending for another Lombardi Trophy. The offense has all the pieces it needs. The defense is just a few players short. This class is designed for them to make up that difference.
Here are our selections for the Bucs in our final 7-round mock draft for the team.
Projected Trade: Bucs send the 19th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Eagles for the 32nd, 64th, and 165th picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and a 3rd-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 32: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
The Bucs trade back and get some much-needed draft capital and still get one of the top-tier pass rushers in this draft class. Pearce Jr. has the physical tools matched with athletic ones to be able to hit the ground running for the Bucs as they look to have a consistent pass rush presence, finally.
Round 2, Pick 53: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Darien Porter in the second round is going to end up being a steal for someone; in this case, it is the Bucs. They need to have someone added to the group as they move Tykee Smith to safety, and adding Porter to take his place is as good a move as any. The trio of Zyon McCollum, Jamel Dean, and Porter will give the Bucs a good start towards improving their pass coverage in 2025, and hopefully beyond.
Round 2, Pick 64: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
I have to admit, I am not a fan of Elic Ayomanor. I think his hands are inconsistent; he relies on his raw athletic traits to get him out of jams, and his flash plays make people forget about his lackluster ones. That being said, being in a receiver room with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans leads me to believe he could fix those minor errors of his and become a reliable target for the Bucs, so he is worth taking a chance on here.
Round 3, Pick 84: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
The Bucs saw flashes from Cade Otton in 2024, but he has remained inconsistent during his time with the team. Bringing in some competition is good for the Bucs at the tight end position and for Cade Otton, who is entering a contract year. Not to mention, Baker Mayfield likes having a consistent receiving option at the tight end position.
Round 4, Pick 121: Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas
Mello Dotson brings depth to the cornerback position, but he also has some underrated ball skills that the team needs to better force turnovers in 2025. The team was able to get them in 2024, despite the injuries they had across the board on defense. That being said, preparing for more injuries with a veteran-led defense is a savvy approach for Jason Licht and Todd Bowles in 2025.
Round 5, Pick 157: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
The Bucs brought back Kyle Trask on a one-year deal, but I don't see him ever being much for the Bucs. Drafting Kyle McCord gives them someone with a similar playstyle and live arm like Baker Mayfield behind him, in case his physical style gets him in trouble.
Round 5, Pick 165: Ty Hamilton, DL, Ohio State
The Bucs add another space-eating, run-stopping defensive lineman to the rotation for development with this pick. Ty Hamilton has some physical traits to work with, but not many other tools in the box.
Round 7, Pick 235: Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado
Jimmy Horn Jr. can be a very exciting return option for the Bucs as they look to make Bucky Irving their full-time running back and potentially move him away from being their return man.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Social media reacts to Bears QB Tyson Bagent's extension
The Chicago Bears are keeping their quarterback room intact for the next couple of seasons. The team announced quarterback Tyson Bagent signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension that could be worth up to $16 million with incentives. Bagent was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the year but will now remain with the Bears through the 2027 season. Bagent joined the Bears in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University and quickly impressed the front office. He managed to beat out P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman to become the primary backup quarterback behind Justin Fields in 2023, where he started four games. Bagent went 2-2 as a starter and remained with the Bears as the backup to Caleb Williams in 2024. Despite increased competition from veteran Case Keenum, Bagent was able to hold onto the backup quarterback position and was rewarded for his hard work inside the building. Here is how social media reacted to the news: This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Social media reacts to Bears QB Tyson Bagent's extension
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
NFL analysts give positive prediction for Rams' 2025 season
The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2025 season with the hopes of improving on a solid 2024 campaign. The Rams brought back most of the roster that went to the NFC Divisional round a year ago and upgraded at positions like receiver and offensive line. Does that mean the Rams of this year will be better than their predecessor? That remains to be seen. Ali Bhanpuri and Adam Rank went through every game in the 2025 regular season to determine each team's win-loss record. Both of them picked L.A. to win double-digit games and make the postseason. Bhanpuri had the Rams going 11-6, winning the NFC West and earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC, while Rank thinks the Rams will go 10-6, finish second in the division and play as the No. 5 seed. The two analysts had similar schedule predictions, too. Both picked the Rams to lose to the Eagles, Ravens and Jaguars before the bye week, as well as the Seahawks in 16, but also predicted L.A. would go 8-2 over the final 10 games of the season. The "toughest game to call" for the duo was Week 15 against Lions, although both predicted a win for L.A. The Rams could absolutely get revenge for their 2024 playoff loss to the Eagles in Week 3 and/or surprise Baltimore three weeks later, but it was hard to pick against the home squads in both of those matchups. That same calculation is why I ultimately took the Rams in L.A. over the Lions. But, honestly, hearing "JA-RED GOFF" chants after a Detroit win at SoFi is a totally plausible outcome. After an inauspicious start, the Rams put questions about Matthew Stafford's back to rest (if he's not right, don't expect this prediction to be, either) and accomplish something they've yet to do in the Sean McVay era: sweep November. Since 2017, L.A. has posted the 24th-best win percentage (.429) during the month — twice going winless and never going undefeated. Their 5-0 mark in November— part of a win streak that extends through mid-December — propels the Rams to the NFC West title. This would certainly be a great outcome for the Rams in a pivotal year for the franchise. Stafford will be 38 by season's end the Rams need to capitalize on his ability before he rides off into the sunset. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL analysts give positive prediction for Rams' 2025 season
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Who is the best fantasy football TE 2025? Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, George Kittle lead top tier
Who is the best fantasy football TE 2025? Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, George Kittle lead top tier originally appeared on The Sporting News The TE position continues to be limited in fantasy football. For the longest time, it was either you drafted Travis Kelce or waited until the end. This strategy is not completely outdated; there are just a few more options at the top to pick from. When you decide to take an early TE, it can be the largest risk of your draft. Missing out on other high-end WRs and RBs can be nerve-racking. However, hitting on the TE1 will give you an every-week positional advantage. Who this will be seems like it's up for debate, but there can only be one TE1. 💪 NEW - FANTASY FOOTBALL TOOLS: | | | | | Who's the top fantasy TE in 2025? Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders In his rookie season, Bowers broke records for catches and receiving yards at the TE position. He caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. The most impressive part was who his quarterbacks were during this historic outing. Throughout the season, Bowers played with three different starting QBs. This list includes Gardner Minshew, Aiden O'Connell, and Desmond Ridder. In 2025, Bowers will get a much-needed upgrade with Geno Smith taking over as the starting QB. Yeah Brock Bowers is that guy(via @Raiders) — Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 14, 2025 Another great addition for Bowers is rookie RB Ashton Jeanty. This could hopefully open up the passing game a bit more with a run game that is at least threatening. Bowers dominated as a rookie despite a poor offense plagued by subpar quarterback play and ineffective coaching. His situation this season is immensely better on every level. The ceiling could be nothing like we've ever seen before at the TE position. TE FANTASY DRAFT RANKINGS: | Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals McBride might be the safest guy on this list. From a usage standpoint, he gets sought out as the alpha WR in this Arizona Cardinals offense. Last season, McBride was tied with Bowers for the most games with 10 or more targets. While he was 6 targets shy of Bowers, McBride actually averaged more targets per game. The biggest thing when it comes to McBride is the touchdowns. There is no such player who is immune to touchdowns; McBride has simply gotten unlucky. McBride has only had 6 career receiving touchdowns in three seasons. To put into perspective how bad that is: Bowers had five in his rookie season alone. However, McBride is expected to see an increase in touchdowns in 2025: Actual TDs in 2024 versus "expected" TDs(based on rush attempts/targets and their distances from the end zone)> George Pickens and Trey McBride are positive regression candidates> Mark Andrews and James Cook ran pretty hot — Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) August 15, 2025 The upside for McBride relies on him catching TDs. Since touchdowns are an unpredictable stat, the ceiling is capped for the Cardinals' TE. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers Despite great 2024 seasons from McBride and Bowers, Kittle was still the overall TE1 in fantasy football. The 49ers' injury depletions on offense never even stopped Kittle from dominating. This season, Kittle is seemingly stepping into a bigger role with the offense. Between departures (bye bye, Deebo Samuel) and injuries (TBD on Brandon Aiyuk's return from a devastating knee injury), the founder of National Tight Ends Day is the most reliable and elite weapon they have. It's telling how strongly the Niners value Kittle, having paid him a $76 million contract through 4 years. This makes him the highest-paid TE in the NFL. The main concern with Kittle: He's 31 years old. As the offseason has gone on, Kittle's ADP continues to rise. While he still goes below McBride and Bowers, it's not by much in home leagues anymore. MORE: The decision: Who is the best fantasy TE to draft in 2025? While all three of these TEs are going to be the top three, Bowers separates himself from the rest of the group. The upside of Bowers is unmatched; we truly do not know how high his ceiling is after a historic rookie season. Bowers could be better than Travis Kelce's prime fantasy years; that is in the range of outcomes when it comes to the second-year TE out of Georgia. McBride and Kittle are nothing short of amazing options for fantasy, but if you take the first TE, it needs to be Bowers. EXPLOIT LEAGUE APPS:
