5 best players on the board for the Bucs after three rounds of the NFL Draft
The Bucs have made three solid picks through as many rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. As we enter the third day, this is where the team's scouting department will earn its money, as the weeks and months spent on the road pay off.
The Bucs have picks in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds of the draft on Saturday. With those picks they need to address needs at the edge, safety, and tight end positions potentially. For my big board, they have some players they could target, with one nitable surprise that is sure to get some pushback.
Here are the top 5 players I see that the Bucs should target on the final day of the draft.
Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina
Kyle Kennard should not still be available on the final day of the draft, but here we are. The South Carolina edge defender had his best game of the year against the number four overall pick in the draft in Will Campbell, and his 2024 film in general is impressive. He can bull rush through a tackle just as well as he can finesse his way around them.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse
The Bucs had a visit with the Syracuse tight end with NFL bloodlines last week before the draft. They drafted one playmaker in wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, but they need one at tight end still. Cade Otton is entering a contract year, and they need to get the most out of him to see what he is capable of. Bringing in some competition will be good for him and Baker Mayfield, as this offense looks to become the best in the NFL.
Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
The Bucs have one space-eating defensive lineman in the middle of their line in Vita Vea, but what about a second one? Deone Walker looked like a first-round player in 2023, but played hurt in 2024 and it affected his play in a major way. If the Bucs wanted to stash him for a year, get him healed, and coach him up, he could hit the ground running full-time in 2026 and be a part of the rotation up front for their defense.
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Edge, Virginia Tech
With 30 sacks in his college career, Antwaun Powell-Ryland is one of the most productive edge rushers in college football over the last three years. The former Hokie could be a fun rotational edge rusher for the Bucs that could develop behind Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick over the next year before seeing what he can be in 2026.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Hear me out, there would be no quarterback controversy for Shedeur Sanders in Tampa Bay with Baker Mayfield. There also aren't many more quarterbacks more versed to handle the media circus that can come someone's than Mayfield. The Bucs signed Kyle Trask for one more year so they could stash Shedeur for a year and then make him Mayfield's backup full-time next year.
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