With the 15th pick secured, the Buccaneers face a pivotal draft to reshape their future after a tough season. High expectations await.
After an extremely disappointing second half to the season in which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 2-7 to finish 8-9 and out of the playoffs, the Buccaneers will now turn their attention to the 2026 season, starting with free agency and the draft.
When it comes to the draft, the Buccaneers officially have their draft slot set with the regular season in the books. Tampa Bay will hold the No. 15 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Buccaneers ended up as one of four non-playoff teams who finished 8-9 -- the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South at 8-9 and will pick no higher than No. 19. The other 8-9 teams were the Atlanta Falcons (who are sending their pick to the Los Angeles Rams from their draft-day trade in 2025), the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts (whose pick belongs to the New York Jets from the Sauce Gardner deal).
The Falcons (.495) and Ravens (.507) finished with easier strength of schedule numbers than the Buccaneers (.529), while Tampa's schedule ended up easier than that of the Colts (.540). Because of that, the Buccaneers land with the 15th overall pick.
This will be the highest the Buccaneers have drafted since selecting offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs 13th overall in 2020. They have had the 15th pick twice before. In 2006, they selected LSU defensive tackle Anthony McFarland; in 2011, they selected LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton.
The Las Vegas Raiders will hold the No. 1 pick, as they finished with the easiest schedule among the four teams that finished 3-14. It marks only the second time in franchise history they have held the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. They took LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2009. They also had the No. 1 pick in the 1962 AFL Draft, taking North Carolina State quarterback Roman Gabriel.
Here is the full order for the first 18 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft:
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- New York Jets (3-14)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
- Miami Dolphins (7-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
- Los Angeles Rams [via Atlanta Falcons (8-9)]
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- New York Jets [via Indianapolis Colts (8-9)]
- Detroit Lions (9-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8)