GM Jason Licht breaks down the Buccaneers' strategic draft approach, revealing intricate trade scenarios and the philosophy behind selecting top talent.
As the NFL draft nears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht is working with coaches and team scouts to select young players who will be ready to contribute.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to make its first selection on opening night at this year's draft, with the No. 15 pick. The team owns a total of seven picks this year, including three in the top 100 (Nos. 15, 46 and 77).
The Bucs also own picks 116 (fourth round); 155 (fifth); 195 (sixth); and 229, in the seventh and final round.
With mock drafts and selection advice in full bloom, the Bucs have yet to disclose their plans for their first pick, though prognosticators are already advising the team to trade down.
Licht acknowledged crafting scenarios around such a trade in order to acquire more draft capital. But it's a complicated process, involving the right suitor and pool of players available at the proposed pick.
The Buccaneers, like many other teams, view players in pods. Trading down means passing up on a pod, or collection, of players available at pick No. 15. Although Licht isn't opposed to trading down, he said you have to draw a line at how far down you go, determining the worth of the later pick alongside what additional draft capital may be gained.
Tampa Bay's draft needs lean toward the defensive side of the ball, just like last year. Linebacker and edge-rushers are two positions the organization has strengthened in the offseason and, according to Licht, will continue to bolster in the draft.
Prospects like Miami's Akheem Mesidor and Georgia's CJ Allen are a part of the player pools when the clock starts ticking for Tampa Bay at No. 15.
Although pass-rushing is a priority, Licht said he isn't so focused on drafting by positional need to the degree the team regrets its choice later.
"You've got to be careful not to feel like it's a must and force yourself to like more players than you normally would, and push players up the board just to take an edge-rusher to get that short-term good feeling," Licht said.
To Licht's way of thinking, selecting the best player available is the way to go. Emeka Egbuka is an example of Tampa Bay selecting the best player over a positional need in last year's draft.
Egbuka, selected at No. 19 out of Ohio State, had a stellar rookie season, leading the team in yards (938), receptions (63) and receiving touchdowns (six). His production was helped along because of injuries to the now-departed Bucs great Mike Evans and veteran Chris Godwin Jr.
Tampa Bay has done their research on tight ends in the draft as well. One rising up the board is Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq, who ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the team taking in his mock draft.
Tight end is another positional need for the Buccaneers as new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson uses two tight ends in his scheme.
Picking Sadiq would reflect the Bucs' aim to select the best tight end in the draft over a safer pick, like a defensive player. Sadiq had a 4.39 40-yard dash and led all FBS tight ends in touchdowns with eight last season.
The Buccaneers also have a track record of picking future starters on Day 3 of the draft. Running back Bucky Irving, tight end Cade Otton and cornerback Zyon McCollum were all recently drafted in the fourth round or later.
These selections are Licht, the scouts and the coaching staff working in lockstep, drafting players that fit the Tampa Bay culture.
"I want to give the coaches some say in this, too, because I want them to be vested with the players," Licht said. "And I want them to like the players that we're bringing in because it usually leads to a better relationship between them, the player and the coach, and leads to better results."
Irving emerged as the starter toward the end of the 2024 season as a rookie and recorded over 1,000 rushing yards. He entered last season as the starter before injuries sidelined him.
Otton immediately started in his rookie year, but played 70 percent of the offense's snaps in 2022. That snap count rose to 90 percent in 2023.
His steady presence and production last month earned him a three-year, $30 million contract extension.
McCollum, also drafted in 2022, was a backup for his first two seasons, but he emerged as the starter in 2024, after Carlton Davis II signed with the Detroit Lions. McCollum received a three-year, $48 million contract extension two days before the start of the 2025 season.
Licht is approaching the three days of the 2026 draft with the aim of coming away with more depth as well as finding late-round players who will develop into starters.
This year's NFL draft kicks off with Round 1 on Thursday night, April 23, in Pittsburgh.
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