The Tampa Bay Bucs are reportedly eying elite defensive talent in early mock drafts. One player from the SEC boasts incredible physical gifts to bolster Tampa's struggling defense.
Although we don't yet know where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be picking, it's never too early to talk about the NFL Draft.
The Pro Football Sports Network published a three-round mock draft that had the Buccaneers targeting the defensive line in Round No. 1.
The projected pick is Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk.
Faulk, a 6-foot-6, 288-pounder, didn't light up the statsheet in 2025, only picking up two sacks and not being named to either of the first two All-SEC Teams.
Faulk didn't even lead his team in total pressures, finishing with 31 (per Pro Football Focus) compared to 43 by Keyron Crawford.
With that said, Faulk has physical attributes that are hard to ignore.
On Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List" published every year by The Athletic, Faulk came in as the No. 9 most physical specimen in all of college football. Feldman was reporting that he could squat 700 pounds and bench 415.
The Buccaneers could use some help defensively in the offseason, regardless of how 2025 ends.
Through 14 games, Tampa's defense ranks in the bottom 10, allowing more than 25 points per game.
As far as sacks go, Tampa has been just average, having 33 as a team, which ties for 15th. The team's sack leader, Yaya Diaby (6), will be on the last year of his rookie contract in 2026, and the man who is in second, Vita Vea (4.5), is a defensive tackle, so it might make sense to develop EDGE Depth.
Other top EDGE prospects in the draft include Miami's Rueben Bain Jr (No. 6 overall in the PFSN mock), Clemson's T.J. Parker (No. 33), Texas Tech's David Bailey (No. 13) and Ohio State's Arvell Reese (No. 16).
It's a deep EDGE class, but as PFSN pointed out, the Bucs would be better served taking somebody at that position than they would be an interior offensive lineman at No. 19.
"Another team well-positioned to take the best available defensive player is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," PFSN wrote. "While the option to take a guard will be available, the value at pick No. 19 will undoubtedly be far from worth it.
"As for the EDGE position, Auburn's Keldric Faulk has the power and physicality to make an immediate impact on whatever defense drafts him in 2026. At 6-foot-6, 288 pounds, Faulk is an athletic freak who can play multiple roles on defense."