Advocating a strategic slide, Pereles argues trading down unlocks deeper talent pools, addressing key needs with valuable later-round picks.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the No. 15 pick in the NFL draft; some analysts have the team staying put, while others have them trading down. CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles says the Buccaneers should trade down.
Pereles explores what he pitches as the best plans for each NFL team heading into the draft. While he said Tampa Bay should trade down, he doesn't specify which team the Buccaneers should trade with, only where in the round.
"Cornerback and pass rusher stand out as needs here, and there are multiple options -- especially with the latter -- in the mid-/late-first round," Pereles wrote.
Trading down into the mid- to late-first round aligns with a mock trade that BucsRoundtable's Joe Smeltzer examined last week. In that mock, ESPN's Bill Barnwell has Tampa Bay trading with the Pittsburgh Steelers, acquiring their No. 21 pick.
In such a trade scanario, Tampa Bay receives picks Nos. 21, 76 and 135, and Pittsburgh gets Nos. 15 and 195.
Moving down six picks allows the Buccaneers to add additional selections on Day 2 and Day 3, which could help further address their positional needs.
However, one drawback of trading down is not drafting Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Sadiq -- who's picked up steam as a real possibility for Tampa Bay -- and McCoy are consistently mocked to be taken within the first 15 picks.
The player pool changes for the Buccaneers at pick No. 21, and the common trend is the team going with an edge rusher: Miami's Akheem Mesidor, Clemson's T.J. Parker or Texas A&M's Cashius Howell.
Defensive end is one of the three primary needs for Tampa Bay, and drafting Mesidor, Parker or Howell adds an impact starter on the defensive line.
Parker is the youngest of the trio at 21, which could make him the selection for the Buccaneers if they trade down.
General manager Jason Licht has prioritized drafting young talent in the first two rounds.
Greg Auman, an NFC South reporter for FOX Sports, counted the ages of players Licht drafted in the first rounds. He has drafted nine players at the age of 21, 14 at the age of 22, three at the age of 23 and one at the age of 24.
Howell is 23 years old and Mesidor is 25, making them outliers in Licht's trend of drafting younger players. However, they had more productive seasons than Parker.
Howell is coming off a season with 11.5 sacks, 31 tackles (20 solo) and one forced fumble. Mesidor finished last year with 12.5 sacks, 63 tackles and four forced fumbles.
Parker had a relatively down year with the Volunteers, recording 37 tackles (18 solo) and five sacks. He had 20 more tackles, six more sacks and six forced fumbles in 2024.
As Tampa Bay enters Day 2 with four picks in trading back with Pittsburgh, the EDGE position dominates the player pool mocked in the 70s, 110s and 130s.
Players like Texas Tech's Romello Height, Michigan's Derrick Moore and more would be available. Offensive talent like Georgia tight end Oscar Delp and Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon would be available in those ranges as well.
Tampa Bay could stay put with its 15th pick, but trading back gives them more opportunities to fill positional needs with starting-caliber players.
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