If you were building a Bucs roster for right now, Chad Reuter’s seven-round NFL re-draft says Tampa Bay would still be able to keep a few familiar faces in place - but not nearly as many as you might expect.
Reuter’s mock, published by NFL Media, sent quarterback Baker Mayfield back to the Buccaneers with the 15th overall pick. That’s the first Tampa Bay name off the board, and it’s the one Reuter clearly feels best about.
“Mayfield has become the heart and soul of the Buccaneers franchise. I can’t picture him anywhere else.”
Tristan Wirfs is the next Bucs player to go, landing in the second round at No. 59 to the Browns. Reuter had him behind not only Mayfield, but also tackles Penei Sewell, Trent Williams and Jordan Mailata. His reasoning centered on both Wirfs’ quality and the injury time that has crept into his career.
“Wirfs has missed some games due to injury in his career, but he’s become one of the top pass protectors in the league when his spikes are laced up.”
The next Tampa Bay name doesn’t come until the fifth round, when wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is taken 19th among receivers and sent to the Cardinals at No. 145. Reuter paired him with Matthew Stafford in Arizona, and pointed to the kind of connection Stafford has built before with receivers in that mold.
“Matthew Stafford should quickly find a connection with Egbuka, as Baker Mayfield did last year with Mike Evans out of the lineup.”
A couple picks later, defensive tackle Vita Vea comes off the board at No. 147 to the Giants as the 11th interior defensive lineman selected. Reuter used him to help New York address the hole left after trading away Dexter Lawrence.
Then comes safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the seventh round, going 10th among safeties and staying in Tampa Bay with Mayfield. Reuter tied the pick to Todd Bowles and also noted Winfield’s 2025 production.
“Winfield was born to play safety for Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay - and he is coming off a second Pro Bowl season in 2025.”
Reuter’s exercise only had five Buccaneers taken in seven rounds, which suggests he doesn’t see Tampa Bay as loaded with obvious blue-chip talent. Still, there are a few omissions that stand out.
Luke Goedeke wasn’t selected at all, even though 19 tackles were taken. Yaya Diaby also went undrafted in the exercise despite 32 edge rushers coming off the board ahead of him.
The edge-rusher group is especially interesting because Reuter included players such as Laiatu Latu, Montez Sweat and Cameron Jordan. Latu’s 61 pressures last year trail Diaby’s 2024 and 2025 seasons, while his 8.5 sacks last year and 12.5 over the past two seasons are only slightly ahead of Diaby’s numbers. The placement of Sweat and Jordan in the fifth round also stands out.
Reuter also made several other selections for Tampa Bay beyond the players staying put. Nico Collins went in the second round, Devin Lloyd in the third, Tyler Linderbaum in the fourth, Jordan Davis in the fifth and Nick Herbig in the sixth.
Collins fits the profile of the big-bodied slant and deep threat role that was left open by Mike Evans’ departure. Lloyd wasn’t linked to Tampa Bay in free agency, but he would make sense in a Todd Bowles defense.
Davis gives the Bucs a massive nose tackle type who can help create the run-game numbers advantage Bowles wants. Herbig is the one that stands out most, thanks to his pass-rush efficiency.
The Linderbaum pick is the one the piece questions most, since he is viewed as a strong run blocker but a limited pass protector.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfield Just Drew The Criticism Bucs Fans Dread Most
Late in the 2025 season, Baker Mayfield found himself back in the familiar spot of being both the reason for hope and the source of debate in Tampa Bay. Buccaneers fans have largely stayed in his corner, especially with the expectation that a contract extension is coming, but not everyone around the league is viewing his year through the same optimistic lens. ESPN analyst Ryan Clark was among those raising eyebrows, pointing to the kind of uneven play that can make a quarterback conversation turn quickly.
For Tampa Bay, the unease is less about one bad stretch than the broader questions that have followed Mayfield at different points in his career. The concerns center on inconsistency, accuracy, decision-making and turnovers, all of which matter even more when a team is preparing to invest heavily in its starter. The Bucs may still be headed toward a long-term commitment, but Clarks comments are a reminder that the discussion around Mayfield is not nearly as settled as the fan base would like. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfields future in Tampa Bay is starting to feel like one of the quieter storylines worth watching as the Buccaneers move through the offseason. He and Vita Vea are both entering the final years of their contracts, and while Mayfield has made it clear he wants to stay with the team long term, the sides still have work to do before anything gets serious.
For now, the Bucs are keeping their flexibility and both players are focused on getting ready for the season ahead. But with camp approaching and no real movement on the extension front, the situation has the feel of something that could linger well into the summer if the sides do not find common ground soon. [Read more 🡒]
Bucky Irving Just Got The Disrespect Buccaneers Fans Will Hate
Bucky Irvings rise in Tampa Bay was one of the brighter storylines of his rookie year, when he gave the Buccaneers a dynamic presence in the backfield and quickly looked like a player the offense could build around. Even with injuries interrupting his second season, there was still enough of a track record to expect his name to show up when ESPNs Jeremy Fowler asked NFL personnel types to sort out the leagues best running backs.
Instead, Irving was left on the outside of the conversation entirely, not even landing in the honorable-mention tier as other backs such as Breece Hall, Quinshon Judkins, Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara drew support. For a player who flashed like a future centerpiece in Tampa Bay, the omission is the kind of slight that tends to linger, especially when the Buccaneers are still trying to figure out just how high Irvings ceiling can be once hes healthy again. [Read more 🡒]