Buccaneers draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw their streak of NFC South titles end in 2025 after four straight years atop the division. How do they reclaim their division crown and return to playoff contention in 2026?

That process began early this offseason with some key free agency signings (and re-signings) and will take another leap forward in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay owns all of its own picks entering this year's draft – the Buccaneers own one pick per round with no compensatory picks or trades affecting their draft capital.

Among the top priorities for general manager Jason Licht is building up the defense. Tampa Bay allowed the sixth-highest success rate on dropbacks (49.7%) in 2025 and just lost cornerback Jamel Dean to the Steelers in free agency.

In addition, the Buccaneers have to decide how to move forward offensively without wide receiver Mike Evans for the first time in 12 years. Will Tampa Bay add to their receivers room in the draft with Evans leaving to join the San Francisco 49ers in free agency?

USA TODAY Sports compiled a 2026 NFL Draft tracker for the Buccaneers, including their full list of picks, team needs and a mock draft with potential best fits:

Buccaneers 2026 NFL Draft picks

The Bucs have eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:

• Round 1, Pick 15: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
  • His T-rex limbs didn’t stop him from being extremely productive – often against NFL-caliber offensive tackles – for the ‘Canes. He bulled his way to 9½ sacks and 15½ TFLs last season and was a menace during the College Football Playoff. Bain's ability to rush from the interior on passing downs is another useful trait for a team that might want to regulate NT Vita Vea's snaps on passing downs. YaYa Diaby was the lone Buc with more than 4½ sacks last season, and recently signed Al-Quadin Muhammad is only under contract for 2026. – Nate Davis
• Round 2, Pick 46: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
  • Todd Bowles' defense was overdue for a linebacker who could take the mantle from Lavonte David. Trotter, however, was an odd choice to take over at the second level. He's a force when working downhill, but the Bucs were too often burned by their coverage deficiencies at the position. That's a big vulnerability for Trotter, and it could remain a sore spot for the defense. – Nate Davis
• Round 3, Pick 84 (from Packers): Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
  • At 6-4, 206 pounds with 4.4 speed, he’ll obviously draw Mike Evans comps here and should get a chance to replace the departed red-zone rebounder in this offense. Despite the small-school background, Hurst could have the goods to break out as a pro.
• Round 4, Pick 116: Keonte Scott, CB, Miami (Fla.)
• Round 5, Pick 155: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
• Round 5, Pick 160 (from Packers): Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame
• Round 6, Pick 185 (from Raiders): Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU

Buccaneers NFL draft grades

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.) - Grade: A

Bain lasted longer than many might have thought, and the Buccaneers pulled off what might go down as one of the draft's best value moves. Tampa Bay hasn't been able to sort out its edge rush for some time, so bringing aboard the most disruptive force in college football should be a clear win for Jason Licht and Todd Bowles. The arm length debate might have cost Bain on draft night, but here's betting he can navigate it to remain a persistent pest with the Bucs. This could become the defensive equivalent of the Emeka Egbuka pick with a rapid payoff. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri - Grade: C-

Todd Bowles' defense was overdue for a linebacker who could take the mantle from Lavonte David. Trotter, however, was an odd choice to take over at the second level. He's a force when working downhill, but the Bucs were too often burned by their coverage deficiencies at the position. That's a big vulnerability for Trotter, and it could remain a sore spot for the defense. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Packers): Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State - Grade: B

Tampa Bay didn't wait long to add a tall target to take over after Mike Evans' departure. Hurst requires more refinement, but he and Baker Mayfield could form an electric connection on vertical routes. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

116. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Keionte Scott, Miami (FL) – Grade: A

The Buccaneers needed more depth for their defensive backfield, and Scott was arguably the best player available. Scott enjoyed a breakout year his lone season at Miami, generating 64 tackles, 13 TFL, five sacks and two interceptions, which were both returned for touchdowns. His skills as a slot blitzer and his physicality should quickly endear him to Todd Bowles.

155. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT DeMonte Capehart, Clemson – Grade: B

The Buccaneers needed to add interior defensive line depth, as 31-year-old Vita Vea is set to be a free agent after the season. What Capehart lacks in experience he makes up in athleticism. He performed well at the NFL combine, so the 6-5, 313-pound defensive tackle is a nice developmental project for Tampa Bay.

160. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: G Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame – Grade: B+

One pick after Max Bredeson comes off the board, the Buccaneers draft an interior offensive lineman to potential challenge his brother, Ben, for playing time. Schrauth (6-5, 310 pounds) was a two-year starter and team captain at Notre Dame. He has good play strength and experience at both guard spots, two factors that could help him quickly become a solid starter at the NFL level. For now, he looks like a solid backup along the interior offensive line.

185. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE Bauer Sharp, LSU – Grade: B-

Sharp is the latest tight end to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. He's athletic, but he is still a work in progress after playing just two seasons at the FBS level.

Buccaneers undrafted free agent signings

The Buccaneers continue to build their roster by signing undrafted free agents. You can follow the complete team-by-team list for all 32 here.

Buccaneers 2026 NFL Draft needs

Edge rusher

Tampa Bay ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in team sacks in 2025, and no individual player had more than seven sacks. Outside of Yaya Diaby, who had seven sacks and is entering the final year of his contract, no other Buccaneers defender had even five sacks last year.

The Bucs signed edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency, but he's only on a one-year deal. Tampa Bay really needs a young pass-rusher to both enhance the unit's ability to defend the pass and give the team insurance for Diaby and Muhammad's potential departures next offseason.

Cornerback

The Buccaneers lost 14-game starter Jamel Dean to Pittsburgh in free agency, and his projected replacement, Benjamin Morrison, struggled in 10 games (three starts) as a rookie in 2025. With an upgraded pass-rush and a starting-caliber cornerback to replace Dean on the outside, Tampa Bay's pass defense could take a needed step forward in 2026.

Wide receiver

Mike Evans' departure looms the largest over the Buccaneers' 2026 roster. Sure, Tampa Bay still has veteran Chris Godwin to pair with young wideouts Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan to create a solid starting trio. But all three have concerns: Godwin did not appear fully recovered from his dislocated ankle he suffered in 2024, Egbuka's production plummeted after a strong initial showing as a rookie as he struggled with drops and McMillan missed almost all of the 2025 season with a broken bone in his neck.

Evans leaves behind massive shoes to fill after he was the consistent, No. 1, big-bodied receiver that was the motor for the Buccaneers' offense across three different eras of quarterbacks. It's a tall ask for any young receiver to "replace" Evans in the offense, but adding another wideout that can be a true X-receiver and play some bully ball would benefit quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs' passing attack.

Buccaneers 2026 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Buccaneers could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:

• Round 1, Pick 15: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
• Round 2, Pick 46: WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
• Round 3, Pick 77: DT Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
• Round 4, Pick 116: Traded to 49ers
• Round 4, Pick 127 (from 49ers): CB Daylen Everette, Georgia
• Round 5, Pick 155: TE Oscar Delp, Georgia
• Round 6, Pick 195: DT Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
• Round 7, Pick 229: DB Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State