Final Buccaneers 7-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft

Let’s take a final stab at the 2024 Bucs draft class before the fireworks start.

The Buccaneers find their roster in good overall shape entering the 2024 NFL Draft, which opens at 8 p.m. in Detroit.

It will be GM Jason Licht’s 11th at the controls, and pushing the right buttons can help sustain the best stretch of Bucs football since the early aughts. The team does have some holes to fill, so let’s take our best guess at how they might approach it all.

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Round 1, Pick 26: OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 328 pounds; 9 ¾” hands, 32 ⅝” arms

We’ve made it, folks.

It’s certainly fun winning more often, but the small drawback of that is having to wait so perilously close to bedtime for Tampa’s first selection (wipes tears with $100 bills). That said, the Bucs should be in a favorable position here with plenty of talent remaining to choose from.

Edge and corner may be tempting, as may be trading down, but it’s hard to ignore the brand of ass-kicking football that someone like Jackson Powers-Johnson loves to play. GM Jason Licht values that attitude above all else, and high-end athleticism is a close second. JPJ provides both in spades.

Powers-Johnson is beastly strong (30 reps on the bench), surprisingly quick for his size, and smart at center despite being a one-year starter. Some injury concerns may push him down to this point, and he’s got some issues with technique consistency, but he’s young (will be 21 his rookie year) and has already shown a clear upward trajectory from the start of 2023 to the end – it resulted in him being a first-team All-American.

He can compete at left guard or center, but the bottom line is that he would be a Week 1 starter.

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Round 2, Pick 57 – EDGE Adisa Isaac, Penn State

Measurables: 6-foot-4, 247 pounds; 9 ⅝” hands, 33 ⅞” arms

The Bucs may pass on edge within the first 32 picks, but that would almost certainly mean some type of Day 2 investment if the value is right.

Issac would constitute that strong value. With a hot-running motor, intelligent play style, and good length and athleticism, Isaac was the most productive of the two Penn State pass rushers. Chop Robinson is the more impressive athlete, but Isaac is the more complete package.

He’s light in the pants, and thus edge-setting is occasionally problematic, but he profiles well as a rookie rotational player who can play in conjunction with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson to maximize his skill set on passing downs.

With added strength and a more refined toolbox, Isaac can absolutely become a full-time starter opposite YaYa Diaby.

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Round 3, Pick 89 – WR Jalen McMillan, Washington

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 197 pounds; 10” hands, 32 ¼” arms

I’m not wavering on this one. McMillan, who I mocked here last time, is one of my dudes, and I’m a believer in him being a great fit for Tampa’s offense – especially if Chris Godwin departs after this year.

If he wasn’t behind two other top 50 studs in Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, people would be more privy to McMillan’s talent. He’d be a No. 1 on other Power 5 programs, as McMillan is a long-limbed athlete who’s reliably handed, possesses good size, and can shake defenders with clean strides and footwork.

He’s not a contested catch savant, nor is he particularly physical, but those are aspects that don’t break his game. It’ll take some time to learn more pro style offensive concepts and routes, but he’s got 3-level potential out of the slot.

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Round 3, Pick 92 – LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 237 pounds; 9 ⅛” hands, 32 ⅝” arms

Jason Licht drafts linebackers. In fact, in 10 drafts at the helm, only twice has he bypassed the position. He values the position, Todd Bowles immensely values the position, and the Bucs currently need reinforcements at the position. See where this is headed?

It’s not a particularly stacked class, but there’s some worthwhile names to explore in rounds 2-4. One such player is Trevin Wallace, who is going to appeal to the Bucs given his strengths (as we detailed more here). Basically, he’s an awesome athlete who can range sideline to sideline and rush the passer as a blitzer.

You’re basically looking at Devin White without the personal drama nor outsized expectations of being a top 5 draft pick. A perfectly good swing to take in Round 3 as someone to groom for Lavonte David’s eventual departure.

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Round 4, Pick 125 – CB Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn

Measurables: 6-foot, 190 pounds; 8 ⅛” hands, 31 ⅜” arms.

The Auburn secondary pipeline straight to Gulf Coast Florida continues here with Pritchett. He fits the general profile of what the team looks for in outside corners: he’s tall, long, and isn’t afraid to tackle in the run game (though the technique needs to improve there given his lack of bulk).

He’s slender, and the ball skills are not good (which also leads to penalties), but he’s got plentiful experience in zone coverage and the chops to play different concepts if need be. Add in his extensive college starts (40) and universally praised character, Pritchett is as good a bet as any as a late-Day 2, early Day 3 guy.

He’d at least push Zyon McCollum for the outside corner spot opposite Dean, and at minimum he proves some high-upside depth that’s seriously lacking at the moment.

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Round 6, Pick 220 – RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State

Measurables: 6-foot, 220 pounds; 10 ⅜” hands, 31 ⅛” arms.

What do we always say about rounds 6 and 7? Lottery tickets and special teams, baby. Davis is someone who can provide you with both.

He dominated FCS competition over the last two seasons (over 3,000 yards, 32 touchdowns) as a powerful, violent runner with a strong center of gravity who rarely fumbled – just 3 lost fumbles in 729 career touches. He can carry tacklers downfield but also stay light on his feet to maneuver traffic and pick up extra yards.

He’s not a standout athlete, nor does he offer basically anything as a receiver, but that’s fine as he would profile more as a short-yardage / change of pace “thunder” to Rachaad White’s “lightning,” who has transformed into one of the most threatening receiving backs in the entire league. It’s a cozy fit.

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Round 7, Pick 246 – OL Julian Pearl, Illinois

Measurables: 6-foot-6, 312 pounds; 10 ¼” hands, 35 ⅛” arms.

The Bucs might go fishing for more offensive line depth, and Pearl would be as good a bet as any at this stage. He’s got great size and movement skills, as well as plenty of starting experience at a Power 5 program (38 starts for the Illini at three different positions).

The main problem is he’s already 25 years old and has some notable technical kinks to work out. He’s prone to lunging and oversetting, and he needs to add some more sand to pants to handle power better.

The traits and potential positional versatility are enough to compete for an NFL roster spot, but some time on the practice squad is likely.

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There you go, Bucs Nation. Would you be happy with this NFL Draft haul? Let us know in the comments and poll below!