Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Day 2 Targets

There’s plenty of talent left, and the Bucs have 3 more top 100 picks.

The Buccaneers secured a new starter on the interior offensive line with Graham Barton at 26th overall Thursday night, but there’s still plenty of work to be done.

At present, the Bucs are scheduled to pick three times on Day 2 of the NFL Draft Friday: picks 57. 89, and 92. Those selections present GM Jason Licht with tremendous flexibility, as he can proceed with a quantity approach or get aggressive in trades for players the team really prefers.

Who might be some interesting names to watch? Outside of players previously named in our 7-round mock, let’s do three names on offense and three on defense.

CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

I expect the Buccaneers to be in the market for cornerback sometime between rounds 2 and 4, and they might be particularly hot for a certain Iowa Hawkeye.

Not many expected DeJean to still be available after Round 1, but he presumably fell due to concerns about his ability to stick long-term at outsider corner — dare we use the word “tweener”?

That said, he’ll be one of the biggest targets on Day 2, and I would not rule out the Buccaneers pursuing a trade to land the freaky athlete from a school with which they have a long history (see Tristan Wirfs, Anthony Nelson, and Kaevon Merriweather). DeJean fits the bill as a potentially versatile chesspiece best-suited for zone coverage, which absolutely appeals to head coach Todd Bowles.

DeJean is a ballhawk (7 college interceptions, 3 returned for touchdowns), which the team could really use, and also a dangerous kick returner, another spot the Bucs could use.

If there’s a player who’s worth giving up one of those third round picks, it’s DeJean.

EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

While the board didn’t quite shake out in a way that made edge rusher a feasible addition in Round 1, there are still good options available if Tampa wants.

One name is Kneeland, who blew up the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine en route to seriously rising his stock. He should be a sure-fire Day 2 pass rusher given that tantalizing skill set. His college production was middling, but his traits, motor, and versatility to move around the formation are certainly appealing.

Getting Kneeland into the outside linebacker room in Tampa will create a deeper rotation as he can ease into playing time with names like Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson helping him learn the ropes.

DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson

Despite investing their top pick of the 2022 NFL Draft in Logan Hall, the Bucs are still seeking a fuller defensive line rotation to maximize the front 7. Hall just hasn’t quite developed how they hoped, which likely means that an eye will be kept on this year’s position group for possible upgrades.

Enter Orhorhoro, who played across the trenches for Clemson. A long, sudden athlete (6-foot-4, 297 pounds, 34” arms), Orhorhoro didn’t get his chance to shine until this year, but he made it count with some impressive splash plays.

The pass rush is behind the run defense at this point, and he must continue to learn the finer points of the game, he’s got a high floor as a solid rotational guy who definitely has the upside to be an everyday starter. He should be available in Tampa’s range between rounds 2 and 3.

OG Christian Mahogany, Boston College

Could the Buccaneers double-dip on the interior offensive line to set the long-term core up for the next 3-4 years? Absolutely, as the team doesn’t really have a clear starter at left guard at the moment (unless Barton goes there and Hainsey remains at center). They did sign veterans Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson, but those are short-term small deals for guys who’ve never done much to stand out.

Someone like Christian Mahogany should be available in Round 3. He’s a massive, physical presence whose ground-and-pound style will definitely fit with the overall attitude Tampa wants to establish. A 34-game starter in college with lots of experience at both guard spots, Mahogany’s a people mover who’s rarely moved himself.

He’s just an okay athlete, but he can still run around and fulfill the demands of pulls and other assignments. If the Bucs want to totally transform their running game, a pick like Mahogany makes a ton of sense.

WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington

I’m of the strong belief the Bucs will be hunting for receivers early, and Washington is a sturdy pipeline for them with multiple options on that front.

I’ve professed my love for Jalen McMillan, but his teammate Ja’Lynn Polk is very good in his own right. With inside-outside versatility, natural toughness, and gifted body control to adjust as necessary to his quarterback, Polk doesn’t blow you away with elite athleticism but has more than enough giddy-up to make you respect him at all 3 levels of the field.

He would be set up as possible Chris Godwin successor should the latter depart after this year, but if not he’s still an excellent choice to compete with Trey Palmer for WR3 duties. He makes sense as a second-rounder or an early third-rounder.

RB Blake Corum, Michigan

Depending on how badly the Bucs want to finally re-establish this franchise as any kind of threat running the ball, they might still be seeking a better complement for Rachaad White. White emerged as one of the best receiving backs in the league, but having someone with more “oomph” in short-yardage and change-of-pace situations could be an overall benefit to the offensive attack.

Corum would present the “thunder” to White’s “lightning”. Corum is undersized (5-foot-8) but don’t tell him that, as he runs with outstanding balance and a special knack for squeezing the most out of tight-quarters runs. He’s a menace on short-yardage and goal-line runs, and that’s exactly what the Bucs need.

Corum’s tremendous college production (over 3,700 yards, 58 touchdowns) unfortunately does beget notable wear on his tires, and he has the major knee injury to prove it. He’s a notoriously hard worker, but age and a lack of polish in the receiving game and pass blocking will push him down likely into the third round, making him a prime Bucs target if that’s a route they choose to head down.