Reporter suggest the Bucs could draft five players on defense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain a strong offensive unit despite the departure of franchise legend Mike Evans. They retain quarterback Baker Mayfield, who will be looking for redemption in 2026, as well as Bucky Irving, who is on the same boat in terms of achieving a bounceback season. Beyond them, there is also Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan, who all make the passing attack dynamic.

But what about the defense? ESPN recently posed the question of how many defensive players the Bucs will draft in 2026 as an attempt to retool the unit. Beat reporter Jenna Laine answered the question for the worldwide leader in sports and suggested the team may target five players on defense with their seven picks.

She wrote, "Edge rusher, inside linebacker and cornerback are needed, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them doubling up at corner again. But the Buccaneers are also doing a lot of work on this year's tight end class, have looked at a lot of interior offensive linemen for depth and would not pass up a best-player-available situation at a non-need position. So, I'd say as many as five defensive players will be selected.

" While their first pick may go with the best player available approach, the team seems to be ready to take the value of various players who fall to them in the later rounds. Edge rusher and defensive line are deep this year, as well as cornerback, so the team can find contributors on day two and three in those areas. This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: The Bucs could go heavy on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft