Worst case scenario for the Bucs in the 2026 NFL Draft
Like all things in life there are good and bad, for the Bucs we have laid out the worst case scenario for them.
With the draft just over 48 hours away, we are looking ahead to some draft options the Bucs may have when they get on the clock. General manager Jason Licht has been open about his team's process this cycle, so much so that he has publicly stated he wouldn't be against trading back in round one. Where the Bucs pick at 15 overall is the sweet spot for a team that has its needs.
However, what if the best players at their positions of need are all gone by then? That is what we believe to be their worst-case scenario for the 2026 NFL Draft. Is it a stretch of an example to unfold?
Of course not. But it remains a nightmare for Jason Licht and his staff. The team's biggest needs are at linebacker and edge rusher, both positions will see their best players drafted in the top 10.
Jason Licht does not have the draft capital to trade up and get a Rueben Bain Jr. , or a Sonny Styles. If they are on the clock at 15 and Akheem Mesidor and CJ Allen are their best options, they will be in trouble as the values do not line up.