Bucs land another defensive lineman in a way-too-early mock draft

The 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D. C. next year.

In that draft, the Bucs still have their first-round pick, but a lot could happen in the next 12 months. Before then, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft in a class that many are saying could be one of generational wealth. Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling recently released the latest way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft of the cycle, which has the team going defense in back-to-back years based on his projection.

He has the Bucs landing Oklahoma defensive lineman David Stone. The Bucs have a good track record of first-round defensive linemen out of Oklahoma, with the last time they took that route, they landed Gerald McCoy. Easterling explains the Stone pick, writing, "The Bucs have reloaded their defensive front this offseason, but don’t be surprised if they keep it going next year.

Stone is a dominant run defender who could unlock another level to his game by turning his explosiveness into more pass-rushing production. " The Bucs loading up on their defensive front in back-to-back drafts would be interesting. Stone is hard to pass up if you are Todd Bowles, but one would have to imagine that if Calijah Kancey can stay healthy, this mock draft pick will change between now and next April.