Who could be the biggest impact of the Bucs later picks?
One of Tampa Bay’s mid-round draft picks may have a faster path to playing time than expected.
ESPN recently pointed toward Keionte Scott as one of Tampa Bay’s later draft picks capable of making an early impact during the 2026 season. The projection mostly comes down to fit and opportunity. Todd Bowles has consistently valued defensive backs who can move across multiple roles, especially inside the secondary, where communication and versatility become critical in pressure-heavy defensive packages.
That gives Scott a legitimate chance to earn snaps early. Tampa Bay already has several young defensive backs competing for roles, but Scott’s ability to function in different alignments could help separate him from other depth options during training camp. The Buccaneers also appear to be building more flexibility into the secondary overall.
Injuries and matchup adjustments forced constant rotation changes last season, so adding defensive backs capable of handling multiple responsibilities became an important part of the offseason. Scott may not enter the season carrying the same attention as Tampa Bay’s early-round selections, but players with versatile skill sets tend to find roles quickly in Bowles’ defense. That makes him one of the more interesting names to watch among the Buccaneers’ middle-round additions heading into 2026.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Keionte Scott set to make an impact right away for the Bucs