The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next April, a city where the Bucs found success this preseason with a last-second field goal to defeat the Steelers. Before next April, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Bucs were attached to Ohio State’s Sonny Styles. The athletic linebacker with NFL bloodlines is a dynamic piece in the Buckeye defense in 2025 and could be a steal for the Bucs at pick 15.
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Sikkema explains the pick, writing, “The Buccaneers’ disappointing season ended without a playoff berth despite a 6-2 start, and defensive issues played a major role down the stretch. Lavonte David is a future Hall of Famer but appears likely to retire this offseason, while SirVocea Dennis has yet to show the coverage ability required of a full-time starter. Ohio State’s Sonny Styles offers a clear upgrade. The former safety brings explosiveness, size and physicality to the position, and his 2.2% missed tackle rate ranked among the lowest in college football.”
Styles would allow the middle of the defense become reliable in terms of their coverages if he arrived in Tampa Bay. On top of that, running backs would have a new problem in the linebacker unit as they come out of the backfield for a pass, or if they make it to the second level of the defense.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs land Ohio State LB in latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft