The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh this month, a city where the Bucs could select the next star they add to their roster in hopes of righting the proverbial ship. 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. Thankfully, we now have some added context for players now that the scouting combine has come and gone.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle, which has the team going in the offensive direction. He projects for them to land guard Vega Ioane out of Penn State. This is a pick we have started to see a bit more over the last week as it becomes clear the team may not be able to land a player clear the needs they have.
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Pereles explains the Ioane pick, writing, “GM Jason Licht has shown a willingness to invest in offensive linemen early in the draft, using two first-round picks and two second-round picks at the position since 2020. All four are still starting for Tampa Bay. Now, he adds the top interior lineman in the draft; Olaivavega Ioane would start at left guard from Day 1 and bring some nastiness to the position.”
If they do go in the direction of Ioane, they will enjoy having one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. Guard can be a bit of a soft spot at times for the team, but not if they land the former Penn State bulldozer.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Draft: Could the Bucs draft Olaivavega Ioane in Round 1?