The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next April, a city that could be where the Bucs select the next star they add to their roster in hopes of righting the proverbial ship. 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.<\/p>\n
PFF’s Gordon McGuinness recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft<\/a> of the cycle, but went three rounds instead of just one. Within it, the Bucs get some much-needed help on defense, as that is where the top pick focuses. They are given Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who has proven to be a bona fide shutdown defender.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n McGuinness explains the McCoy pick, writing, “The Buccaneers<\/a> would likely love to have either of the two Ohio State<\/a> linebackers, but McCoy would be a great fallback option for a team that could lose cornerback Jamel Dean to free agency. McCoy missed all of the 2025 season but earned an 87.0 PFF overall grade in 2024.”<\/p>\n The team’s other two picks address the linebacker group in Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. and tight end Max Klare. Both would be able to be plugged in immediately and produce meaningful reps as rookies due to their explosive playmaking ability and instincts at both positions.<\/p>\n