“Need” Picks Are Not For Round 1 – JoeBucsFan.com

“Need” Picks Are Not For Round 1
February 25th, 2026

Todd Bowles

So will the Bucs draft another offensive player in Round 1 this year?

Don’t rule it out, no matter what the Bucs’ needs are.

A year ago today, Tampa Bay did not need receiver help on paper. But they did go ahead and draft receiver Emeka Egbuka a month later at No. 19 overall.

Speaking to CBS Sports yesterday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles made it very clear that Round 1 is no place for a front office to get stuck on a roster hole.

“Right now [in Round 1] it’s best available,” Bowles said. “You understand what your need is, but when your need and your best available are the same, obviously you go with the need — if they’re equal [in draft evaluation]. But if they’re not equal [caliber players], you don’t go ‘need’ until you get down the line [in later rounds of the draft]. Right now [in Round 1] you gotta go best available.”

Would the Bucs dare draft a beastly tight end in Round 1 come April 23? They certainly would be in better position for that if they can add a couple of quality defensive starters after the free agency dinner bell rings on Monday, March 9.