Texas ILB Anthony Hill.
Last week helmethair Mel Kiper had the Bucs picking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. This week? It’s Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor. Next week, maybe Indiana receiver Omar Cooper.
Who knows, but by all means, do click.
The vast majority of schlockers have the Bucs either picking Sadiq or Mesidor. Joe’s on board with Sadiq. Joe’s only on board with Mesidor if the Bucs hire his position coach, Hall of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor with the Hurricanes.
Ah, but in the second round, Kiper thinks the Bucs finally have their inside linebacker. Kiper thinks Texas inside linebacker Anthony Hill will swap his burnt orange for creamsicle.
The retirement of Lavonte David was expected but still leaves a hole. Hill is an ideal weakside prospect who can produce in the pass rush and pass coverage.
Joe’s intrigued by Hill. If the Bucs can get this guy at No. 46, that seems to be good value based on schlock draft analysis. However, veteran NFL scribe Bob McGinn doesn’t believe Hill at No. 46 is good value at all.
McGinn, now typing for the GoLongTD Substack, has been talking to NFL scouts and he has Hill has his eighth-best linebacker, well behind Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez and even behind Pitt’s Kyle Louis.
8. ANTHONY HILL, Texas (6-2, 239, 4.55, 3-4): Third-year junior started 32 of 40 games. “He got a lot of hype,” one scout said. “Off the body and the athletic ability he was a 5-star, and you could probably say that about him now,” said one scout. “But as an inside backer there isn’t great take-on. As an outside backer, not just a pure edge rusher. He’s sort of caught between and not really great at either one. He isn’t super instinctive. Reading plays and the key and diagnose wasn’t natural for him. He’s built like a pro, but when you start to dig into him you definitely have question marks.” Ran fast and had a 37-inch vertical jump. Arms were 32 3/8, hands were 9 5/8. “He’s not a first-rounder,” said a second scout. “He’s a little soft at the point. He doesn’t have that linebacker mentality. I don’t want to ding him too bad.” Finished with 249 tackles (31 ½ for loss), 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles. “He’s tricky,” a third scout said. “He’s got some biomechanical issues that he might not ever be a good tackler in space.” From Denton, Texas. “I couldn’t get excited about this guy,” a fourth scout said. “They moved him all over the place but he doesn’t play physical. He doesn’t really trigger and get to the ball. He floats around and it kind of gets him to the play. You’ll hear he’s a great athlete but I don’t see that at all. Just an average athlete. Best thing he does is zone coverage. Has a good feel for that. Third round.”
Well, if McGinn’s intel is accurate, then Joe doubts if the Bucs draft Hill. The Bucs’ tackling last year was lousy. Why add to that?
Why not, instead, add guys who have already demonstrated an ability to tackle like Louis?
If McGinn’s intel is correct, Joe isn’t sure Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht would draft Hill in the second round.
The Bucs’ defense last year was soft and so far through free agency, Licht has signed brawlers on defense. That seems to be the theme of the offseason: Be physical and play with heart.
From McGinn’s contacts in the scouting community, Hill doesn’t seem to be instinctive or physical.
Anthony Hill Jr Cut Ups https://t.co/9zDVSGRRdL pic.twitter.com/lh48AjPwFz
— jeremiah🐦⬛ (@NewEraMiah) April 2, 2026