{"id":566689,"date":"2026-04-05T21:24:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/566689\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T21:24:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:24:08","slug":"mel-kiper-bucs-get-their-inside-linebacker-in-second-round-joebucsfan-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/566689\/","title":{"rendered":"Mel Kiper: Bucs Get Their Inside Linebacker In Second Round – JoeBucsFan.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Texas ILB Anthony Hill.<\/p>\n

Last week helmethair Mel Kiper had the Bucs picking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. This week? It\u2019s Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor. Next week, maybe Indiana receiver Omar Cooper.<\/p>\n

Who knows, but by all means, do click.<\/p>\n

The vast majority of schlockers have the Bucs either picking Sadiq or Mesidor. Joe\u2019s on board with Sadiq. Joe\u2019s only on board with Mesidor if the Bucs hire his position coach, Hall of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor with the Hurricanes.<\/p>\n

Ah, but in the second round, Kiper thinks the Bucs finally have their inside linebacker<\/a>. Kiper thinks Texas inside linebacker Anthony Hill will swap his burnt orange for creamsicle.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s 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\u2019t believe<\/a> Hill at No. 46 is good value at all.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Jacob Rodriguez and even behind Pitt\u2019s Kyle Louis.<\/p>\n

8. ANTHONY HILL, Texas (6-2, 239, 4.55, 3-4): Third-year junior started 32 of 40 games. \u201cHe got a lot of hype,\u201d one scout said. \u201cOff the body and the athletic ability he was a 5-star, and you could probably say that about him now,\u201d said one scout. \u201cBut as an inside backer there isn\u2019t great take-on. As an outside backer, not just a pure edge rusher. He\u2019s sort of caught between and not really great at either one. He isn\u2019t super instinctive. Reading plays and the key and diagnose wasn\u2019t natural for him. He\u2019s built like a pro, but when you start to dig into him you definitely have question marks.\u201d Ran fast and had a 37-inch vertical jump. Arms were 32 3\/8, hands were 9 5\/8. \u201cHe\u2019s not a first-rounder,\u201d said a second scout. \u201cHe\u2019s a little soft at the point. He doesn\u2019t have that linebacker mentality. I don\u2019t want to ding him too bad.\u201d Finished with 249 tackles (31 \u00bd for loss), 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles. \u201cHe\u2019s tricky,\u201d a third scout said. \u201cHe\u2019s got some biomechanical issues that he might not ever be a good tackler in space.\u201d From Denton, Texas. \u201cI couldn\u2019t get excited about this guy,\u201d a fourth scout said. \u201cThey moved him all over the place but he doesn\u2019t play physical. He doesn\u2019t really trigger and get to the ball. He floats around and it kind of gets him to the play. You\u2019ll hear he\u2019s a great athlete but I don\u2019t see that at all. Just an average athlete. Best thing he does is zone coverage. Has a good feel for that. Third round.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, if McGinn\u2019s intel is accurate, then Joe doubts if the Bucs draft Hill. The Bucs\u2019 tackling last year was lousy. Why add to that?<\/p>\n

Why not, instead, add guys who have already demonstrated an ability to tackle like Louis?<\/p>\n

If McGinn\u2019s intel is correct, Joe isn\u2019t sure Bucs AC\/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht would draft Hill in the second round.<\/p>\n

The Bucs\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

From McGinn\u2019s contacts in the scouting community, Hill doesn\u2019t seem to be instinctive or physical.<\/p>\n

Anthony Hill Jr Cut Ups https:\/\/t.co\/9zDVSGRRdL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lh48AjPwFz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 jeremiah\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b (@NewEraMiah) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t