Final 7-Round Buccaneers Mock Draft

One more shot at predicting what should be a wild NFL Draft weekend for Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers come into the 2025 NFL Draft figuring to focus heavily on defense, but offense should never be ruled out for regime that has done a good job balancing short- and long-term gains.

Here’s my final prediction for what the Bucs might do this weekend.

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Round 1, Pick 19 – Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

I outlined this in more thorough detail in my overall first-round mock, so we’ll briefly recap here.

Some will view this as a luxury pick, but Tampa seems determined to fix its non-blitz pass-rushing woes. By selecting Ezeiruaka, you provide a short-term boon with a fantastic 4-man rotation and you get long-term stability in the case of Reddick leaving after one year or Chris Braswell and/or Yaya Diaby failing to take major steps.

Ezeiruaka’s plus athletic profile and deep skillset are huge positives that should play in the pros immediately.

I wouldn’t call this a slam dunk selection, as the Bucs could easily select a linebacker or defensive back, or they could even trade down if they feel good someone they like will be there four or five picks away.

Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

(TRADE) Round 2, Pick 55 – Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State

We can dive back into the nitty gritty with the rest of the Bucs’ selections, and let’s start by getting them a brand-new starter at nickel cornerback after a small trade-back with the Chargers nets them a 6th rounder that they currently lack.

It’s been alluded to several times that the Bucs are intrigued by moving Tykee Smith to safety full-time. The 2024 third-rounder played exceptionally in the slot, but he played some safety as well and looked good there. So either way, the Bucs are going to need someone at safety or nickel corner, and we’ll go with the latter.

Parrish is smaller, about 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, but he’s built similarly to Christian Izien and Smith so it’s unlikely that would be much of a turnoff. What really stands out above both of those guys, however, is Parrish’s superior athleticism.

Parrish runs a 4.35 in the 40 with some impressive explosives numbers to boot (37.5” vertical, 10-foot-9 broad), and those qualities translate onto the field. He didn’t do agility testing but the tape shows a fleet-footed, smooth mover who can easily flip hips or change direction to stay attached to receivers out wide or in the slot – he played both frequently at Kansas State.

He’s been playing corner for only three seasons, and his level of understanding of the position already is remarkable and only improving. His ball skills are there in enticing flashes, leading the Wildcats in pass breakups (21) and interceptions (5) over the last two seasons.

The run defense is a work in progress, but it’s not prohibitive to him getting on the field and the willingness is there. Parrish is a great value here for the Bucs as someone who will likely not be a top-50 pick only because of his size. He should start right away.

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Round 3, Pick 84 – Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

The Bucs seem intent on balancing the present and future, so selecting a high-upside receiver on late Day 2 or early Day 3 shouldn’t be ruled out at all.

They add some much-needed speed with proven production in Tory Horton, who ranked top 5 in the FBS in catches and first downs in 2023 before getting hurt last year. Sound familiar? That’s because Jalen McMillan, Tampa’s third-rounder last year, suffered similar stock depression after his injury-plagued final season.

Horton isn’t the same archetype as McMillan though. He’s an explosive downfield threat with the juice to stretch the defense, which the Bucs don’t have a ton of right now. Horton was top 10 over 2022-23 in big-time catches, with 33 going for 20 yards or more. He’s also a proven kick and punt returner, where the Bucs have a clear opening after trying several options the last couple years.

Between eventual starter upside, reportedly excellent character that fits right into the locker, and special teams value, Horton would be a “spring the card” pick.

Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Round 4, Pick 121 – Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon

There’s no doubt that inside linebacker will be addressed at some point in the draft. In a weak class for the position, they’d be quick to scoop up an ascending talent like Bassa on early Day 3.

Bassa originally played safety before moving inside at Oregon, and he really grew into the role over the last two years as a full-time starter. A tad undersized (6-foot-1, 228 pounds), Bassa plays bigger than that and doesn’t mind getting dirty in the gaps. His real bread and butter, however, is coverage, where he moves naturally and smoothly in zone or man – something desperately needed for a Bucs team that got absolutely gouged between the hashes and down the seam last year.

He’s still developing his instincts as a blitzer, which is obviously a big part of what Tampa does, and his size might have limitations at the next level, but he profiles as a good candidate for the money linebacker spot currently occupied by Lavonte David.

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Round 5, Pick 157 – Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan

This one is a bit of a deep cut that people not be familiar with, so I’ll get everyone up to speed.

Kone (pronounced Cone-ay) is an awesome long-shot story. From homeless to living transiently with eventual NBA players Tre and Tyus Jones in high school, Kone made noise at his small high school but was a no-star recruit who struggled with grades, which made him academically ineligible for D-1 programs. He played at an Iowa community college, improving his grades, before getting into FCS Indiana State and playing well before getting offers from MAC schools. He then led the Broncos in passes defensed each of the last two seasons and received a Senior Bowl invite.

Kone is still a work in progress but he’s a good athlete (4.43 in the 40) with desirable size (6-foot-1, 75 ½” wingspan) and movement skills. He’s got developing instincts, aggressiveness in the run game, and plays with a massive chip on his shoulder, and those are all qualities that will play at the pro level. He’s a little lanky and he’s still got technique work to do before he’s ready for full-time action, but this is a player you’d feel really good betting on in the 4th or 5th round.

It’s worth noting the Buccaneers attended the Western Michigan Pro Day and led Kone’s on-field workout.

Photo by Todd F. Michalek/Syracuse Athletics/University Images via Getty Images

(TRADE) Round 6, Pick 181 – LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse

Adam Schefter recently listed Rachaad White as a possible trade piece on draft weekend, and honestly I do buy that possibility. White is a very good receiving back and pass protector, but he ceded a large chunk of his early down snaps to Bucky Irving and his monstrous breakout.

White is on the last year of his rookie deal, the team also has Sean Tucker who improved a lot and contributed in 2024, and this draft class is one of the deepest at running back in recent memory.

If there’s a player who profiles the most like White in this draft, it might just be LeQuint Allen from Syracuse.

Allen played an absurd amount of snaps for a running back out wide or in the slot (122), and he delivered on those as he joined Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo as the only two FBS players to log more than 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards.

Allen is also a hammer in pass protection, which the Bucs absolutely cannot do without if they do decide to part with White. He’s not a particularly creative or instinctual runner, nor is he a true explosive threat from the handoff, but he makes up for it by not coughing up the ball (just one career fumble) and being very crafty as a pass catcher. The fifth or sixth round is his sweet spot.

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Round 7, Pick 235 – Warren Brinson, DL, Georgia

The classic seventh-round flier. Who the hell knows? We’ll add another body to compete for that bottom-of-the-roster defensive line depth with the likes of C.J. Brewer and Eric Banks.

Brinson has experience in a variety of alignments thanks to Kirby Smart’s diverse scheme at Georgia. He earned more playing time over 5 years with an NFL-ready frame (6-foot-5, 315 pounds with 33 ½” arms) that influenced the bodies around him.

Unfortunately, the production just wasn’t that of a top draftable prospect. Six sacks in 59 games played is paltry, though not uncommon in this Georgia defense, but just 1 forced fumble and 14 tackles for loss only exacerbate the issue.

So it seems like late Day 3 is destined for Brinson, but the NFL size, athletic profile, and assignment soundness he displays will definitely get him a shot on an NFL roster.

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What would you all think about this draft haul, Bucs Nation? Vote in the poll and comment below.