2026 NFL Mock Draft Monday: Buccaneers enjoy a win and get some help

The 2026 NFL Draft is months away, but with college football in full swing, it may be time to start looking ahead. With it being another Monday in the calendar, it's time for another installment within our Mock Draft Monday series here on Bucs Wire.

The team is coming off a much-needed win on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. The team showcased that they can find success on defense with effective pass rush, but the pair of Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby may not be the one they use in 2026. Also, linebacker continues to be a worry as they have left holes in the middle of the defense week after week. All in all, defense will be the focus for the team in the 2026 NFL Draft, so don't be surprised if our mock drafts also reflect that.

That brings us to Mock Draft Monday and how we think the Bucs can fix the situation.

Round 1: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

The Bucs' interior offensive line has been serviceable, but they need a building piece next to Graham Barton. They just extended Ben Bredeson, and Cody Mauch has played well, but is dealing with a season-ending knee injury. Vega Ioane has been a mauler on the interior of the Penn State offensive line, and while most of the offense has played poorly, he has been a bright spot. Adding him to an offensive line that already includes the aforementioned Barton, but also Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke on the ends, would give them one of the best units in the NFL.

Round 2: Chris Brazell II, WR, Tennessee

The offense has a unique situation with two veteran wide receivers who will be coming off an injury-riddled 2025. While both men are playing, or set to play, in the final month of the season, lots of questions still surround them. Perhaps there is a world where one of them is not back; the team will need to fill that hole. While Tez Johnson has played well, he should remain in the role he is in. What they need is someone who can stretch the field and take the top off the defense to complement Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan. Adding Tennessee's Chris Brazell II to the mix would give them a young, dynamic wide receiver group for Baker Mayfield. This team is a buffet at the wide receiver position, but it's mostly the same flavor. Adding someone like Brazzell opens a whole new door and dynamic to the offense, keeping defenses guessing what can come next.

Round 3: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Lavonte David is likely playing his final season with the Bucs in 2025. Golday is a physical linebacker with decent range to cover the run or pass effectively. SirVocea Dennis has had a couple of better weeks recently, but he can't be left alone to man this defense in the middle. Golday with Dennis is an interesting duo, with maybe a veteran in free agency thrown into the mix.

Round 4: J.C. Davis, OL, Illinois

This team needs offensive line depth more than ever. When players from other practice squads are forced to step up and play meaningful reps, you are having issues as a team. J.C. Davis can either be a fill-in at tackle, or as some project him to be a guard in the NFL. Either way, he has a lot of starting experience in the college ranks and could be a nice fill-in when disaster strikes for the Bucs.

Round 5: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

Earlier, we added Jake Golday, who is more of your traditional linebacker, but let's add a unique piece to the group. Perkins can be a do-it-all piece in Todd Bowles' defense to the point he can maybe even play a little bit of safety or edge rusher. If the team decides that Dennis is meant for them, I would trust Perkins to play his role in the defense, as his ability to move and be reliable in coverage is better than what we have seen from him in 2025.

Round 6: Desmond Reid, RB, Pittsburgh

This is a pick that may not make a lot of sense, but I just want to give Baker Mayfield as many options as possible. Desmond Reid is an undersized but dynamic back who plays bigger than he actually is. Adding him to their rotation with an expected departure of Rachaad White in free agency could make for a fun trio in the backfield. Reid does really well catching the ball out of the backfield and working in space. He would add a new dynamic to the team and would be a versatile piece for Josh Grizzard.

Round 7: Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

While not a position of need, everyone saw what the offense turns into with Baker Mayfield out. Diego Pavia does not have the size to be a top draft pick at the quarterback position, but he has the mental approach to the game that fits in perfectly with this team. He uses his legs to extend plays or run designed plays, but he also has a talented arm. He would be a perfect backup to Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay and should be a target for the team in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2026 NFL Mock Draft Monday: Bucs enjoy a win and get some help