Tampa Bay Buccaneers Eye Defense in 2025 NFL Draft Mock Simulation
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are steadily approaching their turn in the 2025 NFL Draft. Under the leadership of general manager Jason Licht, the team has built a strong track record in recent years when it comes to identifying and selecting top collegiate talent. There’s every reason to believe they’ll continue that success this year.
With expectations that Tampa Bay will focus heavily on bolstering their defense, the BucsGameday team took to YouTube for a live mock draft session. Using Pro Football Focus’ draft simulator, the staff projected how the Buccaneers could approach their selections this year.
Taking into account how other teams drafted before Tampa Bay’s turn, the BucsGameday team made picks that balanced both value and team needs — not only for 2025 but with the long term in mind. While no mock draft is ever perfect, the results are something both fans and staff can feel optimistic about.
One standout from the simulation was Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. Widely regarded as one of the top linebackers in this year’s class, Walker is expected to be off the board early. However, in this scenario, the draft unfolded in Tampa Bay’s favor, allowing them to land an elite talent with the 19th overall pick — a move that seems like a perfect fit for the team’s defensive needs.