- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 442,985
- Reaction score
- 44
Every year, NFL draft coverage focuses on the top prospects, in particular players with real chances to be taken in the first round. This covers only a fifth of the draft class at best. In truth, the bones of NFL rosters are built in the middle rounds, where reliable starters and key depth are found.
Like most good teams, the Buccaneers' 2020 Super Bowl team relied heavily on mid-round picks like Ali Marpet, Carlton Davis III and Chris Godwin. This year, the Bucs will be on the lookout for future starters and rotational pieces to help maintain their dominance of the NFC South and take the next step towards Super Bowl contender status.
These are the mid-round picks the Bucs could select in the 2025 NFL Draft:
Cal CB Nohl Williams fits Tampa Bay's established requirements for an outside cornerback: big and long. He also has something the Bucs' current cornerback room lacks: ball skills. Williams recorded 14 interceptions in college, including seven in 2024. While he does not possess top-end speed, he is savvy enough in coverage to disrupt routes and position himself to make plays on the ball. Williams is also a solid run defender and has radically improved as a tackler, missing just 5.3% of his 2024 tackle attempts after missing 19.4% in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. Williams's lack of speed and age may prevent him from being a top-50 pick, but the Bucs may not be able to wait beyond their second-round pick to acquire him.
While the Bucs are largely set at wide receiver, they may be looking for a deep option beyond Trey Palmer, who has done little as either a receiver or a returner. Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane is shorter than Palmer at 5'9" but is just as fast and overall is a more explosive athlete. While he was not particularly productive at Virginia Tech, much of that could be blamed on the offense around him. Lane's more multifaceted athleticism would definitely threaten Palmer's place on Tampa Bay's roster. Lane's small stature and lack of college production may push him to Day 3 of the draft, which should suit the Bucs fine if they are looking to add him to their roster.
With Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards again off the roster, the Bucs will be on the lookout for a safety to pair with Antoine Winfield Jr. Marques Sigle converted from cornerback to safety after transferring to Kansas State, though he played mostly nickel corner. He is sticky in coverage and is usually looking for an angle on the ball in the air, recording seven career interceptions and 16 pass breakups. Sigle compares favorably to Edwards, though Sigle is faster if a bit lighter than Edwards. Sigle could be available as late as round five or even six, which a small price to pay for a potential ballhawk.
Even with the addition of Haason Reddick, the Bucs are all but guaranteed to draft an edge rusher this year. If they choose to wait until after the first round to take one, they could do much worse than LSU's Bradyn Swinson. Although he is on the lighter side at 255 pounds, he has decent length at 6'4" with an 81-inch wingspan. Swinson also has decent bend and burst, certainly enough to make him a threat to either shoulder of NFL offensive tackles. As an older prospect with just one full season of starting experience, Swinson's upside comes with a bit of a clock, though that shouldn't deter the Bucs if he's available in the third round.
At some point, the Bucs will need to find a successor to long-time defensive lineman Will Gholston. Nebraska's Ty Robinson shares some key traits with Gholston, namely his incredible strength and relentless motor. Robinson is not as long as Gholston, though few players are, but he is long enough to leverage offensive linemen and hold the point of attack. Like Gholston, Robinson is not likely to light up the scoreboard with sacks, but he would be an immediate asset in the run game and help compress the pocket in passing situations. As a fringe top-100 player, the Bucs may not be able to wait until Day 3 to select Robinson like they did with Gholston.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Who are some mid-round targets the Bucs could draft in 2025?
Continue reading...
Like most good teams, the Buccaneers' 2020 Super Bowl team relied heavily on mid-round picks like Ali Marpet, Carlton Davis III and Chris Godwin. This year, the Bucs will be on the lookout for future starters and rotational pieces to help maintain their dominance of the NFC South and take the next step towards Super Bowl contender status.
These are the mid-round picks the Bucs could select in the 2025 NFL Draft:
CB Nohl Williams
You must be registered for see images
Cal CB Nohl Williams fits Tampa Bay's established requirements for an outside cornerback: big and long. He also has something the Bucs' current cornerback room lacks: ball skills. Williams recorded 14 interceptions in college, including seven in 2024. While he does not possess top-end speed, he is savvy enough in coverage to disrupt routes and position himself to make plays on the ball. Williams is also a solid run defender and has radically improved as a tackler, missing just 5.3% of his 2024 tackle attempts after missing 19.4% in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. Williams's lack of speed and age may prevent him from being a top-50 pick, but the Bucs may not be able to wait beyond their second-round pick to acquire him.
WR Jaylin Lane
You must be registered for see images
While the Bucs are largely set at wide receiver, they may be looking for a deep option beyond Trey Palmer, who has done little as either a receiver or a returner. Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane is shorter than Palmer at 5'9" but is just as fast and overall is a more explosive athlete. While he was not particularly productive at Virginia Tech, much of that could be blamed on the offense around him. Lane's more multifaceted athleticism would definitely threaten Palmer's place on Tampa Bay's roster. Lane's small stature and lack of college production may push him to Day 3 of the draft, which should suit the Bucs fine if they are looking to add him to their roster.
S Marques Sigle
You must be registered for see images
With Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards again off the roster, the Bucs will be on the lookout for a safety to pair with Antoine Winfield Jr. Marques Sigle converted from cornerback to safety after transferring to Kansas State, though he played mostly nickel corner. He is sticky in coverage and is usually looking for an angle on the ball in the air, recording seven career interceptions and 16 pass breakups. Sigle compares favorably to Edwards, though Sigle is faster if a bit lighter than Edwards. Sigle could be available as late as round five or even six, which a small price to pay for a potential ballhawk.
OLB Bradyn Swinson
You must be registered for see images attach
Even with the addition of Haason Reddick, the Bucs are all but guaranteed to draft an edge rusher this year. If they choose to wait until after the first round to take one, they could do much worse than LSU's Bradyn Swinson. Although he is on the lighter side at 255 pounds, he has decent length at 6'4" with an 81-inch wingspan. Swinson also has decent bend and burst, certainly enough to make him a threat to either shoulder of NFL offensive tackles. As an older prospect with just one full season of starting experience, Swinson's upside comes with a bit of a clock, though that shouldn't deter the Bucs if he's available in the third round.
DT Ty Robinson
You must be registered for see images attach
At some point, the Bucs will need to find a successor to long-time defensive lineman Will Gholston. Nebraska's Ty Robinson shares some key traits with Gholston, namely his incredible strength and relentless motor. Robinson is not as long as Gholston, though few players are, but he is long enough to leverage offensive linemen and hold the point of attack. Like Gholston, Robinson is not likely to light up the scoreboard with sacks, but he would be an immediate asset in the run game and help compress the pocket in passing situations. As a fringe top-100 player, the Bucs may not be able to wait until Day 3 to select Robinson like they did with Gholston.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Who are some mid-round targets the Bucs could draft in 2025?
Continue reading...
