NFL Mock Draft: Bucs trade back, acquire offensive playmaker from division rival
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could go a variety of different ways in the 2025 NFL Draft. With so many players from the 2024 class becoming meaningful starters it gives Jason Licht and his staff a lot of momentum heading into the draft. The team rallied in the back half of the season to win the division but couldn't put together a playoff run.
Despite their success in the second half of the season, this Bucs team needs to add some vital pieces in the offseason to compete with the best in the NFC.
The easiest way to add pieces to the roster is through the NFL Draft. Jason Licht hit several home runs for the Bucs in the 2024 draft class. Can he repeat that performance? Here is our best attempt.
Round 2, Pick 42: Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
Projected trade has the Bucs sending the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Jets for the 42nd, 73rd, and 162nd overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
A popular mock draft selection for the Bucs at this point, Shavon Revel lands in Tampa Bay to give the team a complete secondary. Both in age and playstyle, they now have a complete unit if they can land Revel at the value he is coming off a torn ACL.
Shavon Revel has got the goods pic.twitter.com/wPb1VZJsna
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 21, 2025
Round 2, Pick 53: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Carson Schwesinger is a fun linebacker prospect who is athletic enough and boasts the instincts to be a reliable defender in the NFL. His learning under Lavonte David for a year would have him squared up to take over in 2026 if the veteran decides to start having folks build his bust for Canton.
Round 3, Pick 73: Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina
Kyle Kennard is a monster along the South Carolina defensive line and he can be that for the Bucs if they can land him. The Bucs have a small window to rely on a veteran in Haason Reddick so pairing him up with a rookie edge in the first three rounds makes sense.
Round 3, Pick 84: Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State
Much like Revel, Winston Jr. is coming off a season-ending knee injury otherwise, he would have no business being here at this point in the draft. Winston Jr. simply makes plays on the ball whether it is in the air or on the ground, him alongside Antoine Winfield Jr., would be lethal to opposing offenses.
Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr. has NEVER missed a tackle in his career and gets better in coverage every week.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) May 20, 2024
At this rate, he’ll be a top 20 pick in 2025 👀 pic.twitter.com/oBMgqXaAHL
Bucs acquire Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons
Projected trade has the Bucs sending the 121st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Falcons for tight end Kyle Pitts.
Hear me out on this before we dismiss an in-division trade. The Falcons have to realize the Kyle Pitts experiment is a failed one. They have just four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, so getting tossed a fourth helps them in a big way. Is it an overpay? Perhaps. What it does, though, is load the Bucs up with another playmaker and allow them to put pressure on both Pitts and Cade Otton, where one has to emerge as the long-term answer at the tight end position or else the team turns elsewhere.
OMG KYLE PITTS TD!!!
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2024
📺: #ATLvsWAS on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/8sE8kkub9Y
Round 5, Pick Pick 157: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
The team re-signed Kyle Trask but it is just on a one-year deal. Stash Quinn Ewers away on the practice squad or as the emergency quarterback and allow him to learn behind Baker Mayfield.
Round 5, Pick 162: Upton Stout, SAF, Western Kentucky
The Bucs secondary took a beating in 2024, they cannot handle that many injuries again. Stout gives them depth behind Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and new draft pick Winston Jr.
Round 7, Pick 235: LaJohntay Wester, WR/KR, Colorado
The Bucs adding LaJohntay Wester to become their new kick returner. They relied on Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving in 2024 but as both seem poised for more work in the backfield, they need to save their energy.
🚨LaJohntay Wester 67 yard punt return to the house🚨#AmericanFB x @FAUFootballpic.twitter.com/tPAR1HA6T7
— The American (@American_Conf) October 14, 2023
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Mock Draft: Bucs make two splash trades in new projection
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