Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Mock Draft Roundup 3.0

There will be a lot of talk about Howell having shorter arms, but the tape shows an Aggie who plays every snap with intensity. Todd Bowles could use more juice off the edge.

Trade! The Buccaneers trade the 15th pick to the Steelers for the 21st pick and a third-rounder.

At 6-2, 248 pounds, Howell doesn't have ideal size, which is why he may be available this late. What he has is a track record of production against elite competition. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year had 25 sacks in three seasons and 11.5 in 2025. He may not be a difference-maker against the run, but Howell should make an immediate impact on passing downs. Howell would fill the Bucs' most pressing need, but we should consider that general manager Jason Licht doesn't always draft a player who fills what everyone else thinks is a need. (See Emeka Egbuka.) Howell, though, might be too good to pass up.

I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if Kenyon Sadiq works his way into the top 10 by the time the draft rolls around. We've seen how important tight ends have become for plenty of offenses in recent years, and how teams value the position. Sadiq is the clear No. 1 option at the position to be That Guy in this class. He reminds me of George Kittle.

I have Styles rated much higher than 15th in my prospect rankings, but not all teams value off-ball linebackers the same way. Styles can plug the hole if Lavonte David does not return.

The Buccaneers must add pass-rush juice this offseason, as they have gone four straight seasons without a player reaching the eight-sack mark. There's an argument that Howell is the most explosive rusher in the class -- he and Bailey are my top two contenders. Howell won SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 with 11.5 sacks. He lacks prototypical arm length for an edge rusher but more than makes up for it with his athletic burst and ability to bend around offensive tackles. He'd help get this pass rush on track.

General manager Jason Licht has no qualms with taking a player who is not at a position of need, so anything is in play here. This is the year the Bucs finally draft the replacement for the unsinkable Lavonte David. Allen has been a steadying force for Georgia's defense ever since he stepped on the field as a freshman. He has intangibles and a well-rounded game that would fit in Todd Bowles' defense. And really any defense, to be fair.

Lavonte David is 36 and a free agent. So, the Buccaneers are probably looking at replacing this offseason or sometime soon. Styles is the best inside linebacker in the draft, showing he can do it all at Ohio State this past season. He actually started his college career at safety, but they moved him to linebacker because of his massive 6-foot-5 frame. He's also got three years of starting experience and he's still just 21 years old.