Although the Bucs just put the finishing touches on what has been widely considered a successful offseason in re-signing players and adding talent through the 2024 NFL Draft, there is always an eye toward the future and what it holds.
The 2025 NFL Draft is still far away, but that doesn’t mean one cannot look into the distance and ponder which players and team needs may need to be addressed. ESPN’s Matt Miller recently put together a 2025 NFL mock draft (ESPN+ subscription required) and shared some early predictions, including which direction the Bucs may go when they are on the clock next April.
Who Does ESPN Have The Bucs Selecting In 2025 NFL Mock Draft?
Slotting the Bucs in at No. 12 in this mock draft scenario, Matt Miller has Tampa Bay selecting LSU outside linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. In explaining his reasoning, this is what Miller had to say about Perkins and how he could fit in head coach Todd Bowles’ defense.
Perkins was misused at linebacker last season, but he will move back to edge rusher in new defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s scheme this year. And we could see him use his great speed to eclipse his 13 career sacks this season alone.
That might entice the Buccaneers, who are looking for a defensive end to break out and emerge as a true threat to opposing offenses. Veteran Shaquil Barrett is gone in free agency, and Tampa Bay’s 27.3% pressure rate ranked 24th in the league last season, so adding to this group could be a frontline need come next offseason.
How Would LSU EDGE Harold Perkins Jr. Fit With The Bucs?
There is little question that Harold Perkins Jr. has an intriguing skill set and would give the Bucs a big-name pass-rushing prospect to pair with YaYa Diaby presumably, but he does come with size concerns. Listed at just 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Perkins is an undersized player off the edge and while he has put together two highly productive seasons with the Tigers, he will need to continue adding size if he looks to compete against much bigger NFL offensive linemen.
Still, Perkins made the 2022 First-Team All-SEC team with an impressive freshman season, playing all 14 games and recording 72 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception. His numbers in 2023 were very similar despite being asked to play a different role, as he recorded 75 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Looking at his production, scouting report, and highlights, and very well could be another chess piece for Todd Bowles to creatively utilize and deploy.
Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings made an extensive list of Perkins’ strengths and weaknesses in a scouting report profile last month, and here were the most notable things he had to say:
Strengths
- Extremely agile, energized mover whose twitched-up lateral mobility can aid recovery.
- Has gravity-defying bend capacity as a rusher, pinching the corner while keeping speed.
- Can use his upper and lower body in sync and levy smooth chop-rip combos to win.
- Has very willing physicality, hitting runners with force and deconstructing blocks.
- Has shown to launch into tackles and effectively wrap up with his length.
Weaknesses
- Is notably light and underweight, both as a traditional linebacker and a pass rusher.
- Doesn’t have high-end proportional length and is below-average size overall.
- Non-elite play strength inhibits his ability to halt momentum as a solo tackler.
- Still relatively inexperienced at navigating congestion and processing gaps.
- Naturally lacks an overwhelming power element as a pass-rushing threat.
As it stands now, the Bucs outside linebacker room has one starter locked in with Diaby, but there are question marks outside of him. Second-round pick and former SEC rival Chris Braswell will be given every chance to start, but veterans Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are also around and will eat into the playing time, although each will be a free agent after this upcoming season.
Markees Watts or Jose Ramirez could even make a Diaby-level leap and go from backup to starter at some point. There are still plenty of moving parts that could factor in the team-building that Tampa Bay’s front office will want to see play out, as well as some other positional needs that will need to also be considered.
Which Team Needs Will The Bucs Also Have To Consider?
Although the Bucs still have a full season to figure out which needs will be at the top of the list heading into the 2025 offseason, each of these positions could potentially be addressed with the team’s 2025 first-round pick:
Left Guard
While the Bucs added veterans Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta earlier this offseason to compete for the starting left guard spot, the team may very well be looking for their long-term answer again next year. Instead of going with more band-aids to plug the position, it would behoove Tampa Bay to secure the last of their offensive spots with a long-term solution.
With Tristan Wirfs, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, and Luke Goedeke, the offensive line has been completely overhauled in recent seasons and suddenly has a quality core in place. Adding one final young piece to the group would only help protect Baker Mayfield and potentially solidify the offensive trenches for years to come.
Wide Receiver
This is an interesting positional need, as Mike Evans will be a year older and Chris Godwin will be a free agent. While the Bucs ended up drafting Jalen McMillan in the third round this year, it does not rule out the team selecting another wide receiver if Godwin departs. That is a big storyline heading into this season, and at some point, the team will have to make another big investment into the position.
When Evans was drafted in the first round back in 2014, Tampa Bay already had Vincent Jackson as he was playing in his age-31 season. With Evans playing 2024 at the same age, it could be the year that they consider taking someone to learn from him and become his successor as the next No. 1 wide receiver.
Defensive Tackle
The Bucs currently have two-thirds of their starting defensive line locked down for the foreseeable future with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. After this season though, the team could look to find their last starting defensive lineman. Logan Hall is entering his third season, and it is very much a make-or-break one for the 2022 second-round pick after two up-and-down campaigns to begin his NFL career.
Hall may be better suited to fill a Will Gholston role as a rotational defensive lineman than as a starter, and if head coach Todd Bowles wants to continue having one of the best run defenses in the league, adding another above-average contributor up front will only aid his defense.
Cornerback
After trading away Carlton Davis III this offseason, the Bucs have put more pressure on Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum heading into 2024. With Dean’s availability being a big question mark and McCollum having yet to establish himself as a starting-caliber cornerback, there is a variance of outcomes that could lead to cornerback becoming a position of need. Should Dean struggle to recapture his previous form and McCollum fail to continue his upward trajectory, adding a shutdown corner is something the team will definitely consider – especially if Bryce Hall, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, doesn’t pan out, either.
