Bucs Midseason 2023 Mock Draft Roundup

Outside of quarterback, pass rush is always a focus. Tampa Bay could stand to continue getting younger up front on defense, plus the team will need to find a replacement for veteran linebacker Lavonte David sooner rather than later. The secondary is another area of focus, as Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards are all in contract years.

It’s fair to wonder about the running back position as well, considering Ke’Shawn Vaughn doesn’t appear to have much of a place on the depth chart. Leonard Fournette will have two years left on his deal after this year, too, leaving 2022 draftee Rachaad White as the lone long-term option in the backfield.

And at wide receiver, the team has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage locked in for the foreseeable future. But spending draft capital on some young depth and potential pieces for the future could be intriguing as well.

With all of that said, let’s check in on some of the latest mock drafts.

Cam Mellor released a seven-round mock on Oct. 29. Here’s the rundown on what he’s projecting for the Bucs:

ROUND 1, PICK 19: DT, Gervon Dexter (Florida)

“At 6’6″ and well over 300 pounds, Gervon Dexter is a mountain of a man to block. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive line gets bigger, younger, and more ferocious. Dexter gives the Bucs another piece of a fearsome pass-rushing unit and is no slouch in run defense.”

ROUND 2, PICK 50: CB, Nehemiah Pritchett (Auburn)

“Nehemiah Pritchett has great length at cornerback and comes with sticky hands all along routes and at the catch point. Pritchett is a prime candidate to kick inside to limit slot receivers for the Bucs’ defense, something they haven’t done well in 2022.”

ROUND 3, PICK 82: G, LaDarius Henderson (Arizona State)

ROUND 5, PICK 150: WR, Charlie Jones (Purdue)

ROUND 6, PICK 180: C, Alex Forsyth (Oregon)

ROUND 6, PICK 182: EDGE, Brenton Cox Jr. (Florida)

ROUND 7, PICK 221: QB, Bo Nix (Oregon)