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Mock Draft Monday: The NFL Draft is closing in on the Bucs
TL;DR
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are nine days away from the 2026 NFL Draft, planning to make significant moves including trading their 15th overall pick to acquire edge rusher Jonah Elliss and additional future picks from the Denver Broncos.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are nine days away from making their selections in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. With this being our second-to-last team-specific mock draft of the season, it will be a "what we would do" mock draft. We wanted to share some different picks after weeks of seeing the same thing over and over again.
Just because we are avoiding the usual suspects we see with the team doesn't mean the Bucs won't end up adding anyone of significance as the defense works its way back to being a dominant presence.
To make sure that happens, we made a trade to start this mock draft, sending the Bucs out of the first round in a massive deal. We have them acquiring edge rusher Jonah Elliss, the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as 2027 first and second-round picks from the Denver Broncos.
To get this package, the Bucs are trading away the 15th overall pick in 2026 and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
In making that trade, we land a difference maker for the defense, as well as some other key players:
- Round 2, Pick 46: D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
- Round 3, Pick 77: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
- Round 4, Pick 108: Mikail Kamara, Edge, Indiana
- Round 4, Pick 116: Brian Parker II, OL, Duke
- Round 5, Pick 155: Michael Taaffe, DB, Texas
- Round 6, Pick 195: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
- Round 7, Pick 229: Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
The defense gets the revamp they desperately need with the edge rusher getting some juice from the Ellis pick. He and Yaya Diaby would make for a fun duo that the team can create some more pressure with. Beyond them, they also add Ponds to create a more physical presence at cornerback after the departure of Jamel Dean, and Kyle Louis at linebacker after Lavonte David retired.
The offense benefits from the additions of Tanner Koziol as a more athletic receiving option at tight end, as well as Kaden Wetjen to add some depth at wide receiver.
All in all, it is a fun mock with a big trade to mix things up before next week, and we settle into what could be a quiet mock draft for the team.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Mock Draft: The Bucs land some difference makers in new projection
Q&A
What trade did the Buccaneers make for the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Buccaneers traded their 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for edge rusher Jonah Elliss and future first and second-round picks.
Who is Jonah Elliss and why is he significant for the Buccaneers?
Jonah Elliss is an edge rusher acquired by the Buccaneers to bolster their defense as they aim to regain dominance in the league.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft taking place?
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in nine days in Pittsburgh.
