Buccaneers Fortify Defense In BucsGameday Mock Draft 1.0

It appears the Bucs are moving Tykee Smith to safety to get him on the field more, but he will still slide into the nickel when teams roll out three wide receivers. When he does, there will need to be someone at safety, and Starks would fit the bill.

A playmaker at Georgia, Starks finished his college career with six interceptions, six tackles for loss, and 17 pass breakups. He made a ton of huge plays for the Bulldogs and brings versatility to play both safety positions and the slot. Having Starks on the backend with Smith and Antoine Winfield Jr. would allow head coach Todd Bowles the freedom to line them up anywhere on any given play creating confusion for opposing offenses.

2.53: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State (RSR/6'4"/200)

Even with Jamel Dean sticking around and the depth addition of Kindle Vildor, the Bucs need to flood the secondary with reinforcements, especially at cornerback. Porter has incredible size and range and fits what the Bucs look for in and outside corners.

The former wide receiver made the switch in 2022 and had his best season in 2024, coming down with three interceptions and allowing just a 29.4 completion percentage. He ran a blazing 4.3 40-yard dash and projects well as an outside zone corner.

3.84: LB Chris Paul Ole Miss (JR/6'1"/235)

The Bucs need depth at linebacker — someone who can challenge Sir'Vocea Dennis for the starting job, and some to groom for life after Lavonte David. Paul could be that player. He already embodies the "I am that man" mantra — listen to any of his interviews.

The most impressive part is that he's got the skills to back it up. Paul is the classic do-it-all linebacker. He can stop the run, rush the passer and he excels in coverage. In his final year at Ole Miss, he racked up 88 tackles, 11 for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Bowles wants ball hawks, so he gets one with Paul.

4.121: OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA (SR/6'3"/259)

The Bucs addressed their need at pass rusher early in free agency with the addition of Haason Reddick and the re-signing of Anthony Nelson, but that doesn't mean they should be done adding to the room. Unless the absolute perfect fit is there in the first round, I can see the Bucs waiting on a pass rusher on Day 2 after investing a second-round pick into Chris Braswell last year.

On Day 3, the Bucs pick up the former off-ball linebacker. Oladejo is a lengthy defender who uses his aggressiveness and physicality to bully blockers into the backfield. Last season he made his home there with 4.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He's still raw and will need fine-tuning in his pass-rush plan and technique, but he's a strong tackler and displays natural instincts.

5.157: CB Quincy Riley, Louisville (RSR/5'11"/194)

Remember when I mentioned flooding the secondary?

The Bucs double-dip at cornerback in the fifth after selecting Darien Porter in round two. The fiesty corner knows how to get his hands on the ball with eight interceptions and 27 pass breakups over the course of his career. He played mostly outside, but a move to the slot may suit him better at the next level. He displays good instincts and fits well into a zone coverage scheme but will need to play better against the run at the next level.

7.235: DT Ty Robinson, Nebraska (SR/6'5"/288)

The Bucs round out their draft in the trenches with a player from Jason Licht's alma mater. Robinson put on an impressive showing at the combine and might have helped his draft stock. The versatile defender can play anywhere along the line with 60 games of experience. Robinson's motor is always running hot and he meets oncoming blockers with force. He's relentless in his pass rush with a quick first step and violent hands to match. Last season he put up 37 tackles, 13 for loss, seven sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.