Building The Buccaneers Big Board: 1-10

Buccaneers fans, we are less than a month away from the NFL Draft. Teams have seen the workouts and are in the process of continuing to meet with prospects. This is all part of the process for creating individual team big boards.

These boards will vary from team to team. This is because some players will fit certain teams more than others based on the system they run and what they are asking their players to do. So the players who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking at might be very different than who the teams around them are looking at.

Of course, there will be a lot of overlap with these players. Some players are scheme versatile and will be high on every team’s big boards. These will essentially be used as rankings and a pecking order as to who teams will draft come April.

For this series, I will attempt to create the Buccaneers big board. This will highlight the Bucs priority targets ranging across several rounds. Some big name players will not be included due team fit, so keep in mind that this is team specific. 

Buccaneers 1-10 Big Board

Travis Hunter, Cornerback/Wide Receiver, Colorado

Hunter is the do it all two way phenomenon. He played cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado which are both positions of need for the Bucs. There is a case to be made that he is the best player in the draft at both of these positions. Sadly, he will be off the board well before pick 19 and the Buccaneers are unlikely to trade up. 

Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

If pass rush is the name of the game then Carter is the answer. He is an ultra athletic linebacker who is incredibly explosive off the edge. He is projected to go as high as number one overall, so don’t get attached, but he would be an ideal fit with the Bucs.

Mason Graham, Defensive Tackle, Michigan

Defensive tackle might not be the biggest need on the roster, but Graham is a true game wrecker that supersedes need. He would bring pass rush as a 4 tech defensive tackle and this would move Calijah Kancey out to defensive end. Adding Graham to the existing defensive line would make this unit unblockable. 

Will Campbell, Offensive Line, LSU

The Bucs have all five starters returning on their offensive line, but Campbell would be too good to pass up. I advocated to upgrade over Ben Bredeson in free agency and Campbell would fill that need and fit nicely in at that right guard spot. He was once considered the top prospect in the draft, but short arms may force him inside as opposed to playing left tackle in the NFL.

Will Johnson, Cornerback, Michigan

Johnson missed most of his final season with an injury, but in 2023 he was the star defensive back of the national championship Michigan Wolverines. He has size, speed, excellent ball skills and can play both man and zone coverage. He’d be an ideal fit.

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Cade Otton is a rock solid starter at tight end, so upgrading over him is not a priority. However, the Bucs did meet with Tyler Warren at the combine and he would be a great fit and weapon to add to this team. He is a physical blocker as well as a playmaker in the passing game. Some have compared him to a Rob Gronkowski style of game.