Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Draft Analyst Gives Clear Thought On Bucs' Plans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Apr 20, 2025 10:35 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will enter the 2025 NFL Draft as one of only a handful of teams without a clear and obvious need ahead of the first round.

The offense is set with Baker Mayfield, and defensively, while there would be good additions to the secondary and defensive line, but none "scream" out as a position the Buccaneers must draft first.

So, where exactly could Todd Bowles and Jason Licht go?

For NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, who fielded questions on his annual conference call with media members, has a clear direction, in his mind, of where the Buccaneers will go.

"I'm going to go with an edge rusher for Tampa," Jeremiah said on the conference call via Yahoo Sports. "I'm going to say they lean towards a productive guy and someone that I think could kind of fit and grow with that team. That's a good team. I saw them last year, and I thought that was one of the most physical teams in the NFL."

Edge rusher is perhaps the most "pressing" need, if you want to call it that, but the addition of Haason Reddick is seen as one of the best moves of free agency.

Granted, Reddick is a one-year rental as he will look to get paid next offseason, so getting a younger pass rusher in to learn and grow in his rookie season to step up is a clear choice.

Some have linebacker with Jihaad Campbell as Tampa Bay's pick in several mock drafts, but edge seems to be the position to target.

And if Jeremiah is thinking that, you can bet your house that the Buccaneers are likely thinking that too.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: