The Bucs have drafted over two dozen Senior Bowl stars since Jason Licht turned normal supervisor, together with exterior linebacker Chris Braswell and defensive again Tykee Smith within the second and third rounds final yr. After spending the week in Cell, Alabama scouting this yr’s expertise, listed below are 12 gamers that match the Bucs’ techniques that might – and will – be focused by the workforce main as much as the 2025 NFL Draft.
UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo and Miami tight finish Elijah Arroyo deserve honorable point out, particularly Oladejo, who I’m excited to return and watch extra tape on main as much as this yr’s draft.
Marshall Edge Mike Inexperienced
Inexperienced, who was Pewter Report’s first-round decide for the Bucs in our first mock draft, shined on the Senior Bowl and left Cell after two dominant practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. His demolition of Oregon offensive deal with Josh Conerly throughout Wednesday’s apply was the exclamation level on a Senior Bowl that might see Inexperienced turn into a High 15 decide, which might have him off the board when the Bucs choose at No. 19.
The nation’s main sacker had 17 sacks and 23 tackles for loss and three pressured fumbles final yr at Marshall. He can win so some ways on the line of scrimmage and has an unlimited array of go rush strikes for a participant with simply two years price of beginning expertise. Inexperienced actually needed to work on his run protection in Cell and confirmed a substantial amount of physicality in taking up tackles.
Boston School Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku
Whereas Mike Inexperienced was the headliner at edge rusher in Cell, Ezeiruaku was the opening act. The nation’s second-leading sacker with 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and three pressured fumbles practiced simply two days after which left Cell with a strong second-round draft grade. Like Inexperienced, Ezeiruaku needed to indicate that he might be bodily towards the run and did simply that in 11-on-11 durations the place he would slam into tackles and crash into tight ends to show he may set the sting successfully.
Ezeiruaku had 30 profession sacks at Boston School and 47 profession tackles for loss, exhibiting he can completely stay within the backfield. If the Bucs go along with a defensive again or a defensive deal with within the first spherical, drafting Ezeiruaku within the second spherical makes an terrible lot of sense if he’s nonetheless on the board at No. 54. He would possibly even be the sort of go rusher Jason Licht trades up for within the second spherical.
Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa
Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa – Photograph by: USA Immediately
Bassa was the most effective linebacker in Cell and his pace simply made him stand out like he was glowing on the sector. A four-year starter for the Geese, Bassa totaled 236 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions 4 passes defensed and two pressured fumbles. His pick-six at Texas Tech sealed Oregon’s highway win throughout his junior season. Bassa isn’t the most important linebacker at 6-foot-1, 226 kilos, however it’s all muscle and it’s clear that he isn’t allergic to the load room.
A former security, Bassa has labored exhausting to construct up his physique and placed on the required power and measurement. But he’s been in a position to hold his agility, fluidity and pace throughout his weight acquire course of. Bassa is among the finest protection linebackers within the 2025 NFL Draft and that was on show, as was his management skill in Cell. I’d like to see Bassa in pink and pewter on Day 2.
Toledo DT Darius Alexander
Alexander had 9 sacks in three seasons as a starter at Toledo, together with 3.5 final yr and a 58-yard pick-six. He additionally had 13 profession go breakups, which reveals he can have an effect on the passer in different methods apart from sacks and pressures. The Toledo standout, who checked just below 6-foot-4, 304 kilos, has lengthy, robust arms and fast, highly effective palms.
Alexander does an ideal job of shedding blockers and penetrating the backfield, in addition to having actually good ball consciousness when it comes to rapidly discovering the ballcarrier. He was Professional Soccer Focus’ fourth-ranked defensive deal with in 2024 with a 90.2 total grade. Alexander’s inventory is on the rise after a dominant week on the Senior Bowl and he can be an ideal slot in Tampa Bay on Day 2.
South Carolina ILB Demetrius Knight II
Knight struggled to seek out the sector after three seasons at Georgia Tech, so he transferred to Charlotte for the 2023 season the place he notched 96 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three interceptions, together with a pick-six. Knight then transferred to South Carolina the place he recorded 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, pressured three fumbles and an interception final yr.
After a tough day in protection on Tuesday he bounced again and had a very strong week. Knight, who’s the thirty second total prospect on the Professional Soccer Focus massive board and the top-rated inside linebacker, instructed Pewter Report that he had two interviews with the Bucs in Cell, Ala. I like different linebackers higher, however I can see why Tampa Bay can be concerned with him as a Day 2 decide.
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos – Photograph by: USA Immediately
Amos didn’t dominate the way in which that Toldeo’s Quinyon Mitchell did final yr en path to changing into a first-round decide by the Eagles. However he did show the expertise that has him as a possible first-round choice within the two days he practiced earlier than leaving Cell with a minor leg harm. At simply over 6-foot and weighing 195 kilos he has sufficient measurement to play exterior in Todd Bowles’ protection, which is the place he performed nearly solely in faculty, as a late first-round or early second-round decide.
Amos started his profession at Louisiana the place he was a three-year starter earlier than transferring to Alabama. However he struggled to see the sector because of the expertise there and transferred to Ole Miss for the possibility to begin in 2024. There he had his finest season with 50 tackles, three interceptions, 13 go breakups and a pressured fumble for a really proficient Rebels protection. Amos earned an 85.7 Professional Soccer Focus grade final yr, which ranked twentieth amongst all faculty cornerbacks.
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas
Thomas carried out nicely on a very dangerous Florida State protection final yr, and at occasions was the lone brilliant spot. I didn’t like the truth that he solely had two profession interceptions in three years in Tallahassee, together with only one final season, however he was a go breakup machine and had a career-high 10 in 2023. Final yr he wasn’t challenged a lot as a result of he was such a shutdown cornerback and had 4 go breakups.
All he did in Cell was breakup passes it appeared. He didn’t have an ideal week of apply on the Senior Bowl, however at 6-foot-1 ½, 194 kilos and the third-longest arm size amongst cornerbacks (32.5 inches), Thomas was one of many standouts in apply. He’s already thought of a High 50 decide and will sneak into the underside of the primary spherical with a quick 40-yard sprint time on the NFL Scouting Mix. If he’s there within the second spherical I may see the Bucs being .
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel – Photograph by: USA Immediately
Oregon’s Tez Johnson was probably the most uncoverable receiver in Cell, however at 5-foot-9, 156 kilos, he’s simply too small to play anyplace however the slot on the subsequent stage. And I don’t suppose he can be a slot in Tampa Bay, which already has a few smallish receivers on their roster. I appreciated the play of TCU’s Jack Bech, Illinois’ Pat Bryant and Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins, who’re three greater, possession receivers, however Noel actually stood out to me throughout the Senior Bowl practices. I want he was greater than his 5-foot-9 3/4, 196-pound body, however Noel performs like he’s a lot greater within the slot.
Noel, who received the Nationwide Staff broad receiver of the week honors, is aware of how you can get open and create in house. He has a psychological and bodily toughness about him and performs hungry. Noel reveals great focus in tight protection and is aware of how you can convey down the ball in contested catch conditions regardless of being beneath 6-foot. I wouldn’t thoughts seeing him in pink and pewter within the center rounds. Tampa Bay may use an improve at WR4 on the depth chart behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan.
North Dakota State G Gray Zabel
The Bucs can tackle the left guard place in free company by re-signing Ben Bredeson and permitting final yr’s sixth-round decide, Elijah Klein, to compete there as nicely. However can famous offensive lineman aficionado Jason Licht resist temptation to draft Zabel within the second spherical if he’s nonetheless on the board? Licht has drafted loads of small college Senior Bowl standouts, together with Ali Marpet (second spherical, 2015), Alex Cappa (third spherical, 2018) and Cody Mauch (second spherical, 2023) earlier than.
Zabel, who like Mauch was a left deal with at North Dakota State, made a seamless transition to protect in Cell and appeared dominant in go safety and within the run recreation. He had a Day 2 grade coming into the Senior Bowl and leveled up a sure-fire second-round decide. Left guard isn’t a urgent want like a number of spots on protection are, however Zabel might be the subsequent Mauch and will solidify Tampa Bay’s offensive line for years to come back.
USC IOL Jonah Monheim
Monheim has expertise all around the offensive line, enjoying 716 snaps at proper deal with and 286 snaps at proper guard in 2022, then 762 snaps at left deal with and 53 snaps at proper guard in 2023. In 2024, Monheim was moved to heart the place he performed all 807 snaps. He excelled in go safety with simply two sacks allowed in faculty, which got here in 2023, and solely 4 quarterback hits during the last three seasons.
There’s nothing spectacular about Monheim’s recreation. He’s simply an extremely strong and versatile participant and that was on show in Cell as he was taking snaps at each heart and guard in apply. The Bucs are anticipated to lose Robert Hainsey in free company, however Monheim, who’s 6-foot-4, 307 kilos, would make a wonderful substitute on Day 3.
SMU RB Brashard Smith
SMU RB Brashard Smith – Photograph by: USA Immediately
I wasn’t watching operating backs in Cell, as I used to be focusing totally on defensive gamers. However each time I noticed a operating again flash in apply it was the child with the SMU helmet. At 5-foot-9, 195 kilos, Smith is constructed like Bucky Irving and performs in site visitors like Irving does, too. Smith has an uncanny imaginative and prescient to have the ability to see holes develop on the line of scrimmage and escape routes materialize on the second stage. And like Irving, Smith is hard for his measurement and has a stunning knack for breaking tackles and operating over linebackers.
Smith was a switch from Miami the place he was underutilized as a large receiver, catching 69 passes for 770 yards and 4 touchdowns. However SMU made him a characteristic again and he turned in a monster yr with 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns whereas averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Smith has improbable palms and had 39 catches for 327 yards and 4 extra scores. He doesn’t make as many defenders miss as Irving does, however he has extra pace and can even return kicks. Smith might be a Day 3 steal.
Oklahoma State ILB Nickolas Martin
Martin had a monster 2023 season, main the nation with 83 solo tackles and 140 complete stops with 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration. He additionally had two interceptions that season. Martin had a knee harm that restricted him to simply 5 video games in 2024, and he had simply 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration, along with two go breakups.
It looks like Martin performs 100 miles per hour when he flows downhill to make tackles within the backfield. He’s an extremely instinctive and decisive linebacker who can be rated increased if not for his actually quick arms. Martin was the smallest linebacker in Cell at 6-foot, 222 kilos, however didn’t play prefer it. But his 30 5/8 arms and 62-inch wingspan had been noticeable and can trigger him to be drafted late on Day 3.
LIVE Bucs Mock Draft Pewter Report Podcast Sunday 9:00am ET
Pewter Report has a particular Sunday episode of the Pewter Report Podcast as Josh Queipo and Adam Slivon host a LIVE Mock Draft on February 2 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Upon getting back from Cell, Ala. throughout Senior Bowl week, Queipo and Slivon will conduct a Senior Bowl-only seven-round Bucs mock draft with gamers that participated within the practices for the school all-star recreation.
Bear in mind, the Bucs have drafted a slew of gamers from the Senior Bowl beneath normal supervisor Jason Licht, together with final yr’s second- and third-round picks, Chris Braswell and Tykee Smith.
Queipo and Slivon will supply up Pewter Report’s perception and evaluation and reply Bucs followers’ questions throughout the particular Sunday version of the Pewter Report Podcast – energized by CELSIUS, the official vitality drink of Pewter Report.
