With the NFL 2025 Draft now over, it is time to look back at how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faired.
The Buccaneers had seven picks in this year’s draft and boy, did they make them count. In fact, the consensus among NFL experts and sports outlets is that the Bucs had one of the best drafts of any franchise.
Before last Thursday, all Bucs fans knew what we needed: Defence, defence and more defence!
A great haul, starting with a curveball
So when the Bucs handed in their first-round pick at #19, many were surprised.
They selected wide receiver Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State, one of the top wideouts in this class. Expecting an edge rusher or linebacker, I was surprised to land a receiver.
That said, Chris Godwin’s future is uncertain and Mike Evans is 32 this year. It was a smart move by General Manager Jason Licht to start preparing for life after these two, as hard as it will be.
The Bucs then selected two cornerbacks: Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison at #53 and Jacob Parrish from Kansas State at #84. Both begin to address some of the team’s defensive issues.
Parrish in particular represents great value for a player ranked 67th in the Top 100 of Dane Brugler’s The Beast.
Double trouble on the edge
At picks 121 and 157, the Tampa front office took two edge rushers in David Walker, a second straight pick from Kansas State, and SMU’s Elijah Roberts. These solid defensive additions again represent good value, having been rated as 4th–5th rounders by Brugler.
The Buccaneers’ last pick was cashed in for another wide receiver, Tez Johnson from Oregon. Johnson, also slated to go in Round 4 in The Beast, is the lightest player ever drafted into the NFL, weighing in at 154 pounds – a pound lighter than previous record holder Tutu Atwell in 2021.
I look forward to seeing what the super-speedy Johnson can do, despite being short and small in stature. It is also interesting to note that he is Bucky Irving’s ‘best friend’ from Oregon and the adoptive brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.
Go big or go home
After selecting the lightest player in the draft, the Buccaneers then signed a huge defensive tackle from Florida, Desmond Watson, as an undrafted free agent (UDFA).
Watson is the heaviest player ever to enter the draft and if he makes the field, he would top the scales of any player in league history. Weighing in at 467 pounds, the guy is over three times the weight of Johnson.
Tampa’s UDFA additions also included a certain Mr. S. Sanders, son of Deion. But alas, it is not the one you are thinking of. This undrafted free agent is Colorado safety Shilo Sanders, an exciting prospect who will add yet more to the defensive side of the ball if retained.
So, all in all, I think the Buccaneers had a fantastic draft and I am very excited for the upcoming season. Roll on September!
