BR’s 2026 Buccaneers’ 3-Round Mock Draft 5.0

Tampa Bay’s offseason rumor mill is spinning at full tilt, and the latest Bucs Report three-round projection lands two impact defenders and a versatile offensive lineman who could reshape the depth chart as rookies.

With their second-round pick, the Buccaneers are forecast to select Olaivavega Ioane, a 6-foot-3 mauler viewed league-wide as a Day 2 swing guard. Evaluators praise his controlled aggression and raw power, noting that while technique still needs polish, his frame and mentality fit multiple schemes. Ioane is expected to compete immediately for a starting role but, at worst, supplies durable depth at both guard spots. If development goes to plan, scouts believe he can anchor the interior for the better part of a decade and cash in on multiple contracts thanks to his positional flexibility.

Tampa Bay doubles down on defense in the third round, nabbing Hill, a downhill linebacker whose instincts popped on tape—most notably in a primetime showdown with Oklahoma. Hill’s quick diagnosis, explosive gap shooting, and momentum-swinging tackles project him as a core special-teamer and sub-package contributor from Week 1.

The mock wraps up by sending Height—an edge rusher with rare coverage chops—to the Bucs later in the third. Height logged productive pass-rush numbers while also dropping into coverage, a dual skill set that has NFL scouts intrigued. The pre-draft checklist is clear: add 10-15 pounds through a pro strength program and shore up tackling consistency. If the weight comes and technique sharpens, Height profiles as a 400-500-snap rotational piece as a rookie with starter upside by Year 3. The risk lies in physical development; the reward is a versatile chess piece who can rush, cover, and special-team his way onto the field.

All three selections address immediate depth concerns while offering developmental ceilings, a formula Tampa Bay hopes will keep the championship window propped open well into the latter half of the decade.