Former NFL General Manager Has Buccaneers Taking Cornerback In Mock Draft

The Bucs have a lot of different needs heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, and one former general manager thinks they could do well to further add to the secondary.

Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) looks on during / Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

It’s mock draft season, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the clock at pick 26 in the first round. While the team did a great job at re-signing their own priority free agents and bringing in some outside competition, there are still plenty of needs for the Bucs that will have to be addressed through the draft.

At the top of the list is an impact edge rusher. Yaya Diaby came on the scene last year as a breath of fresh air, but with the departure of Shaquil Barrett, the Bucs need to find a starter opposite of him. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is currently penciled in as that guy. The former first-round pick hasn’t quite lived up to expectations but has still been a useful player for the Bucs, racking up 13 sacks throughout three seasons with the team. 

Behind Diaby and Tryon-Shoyinka is the steady Anthony Nelson, who filled in admirably in 2023 for Barrett after he was lost for the season to an Achilles injury, as well as second-year players Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez. Watts was an undrafted rookie who showed potential when he saw action and the latter spent the year on the practice squad after being drafted in the seventh round. Watts and Ramirez drew rave reviews from the offensive linemen tasked with blocking them. 

With all the uncertainties at the position and the free agent market dried up of young impactful edge rushers, the Bucs will likely turn their focus to the draft. Unfortunately, this is not the year to need an edge rusher. With only four, maybe five players with first-round grades, the Bucs can't go reaching for one in the first round. 

This all brings us to ESPN writer Mike Tannebaum’s mock draft. The former Jets General Manager and front office executive released his mock draft on Tuesday and with it, he put a disclaimer that it is not a predictive mock but rather what he would do for each team. When it came to the Bucs pick at 26, he had them selecting Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean.

“Coach Todd Bowles loves versatility on the back end, and that's exactly what DeJean brings to the table. Cornerback Carlton Davis III left for Detroit, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. might be in town for only one year on the franchise tag. DeJean had seven interceptions over his final two seasons at Iowa and is an outstanding punt returner. Although I would start him at corner, he eventually could evolve into a terrific safety because of his 6-1 size, physicality and range.”

While DeJean could be an excellent selection for the Bucs, especially with his versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary, the problem is who was left on the board. 

Three picks later UCLA’s Laitu Latu comes off the board to the Detroit Lions at 29. Immediately after that at pick 30, FSU’s Jared Verse goes to the Baltimore Ravens.  

With a greater need at edge rusher, the Bucs would likely believe that both of those players would be a much better selection for the team this season. In fact, if either fell into the 20s, Bucs general manager Jason Licht should be working the phones to make a move up to secure the talented edge rusher.

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