TAMPA, FL — The locker room at AdventHealth Training Center feels different this week. Following the emotional retirement of franchise legend Lavonte David on Tuesday, General Manager Jason Licht is facing his biggest challenge yet. With Mike Evans now in San Francisco and the defense lacking its longtime heartbeat, the 2026 NFL Draft isn’t just an opportunity—it is a necessity. We ran the PFF 2026 NFL Mock Draft simulator to see how Tampa Bay can reload for one last run with Baker Mayfield.
Most analysts expected a pass rusher or a replacement for Evans here. Instead, the simulator went for pure trench dominance. Spencer Fano (Utah) fell to 15, and the Bucs didn’t hesitate. Fano isn’t just a blocker; he’s a bodyguard with the versatility to play anywhere on the interior. While he starred at tackle for the Utes, his NFL future looks like a Pro Bowl-caliber guard or center.
Drafting Fano creates a “Wall of Tampa” that is both young and terrifying. He joins Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Graham Barton, and Cody Mauch. Every single starter on this line would be 28 or younger and drafted in the top two rounds. This unit will protect Mayfield, who turns 31 this April, and provide a clean pocket for whoever eventually takes his place.
You felt the silence in the city when David hung up the cleats. To fill that void, the Bucs used pick No. 46 on Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech). He isn’t the fastest linebacker in this class, but his tape is a clinic in instincts. Rodriguez accounted for 255 tackles and 10 forced fumbles over his last two seasons. He plays with the same “hair-on-fire” style that defined David’s 14-year career in pewter and red. While Alex Anzalone arrived in free agency to provide veteran leadership, Rodriguez is the long-term solution in the middle.
Licht loves a developmental project, and Cade Klubnik (Clemson) at No. 195 is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward move. Klubnik struggled during a messy 2025 season at Clemson, but the raw tools remain. He can sit behind Mayfield for two years and learn the system without the pressure of starting immediately. Finally, at No. 229, the Bucs took Vincent Anthony Jr. (Duke). At 6-foot-6, he is a physical marvel who needs a year on the practice squad to refine his pass-rush moves.
“Lavonte is the definition of a leader. You don’t replace a gold-jacket guy overnight, but you look for that same pulse, that same heartbeat for the ball. We need guys who play the game the right way.”
— Todd Bowles, Buccaneers Head Coach
This draft class signals a shift in strategy. By reinforcing the offensive line and grabbing a high-volume tackler, the Bucs are betting on winning the physical battle. They missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record in 2025, largely due to a lack of depth when injuries hit the trenches. This haul ensures that even as Mayfield enters the final year of his current deal, the infrastructure is in place for Tampa Bay to remain a threat in the NFC South. Keep an eye on local pro days; the Bucs are still hunting for one more veteran edge rusher to round out the rotation before April’s big event.
