TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially in a new era. Following a frustrating 8-9 campaign in 2025 that saw the team lose seven of its final eight games, the “Old Guard” has moved on. With franchise legend Lavonte David announcing his retirement this past Tuesday and Mike Evans finding a new home in free agency, GM Jason Licht is pivoting. The 2026 NFL Draft is no longer about adding depth; it is about finding the next core of a roster that looked tired and slow in December.
The Post-Lavonte Identity Crisis
Replacing a Hall of Famer is impossible. You don’t just “find” another Lavonte David. However, the Bucs’ defense surrendered leads late in games last season because they lacked speed in the second level. While Licht stayed busy in free agency by grabbing Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom, those are veteran patches. To truly reclaim the “Gravedigger” identity, Tampa Bay must look toward high-upside sleepers who fit Todd Bowles’ aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme.
The 2026 class offers exactly that. The front office has already begun the legwork, hosting Missouri’s Zion Young for a pre-draft visit this past Wednesday. The message is clear: the defense needs more “Havoc” plays, and they need them now.
Sleeper 1: LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
If you want speed, look at the man nicknamed “Shark.” Pitt’s Kyle Louis is a 5-foot-11, 220-pound heat-seeking missile. He racked up 81 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2025, showing a rare ability to navigate traffic and find the ball carrier. He is a hybrid player who can drop into zone coverage with the fluidity of a safety but still thumps at the line of scrimmage. For a Bowles defense that relies on linebackers who can mask their intentions until the snap, Louis is a schematic dream.
Sleeper 2: EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
At 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds, Zion Young is a physical specimen who finally put it all together in 2025. He finished the season with 16.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, asserting himself as one of the most violent point-of-attack defenders in the SEC. His heavy hands and massive wingspan allow him to “walk back” offensive tackles into the quarterback’s lap. Tampa’s pass rush felt stagnant last year; Young provides the raw power to collapse the pocket from the outside in.
Sleeper 3: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss
With Mike Evans gone, Baker Mayfield needs a vertical threat who can win 50-50 balls. De’Zhaun Stribling is that guy. Clocking a 4.36 40-yard dash at the Combine, Stribling combines elite speed with a 6-foot-2 frame. He caught 55 passes for 811 yards last season, proving he can be a reliable “X” receiver in a high-octane offense. He stretches the field, forcing safeties to stay deep and opening up underneath lanes for Chris Godwin and Cade Otton.
“We aren’t looking to replicate what we had in 2020. That’s over. We need young, hungry players who can dictate the tempo of the game. If you can’t run and you can’t hit, you won’t play here.”
— Todd Bowles, Buccaneers Head Coach
Draft Implications: What’s Next
The Buccaneers hold the 15th overall pick, and while many mock drafts have them eyeing Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq to boost the passing game, the defensive holes are too glaring to ignore. Expect Licht to look for a trade-back scenario if the top-tier tackles are gone. Accumulating Day 2 capital to snag Louis and Young would be a masterstroke for a team that needs to replenish its defensive speed. The 2026 draft won’t just define the upcoming season; it will determine if the Mayfield era has a second act or if a total rebuild is looming on the horizon.
