Chris Simms Looks For Bucs To Trade To No. 11 For Monsoor Delane
April 20th, 2026
LSU cornerback Monsoor Delane
This nugget especially intrigues Joe because former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, the NBC Sports analyst, is very tight with many NFL power hitters. Heck, he mysteriously was an invited guest two weeks ago at the annual poolside cocktail gathering of NFL head coaches in Phoenix.
(Todd Bowles did not attend the poolside merriment.)
Joe also is intrigued because Simms ranks LSU cornerback Monsoor Delane is the fourth-best cornerback in the NFL Draft.
Today, Simms pumped out his first and only mock draft of the year. He’s got the Bucs trading up from No. 15 to No. 11 with Miami and drafting Delane.
Simms explained that the loss of cornerback Jamel Dean to the Steelers is significant and he’s unimpressed by what the Bucs’ other corners delivered last season.
“Tampa needs a cover corner. They lost Jamel Dean. Their [other] corners were not good last year. They were pitiful; they couldn’t cover anybody,” Simms said. “I think they got to feel the desperation here.”
Simms ranks Delane behind University of Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, and corners Brandon Cisse (South Carolina) and Colton Hood (Tennessee). But across the NFL, Simms acknowledged he’s heard Delane is viewed as the No. 1 cornerback other than McCoy.
Simms added he’s heard chatter that McCoy potentially could fall out of the first round because of his knee recovery concern.
Joe has written about Delane. After three years at Virginia Tech, Delane came to LSU last season and thrived, and he earned respect very quickly in the form of offenses avoiding him.
Joe would have no issue if the Bucs want to get crazy deep and talented at cornerback this week. Trading up seems off the mark, but who knows what Simms has heard?
Yes, the Bucs drafted two cornerbacks last year. But they also drafted four cornerbacks and two safeties through the 2018 and 2019 drafts. And all but one of those six were key contributors to the 2020 Super Bowl team.
Forgot the names? Jordan Whitehead, Carlton Davis, M.J. Stewart, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean and Mike Edwards.
April 20th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Nah. CB later, probably. Licht isn’t moving up this year, IMHO.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
we need 2 CBs…this kid is a great player but D.Ponds and D.Moore would be great additions….both could be day 3 picks and we need them to play special teams….
Cant wait til Thursday
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 20th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
I agree it’s stick and pick or trade down.
There are still other more important needs IMO.
Would much rather have Vega Ioane.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Chris is silly
April 20th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
He ain’t moving up. I love the idea of moving back to get another 3rd or 4th, depending on the move.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
If they are going to blow resources get an edge what is this chris go away.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Chris Simms Jason will not trade up unless its for Bainwe canbgrab corners i. Round 3 afyw rthe wdge and lb or dod he forget about those pressing needs.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Chris Simms, Jason will not trade up unless its for Bain..we can grab corners in. Round 3 after the edge and lb or did he forget about those pressing needs.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
I am 💯 fine with it, IF he’s their man! Being ‘aggressive’ is always good. That’s been THE ‘biggest’ problem with JL, and his being WEAK (scared) and standing pat strategy. While, watching other teams continue to pluck your top targets away (and then running to the media, and trying to tell everyone, that EVERY player you wanted just magically, fell into your lap). It’s the reason for WHY he hasn’t drafted a single Pro-Bowler in over 5-YEARS NOW. Do you even realize just HOW HARD that is to do!? Especially, nowadays. You almost have to TRY TO. The draft REWARDS aggression.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
A competent pass rush will help the secondary. Edge rusher 1st pick.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Just not on Kickers and the such.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
I like CB for a first round pick. Can see us getting an edge and LB in 2nd and 3rd. TE and depth help on the O line later.
Still have my eyes on Greenard, who may be able to give us more veteran depth at LBer, but Licht would need to figure out cap space
April 20th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
“Their [other] corners were not good last year. They were pitiful; they couldn’t cover anybody,” Simms said.
Couldn’t agree more on this opinion.
If the corners are good it will make the edge rushers job easier.
Paying your God son is not a sound strategy.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
JL isnt moving up for a CB. Just will not happen. If they stick and pick at 15 and a CB is BPA, then fine.
If they moved up it would be for an edge or Styles..still unlikely.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
BPA preferably a D side player!
April 20th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
The only reasons I can see to trade up are:
A power move to get Sonny Style, which I would absolutely love.
A move to get a top edge rusher. Depending on who it is, I could accept this.
Sonny Styles would be worth giving up some picks for since he’d excel for 15 years.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Since so many are predicting we take Kenyon Sadiq, I can be pretty sure he will not be the pick.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
So Ben Morrison is just a bust right? That is what they are saying if they trade up to draft a CB. We pushed Dean out of town to make way for BM21 because Todd is friends with his daddy. Only to realize that he is even more injury prone that Dean is.
Only if Licht had an indication of how injury prone BM21 was during his time at Notre Dame before we drafted him to replace Dean we wouldn’t need to draft one the very next year. SMDH.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
My guess is that Parrish goes outside if Morrison struggles and the draft a Nickel/ Slot CB
April 20th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Why trade up when they can sit and gamble on the injured McCoy.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
He’s not just “friends” with his daddy. He’s his friggin’ Godfather, from what I’ve heard.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Forget trading up and throwing away picks. Best defensive player at #15, or trade down. Pick McCoy at #15 or trade down for Mesidor. McCoy ran a 4.37 at his pro day. Maybe his knee is good? A 4.37 sounds like a decent 40 time.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
You can trade back and still be “aggressive.” Being ‘active’ is the key. Wheel and Deal. Pick your spots. You can be aggressive with your other picks. Hell, he couldn’t do much worse than what he has. There is an overwhelming lack of talent on this roster, outside of a handful of “nice” players. That’s IT.