Jake Slaughter And The Bucs
April 22nd, 2026
There’s a lot of buzz for a Florida Gators player in this week’s NFL Draft, and it’s not because the guy is an overweight lineman battling a huge personal challenge.
The buzz is for Gators center Jake Slaughter.
Iconic helmet-hair draft guru Mel Kiper was on ESPN TV barking about how Slaughter is one of his favorite players in the draft because he’s so damn tough and smart and works like a dog/dawg. Kiper insists Slaughter is a complete player who allowed only six pressures and three sacks over in 33 starts.
A two-year Gators captain, Slaughter measured 6-5, 303 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. Joe’s only question is whether he can play guard, because the Bucs desperately need a talent upgrade among their interior linemen. That was evident last year and the Bucs have yet to address it.
As Joe has noted, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has not had back-to-back Bucs drafts without drafting an offensive lineman. There was no O-lineman picked in 2025.
Joe’s eye says Slaughter is a better athlete than former Bucs center Robert Hainsey, currently the Jaguars starting center and Licht’s third-round pick in 2021.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:22 pm
He’s a rock solid player. Might be a good 5th round target.
I still believe Barton would make a better guard than center. But seems like the Bucs are keeping Barton at center.
He would be a solid back-up and allow Barton to move to guard if Mauch or Brendensen can’t go.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:22 pm
I was thinking about drafting Jake Slaughter in the 5th Round
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Really don’t think he is there in the 3rd much less the 5th.
I like the idea of Barton at LG.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Mock Draft Bucs grade….D
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:31 pm
@ Joe
“it’s not because the guy is an overweight lineman battling a huge personal challenge.”
LOL!
Hilarious…
Thank goodness that ridiculous experiment is finally over.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Is he related to Sargent Slaughter?
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
“As Joe has noted, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has not had back-to-back Bucs drafts without drafting an offensive lineman. There was no O-lineman picked in 2024.”
2025? we drafted Elijah Klein day 3 of the ’24 draft.
Guys I like for us in the draft that are interior OL men are:
Auburn C/G Connor Lew
K-State C Sam Hecht
Iowa OG Beau Stephens
Kentucky OG Jalen Farmer
Wake Forest OT Fa’alili Fa’amoe
Also, anybody will look good next to Tristan Wirfs lol
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:12 pm
dog/dawg
^^^^^
No Gators picking up on this yet ?
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:20 pm
“Mock Draft Bucs grade….D”
Which of the 50 or so mocks are you grading?
Just first round alone has had 6-7 different players being drafted by the Bucs.
The most common ones are first round Mesidor and second round Rodriguez.
Won’t even comment on the lower rounds since they’re all over the place for every team.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Perfect example of the profile of players JL picks hoping to win the scratch off for a player that simply doesn’t measure up at the NFL level… we being fans are giddy with the prospect of finding hidden gems,
Yes you can find a gemstone at Ruby Falls… but the NFL is beyond cold and calculating.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Possible he could go undrafted. I say take him with our last pick if he is still on the board.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Wake me up in 2027. All this wasted energy on a futile endeavor. 🤡
April 22nd, 2026 at 2:42 pm
dog/dawg
^^^^
Try “world’s largest outdoor cocktail party” Joe.
Maybe some “sports fan” will pick up on that one.
And you even followed up with a picture of a “dawg”.
Stay off the highways, everyone is asleep at the wheel.