Mel Kiper Gave The Bucs A Surprisingly Lukewarm Draft Grade
April 27th, 2026
Perplexed.
Reading Mel Kiper’s breakdown of each Bucs player drafted last week, you’d think helmethair of BSPN would have given the Bucs a good overall grade.
Kiper slapped the Bucs with a “B-.”
Kiper raved about first-round pick Rueben Bain, referred to third-round receiver Ted Hurst as a “red zone magnet” and it appeared Kiper was most excited for the Bucs selecting nickel corner Keionte Scott.
I also liked the Keionte Scott pick a lot. He’s all over the Miami tape, disrupting opposing offenses as a blitzer, chasing down running backs and making plays on the ball in coverage. Scott could factor in as a slot corner or safety. Tampa Bay got him at good value, too — he was No. 80 on my board, so I wasn’t expecting to see him still out there at the 116th pick.
It seems, however, Kiper didn’t ding the Bucs for who they selected, it appears Kiper dinged the Bucs for what they didn’t select (higher). That would be a tight end.
The tight end position wasn’t addressed until the sixth round. I had it as the top roster need, and Kenyon Sadiq was often matched with the Bucs at the 15th pick. I have no issue with the Bucs taking Bain there (Sadiq and Bain were back to back on my board), but they needed to do something at the position before taking Bauer Sharp in the late rounds. Tampa Bay re-signed Cade Otton, but the Bucs could go with a lot of two-tight end sets this season in Zac Robinson’s offense, and it was a missed opportunity to not get a higher-rated prospect.
Joe gets what Kiper is saying. The Bucs might be one consistent deep threat tight end from having a complete offense. But Joe cannot quibble with who the Bucs selected.
And Joe also thinks Kiper might be onto something. The way Scott is always on the Miami tape making plays, he’s like a hybrid linebacker/safety who is an excellent blitzer. Scott very well could make the Bucs defense better in a hurry. He’s that good.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:06 am
I’d like to see Scott and Tykee at safety….
Winfield will definitely be challenged this year….
GO BUCS!!!!
April 27th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Kiper is a bum. Anyone who watched the Bucs and came to the conclusion that TE was Tampa’s greatest need is delusional. Enough said.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Mel Kiper was really pushing us to draft Kenyon Sadiq
But that’s not the direction we’re going to
We want physical defensive players, with high football IQ
We don’t need anymore finesse players
We need violent, hard hitting, good tackling defensive players
Maybe after a 2-3 years old adding defensive beasts
We may draft a TE in round 1
April 27th, 2026 at 9:16 am
Diaper is just a little salty because we didn’t draft who he mocked to us. I would take Bain over Sadiq every single time.
Most of the defensive positions we drafted were a higher need than TE. We could have gone TE instead of receiver in the third round but was there a tight end equivalent value there? Probably not. Licht has his board to go by and his own priorities.
Diaper is trying to look at the big picture for the whole league all at one time. Which is pretty much impossible and why his hit rate is super low, like most draft “gurus”. 🙄
April 27th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Here’s the deal with Kiper..he always dings teams who dont draft the player or position we had them drafting.
The truth of the matter is the Bucs had a glaring hole and need for a stud edge rusher and one if the best in the country fell to them. It was a no bainer.
Then the available TEs when they were on the clock the rest of the draft weren’t fantastic. You dont push for need when you have holes all across all levels of your defense.
They have enough at TE to still have a really good offense.
There are still a couple vet TEs that they can add before camp.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Diaper! 🤣
Nice!
April 27th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Kiper is just fighting for relevance. Fact of the matter is, there are amateurs and pros on their own dime not working for a mass marketed, media machine that are just as good at Mels’ job. At this stage in the game, Mel is just a weather man for athletes
April 27th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Culp needs to be on the field on 3rd and long-Period.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:26 am
I can’t blame the Bucs for taking Bain over Shadiq. The Bucs did both it appears took the best player available and addressed a huge need. I have been really sour on the Bucs secondary. They were soooo bad last year period. Neither McColumn or Morrison appear to be starting corners. The safties, say what you wnant but Winfield disappeared much of last year. He may be done. However, I think we need Scott more as a corner than safety currently. I like the idea of Parrish on one corner, Scott at nichel . I guess you can let Morrison and McColumn fight it out for the other position. However, I would love to see the Bucs add another corner. Right now I don’t see either of those guys working. Yes, maybe Morrison develops, but that is a big gamble especially when he can’t stay on the field.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:32 am
He had TE as the top roster need. This is why no one who knows football gives a crap about what Kiper says. ESPN has fired so many people over the years its amazing that Kiper still has a job.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Defense was the priority for this draft. Drafting a tight end in the first round would have been foolish. Licht got a lot of bang for his bucks in this draft. I expect the defense to be much more violent this season.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Look for Culp to be a bigger part of the offense this year
April 27th, 2026 at 9:42 am
I had a C +
So Mel is correct ✅
April 27th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Sign David Njoku. He should be cheap, he can still play and should be a good locker room guy.
April 27th, 2026 at 9:50 am
Sadiq will be a bust especially since he went to the Jets! I was praying the Bucs did not draft him- Baker is a not a huge TE guy anyway and Bucs drafted the 6’4″ Georgia State WR to be a red zone threat anyway!
My only complaint on the entire draft is taking Trotter ahead of other LBs (Allen) who were better rated as coverage lbs! I would gladly have traded a 4th round pick to move up 5 spots in the second round to grab Rodriquez who will be an All Pro stud for years! No learning curve for him!
April 27th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Want he he guy that said Tampa messed up in drafting S Murphy-Bunting instead of UFLer Greedy Williams?
April 27th, 2026 at 10:03 am
To ding the Bucs for not drafting a TE is shortsighted. Robinson will probably scheme around what the Bucs have.. WRs and RBs in Tampa.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:07 am
“”My only complaint on the entire draft is taking Trotter ahead of other LBs (Allen) who were better rated as coverage lbs!””
I’m praying this isn’t ANOTHER Licht 2nd pick disaster.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Very excited to see Scott play.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Wiper was wrong. TE was not the Bucs top roster need. It was a secondary need.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Kipers from Baltimore, hes a Ravens fan ..Mark Andrew’s went in the 3rd round ,you dont know what you get .However the 2 tight end set works ,if they can block
April 27th, 2026 at 10:30 am
The Bucs didn’t stink last year because of the TE position.
Alot of these media opinions are a result of the Otton juggling act during the Rams’ national tv game.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:33 am
Tight end is not that important of a position.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:34 am
More Devin Culp please.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Someone should show draft grades after the Super Bowl – Mel Kiper and all these clowns would be out of a job. Who could forget his Dilfer rant? This guy is lucky to have a job.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:57 am
The TE position has become irrelevant in the Bucs offense beyond run blocking.
Sounds like that’s what they drafted this kid out of LSU to do.
We are not stretching the field very much in general due to poor QB play.
Hence the fact that Mayfield has not been extended. He just isn’t clutch.
Going 2-7 down the stretch is all the proof you need. #NoPlayoffs