What About A Defensive Tackle?
April 3rd, 2026
Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald.
Joe has been looking at a lot of credible folks who do schlock drafts. That may seem like an oxymoron but some schlockers, even if they are forced to change their schlocks nearly as often as their underwear, try to put thought, reason and research into them.
Weird. Credibility!
So many have the Bucs taking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. And Joe gets it. He’s a dynamic playmaker at a position where the Bucs don’t have a dynamic playmaker. He can plan play slot and wide out.
In other words, Sadiq is versatile, which is a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
Joe could argue the Bucs are one fast, stretch-the-field tight end away from an explosive offense. The Bucs are maybe four or five players away from having a suffocating defense.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles said at the owners meetings this week that the Bucs need to draft or sign at least one corner, maybe two. Joe agrees.
But a position that may be way overlooked is defensive tackle.
A sect of fans are frustrated with Calijah Kancey because of his injuries. The Bucs love Kancey but they have also come to realize until he proves otherwise, Kancey is a walking injury waiting to happen.
Notice you haven’t heard anything about Kancey getting a fifth-year extension? Joe isn’t saying he won’t but that May 1 decision is certainly a backburner item right now. And Vita Vea is no pup. He’s 31. What’s his shelf life? And, oh yeah, Vea is in a contract year.
So by next February, the Bucs could be down two starting defensive tackles.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network has the first defensive tackle coming off the board to be Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald to the Patriots at No. 31. So this is not a great draft for elite defensive tackles.
Jeremiah stressed McDonald is strictly a run-stopping tackle.
McDonald has excellent size and strength for the DT position. He’s at his best against the run. He can press out blocks and disengage with violent torque. He’s very firm and stout, collecting tackles from guard to guard. He doesn’t offer much impact as a lateral chase player. As a pass rusher, he flashes some pocket push but lacks twitch and polish to consistently win. He’s more of a steady force than a dynamic playmaker. Overall, McDonald will provide value on run downs, but he needs to develop a better plan of attack as a pass rusher.
Hey, it’s never stupid to build up beef in the trenches. But it sounds like if the Bucs were interested in McDonald or other defensive tackles, those guys would be targets for the Bucs after a trade down.
Kayden McDonald is one of the safest draft picks you can make as an NFL GM. This is what he did to one of the best OL’s in College Football⬇️ https://t.co/aO6Kq1UHnu pic.twitter.com/2rZN4lLNdz
— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) February 20, 2026
April 3rd, 2026 at 4:03 am
See DT being a need, but it appears that even though there aren’t really any top-notch game wreckers in this draft, there are some really solid DT’s to choose from in rounds 3-6 that can help pad the depth & hopefully be coached up by West & Co.
April 3rd, 2026 at 4:14 am
Amen, Joe! Amen!
The Bucs defense needs to be tougher and stronger, and nothing else can do that like another monster in the middle. Watch the film studies of Kayden McDaniel and watch the game against Indiana – his eyes are always on the ball.
It was informative to see how many easy plays ILB Sonny Styles was able to make because of the work McDaniel did controlling gaps and taking out blockers at the line of scrimmage who were supposed to be blocking at the second level.
With a guy like McDaniel up front eating up blockers, you don’t need a superstar at OLB to clean up the disrupted pocket. And, you can go with lighter faster ILB’s whose coverage skills will stop last years never ending bleeding of yards when the ILBs were targeted. Anthony Hill should be a great fit for the Bucs in the second round.
And, if the ratings and mock drafts are anywhere close to accurate, the Bucs should be able to trade back into the 20’s and still get McDaniel while picking up another draft pick or two.
Inside pressure is absolutely the best pressure. Mc Daniel can play nose tackle and free up Vea and Robinson to move around wherever Bowles wants him.
I would like to see some passing downs with McDaniel, Vea and Robinson in the middle with Kancey and AlQuadin Muhammad on the outside. With Alazone and maybe Anthony Hill at ILB, I think that Bucs fans could get used to seeing the Bucs defense producing frequent three and outs. Wouldn’t that be nice?
April 3rd, 2026 at 4:20 am
@FIBoy84
There are later round guys, and if the draft goes that way, the Buc will have to live with it. But, I have been watching film on these guys, and none bring the difference making play that McDaniels brings.
Hunter is disruptive and second best, but he doesn’t shut things down and control the line of scrimmage the way McDaniels does. And, those other guys just look like roster fillers compared to McDaniels.
He looks like the Bucs best hope for a difference maker this year because of the way that he improves the performance of the other player around him and behind him.
April 3rd, 2026 at 4:43 am
I know your heart’s not in it using our #15 pick for a NT/DT, but still, thank you for at least showing this as an option.
We lost Logan Hall AND Greg Gaines this off-season. We replaced DT Hall with DT A’Shawn Robinson (6’3″ & 320 lbs), but we’ve yet to replace NT/DT Gaines. It’s critical that we do so because Vea can’t man all 1100 or so def snaps the Bucs will have this season all by himself. Vita had his best years (2022-2024) with 19 sacks, 47 pressures, 25 TFLs. 3 FF & 116 tackles (70 solo) in 45 games when he averaged a tad over 600 def snaps per season. Last season we over-used him (763 def snaps) IMO and it showed at times on the field. He’s a huge beast, but he needs to be kept fresh to perform at peak efficiency.
And THAT’S where Ohio State’s NT/DT Kayden McDonald (6’2″ & 326 lbs) can help us. He’s young (only 21) but he had a very good 2025 season (14 games – 65 tackles – 3 sacks – 9 TFLs – 2 FFs) against some quality competition. Admittedly better right now as a run defender, but he’s got the size & strength to develop a better pass rush. NFL dot com rates him as the top DT at 6.39 (meaning that he’s eventually be a PLUS starter).
April 3rd, 2026 at 4:44 am
There are some very good beastly NF/DT prospects after McDonald but more than likely it’ll take a Rnd 1 pick to grab one. McDonald SHOULD be there when we pick at #15. And with our Rnd 2 pick (#46) there SHOULD be a quality ILB still there (hopefully Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr, but Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriquez or a couple others could do nicely). And with our Rnd 3 we can hopefully grab a quality CB.
April 3rd, 2026 at 5:11 am
A later round option i like is carolina’s Nick Barrett, probably a 5th.
April 3rd, 2026 at 5:41 am
this position needs to get younger wouldn’t be a bad pick
April 3rd, 2026 at 6:43 am
Would that make them, “Schlmockers”?
April 3rd, 2026 at 6:52 am
Maybe not McDonald but surely Jason has been pondering the same thing. We got a DT coming in already but he is in the same age bracket as Vea soo… If we trade back? Hmm…We have soo many “right now” needs though. Another FA seems more likely to me. But I like the idea of trading back alot.
Is Big Dez gonna get a camp invite (if he has slimmed down) or is he just wishful thinking on my part? Man that dude could be a monster.
Go Bucs!
April 3rd, 2026 at 6:58 am
If Sadiq and Mesidor are on the board, do we trade back?
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:01 am
DT Caleb Banks from Florida would’ve been a 1st rounder if he didn’t hurt his foot earlier this year he might fall to our 2nd round pick
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:17 am
This is where trading back helps us, hardly any of the people we like for the 1st round are worthy of #15
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:26 am
LEE HUNTER! Not at 15, but if we moved back in rd1. I would love Hunter and JRod together.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:32 am
Stay away from Banks, his foot is a big problem. DT is a hugh need. The Seahawks won the SB, because they have 3 beastly DTs. Kancey’s a joke, him, and his teammate Dennis. Please stay away from Louis too. Another position I think is being over looked is center. Isn’t it about time we drafted a true center? I like the kid from Indiana in the 3rd round. By drafting a true center we might also get a pro bowl guard by moving Barton to LG? I view Barton like Marpet. Good center, but he didn’t make a pro bowl till moving to LG. I think that’s where Barton belongs.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:36 am
Demonte Capehart round 3 or 4.
There’s no DT worth taking at 15 and taking McDonald would be us reaching down and drafting a guy projected to go mid-late round just to replace Greg Gaines? Who lost reps to both Elijahs’ last year? Nah.
A’Shawn Robinson can play the 0/1-tech in odd fronts(our base 3-4), meaning he can spell Vita Vea unlike Logan Hall.
In 4-man/even fronts which we spend 60-70% of our time on defense the last 5 years, Robinson can also rotate in with Kancey-Simmons-Roberts-rookie. Roberts as a rookie played 507 snaps, just under 50% we’re definetly
We’ve also got mountain of a man in Jayson Jones & Nash Hutchmaker(wrestling champ) who will probably get an opportunity to be 1 of the 6 DTs we carry on the interior DL.
It’s not as dire as it’s being talked about here, at least not to the point we have to feel obliged to just look at potential 1st rd talent. We can address it day 2 and be just as well off.
I’m still team Landon Robinson btw. Now that his projection is a little clearer, if you were to tell me we can add a human fire hydrant for a day 3 pick well outside of the top-100 it’d be a no brainer, because he’s boom or bust. I’d use him as insurance for losing Kancey at any point this season.
April 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 am
As Styles most likely be there at #15, the Bucs need to decide if they want the #4/#5 DE, the #2/#3 ILB or the #1 DT. The other option is to trade back if they can. I would not be upset if the Bucs take MacDonold or Hunter at #15.
This does put the Bucs in a bad position though for the 2nd round as you need a DE and ILB with a marked difference between likely 2nd and 3rd round DE and ILB candidates. There are expected to be some very good DTs available in the 3rd round.
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 am
we need a DT but not in the 1st round…
gotta go IOL in the 1st round!!!- Kadyn Proctor or Olaivavega Ioane
GO BUCS!!!!
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:12 am
Sounds like a trade down option.
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:20 am
Hodad says: Another position I think is being over looked is center. Isn’t it about time we drafted a true center?
I agree!!!!…
imo, Bredenson is our best Center and is a true Center….I’d flip Barton to LG…him and Wirfs on the same side would be nasty…stick the 1st round RG between Ben and Luke and our OL is set for years
GO BUCS!!!!
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:32 am
I love to see how deep yall go with these draft prospects, very impressive. Hopefully the Bucs don’t go TE, OL and defense only. BPA Licht, get it done!
April 3rd, 2026 at 8:47 am
Trade for Jalen Hurts, send #6 and whatever picks that they want, let get a Winner in here at QB!
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:05 am
BSPN had a front page article about Hurts yesterday, you ought read it
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:34 am
I’m obsessed with the defensive line.
Elijah Simmons has potential at NT. He’s massive.
Elijah Roberts has potential at DE. (Replacing Hall: he reminds me of Robert Ayers)
David Walker has potential at OLB.
Braswell is a big baby. I don’t have any hope for him. His heart is small.
JJ Roberts and Rashad Wisdom have real potential.
Running backs? We’re set.
Safeties? With JJ Roberts and Wisdom? We’re set.
Offensive line: we need 2 badass guards and a backup RT.
QB? Not drafting a QB.
So?
We need corners, middle linebackers, DT, NT, and 1 OLB.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:35 am
Can’t go wrong with a top DT
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:39 am
Look at the big man playing peek-a-boo in backfield then throwing blocker(s) off like a ragdoll to make play(s). You know why there are so many Ohio State defensive players projected high this year? Outstanding D-Line not just keeping them clean…but penetrating. Love this pick. McDonald won’t last past Bears at #25.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:43 am
Even more reason to trade for Him!
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:07 am
McDonald should be the pick if he is there. I’m starting to doubt he will be. He’s a stronger version of Tyliek Williams, who the Lions took in the first last year and who came on in the second half last year.
I watch every Buckeyes game. McDonald is better than Williams. I thought Williams was just as important and as good as Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs last year. Top ten picks.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:10 am
I meant to say I though McDonald was as good as Styles, Reese, and Downs. Sorry!
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:31 am
The Bucs are four or five players and A NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR away from having a suffocating defense. Fixed it for you Joe.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:38 am
I would love KM, think about how much better the pass rush is with Vea, KM, Cancey occupying blockers. The game is won in the trenches. Then take best pass rusher available in rnd 2 (RMason, G. Jacas, J. Josephs), then find a linebacker in rd 3/4. (Lawson, Barham, Perkins)
April 3rd, 2026 at 11:25 am
Teacherman … ‘Elijah Simmons has potential at NT. He’s massive.’
I agree, he’s massive (6’1″ & 334 lbs). But he’s not dominant, and that’s what we need. I love the way NFL dot com described him … ‘Simmons has the build of a huge tree stump’. But he’s been branded as strictly a run-stopper, and that’s not what we need. We could replace Greg Gaines with Greg Gaines and get that.
McDonald gives us someone who can stop the run and get into the backfield a little for TFLs. Not very polished in terms of pass rush, but he’s young and the potential is there. Last season Bucs did horrific in terms of allowing Red Zone TDs … as in we allowed 69.8% of Red Zone Attempts to score TDs. That’s beyond horrific, and it must be improved. And improving it has to start in the trenches.
Another concern is having someone to spell Vea (to keep him fresh) as well as replace him if he gets injured (like in 2020?). Also, Vea will be a FA at the end of this season, as will Robinson, and either one (or both) could end up either retiring or moving on to greener pastures. Start fixing that potential problem NOW.
April 3rd, 2026 at 11:58 am
The Bucs have the players already to have a suffocating defense. In fact they are a suffocating defense already.
They suffocate themselves. The Genius really knows how to develop and improve his players and their results.
2-7
3rd and 28
4th and 14
Mike Evans
April 3rd, 2026 at 2:07 pm
The Eagles won the SB two years ago.
On Defense, it all began with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams bringing suffocating pressure against the run and the pass that freed up Smith and Sweat on the Edges and let linebackers Braun and Burke shine in the middle. Baker was lucky to survive!
Added to Vea, Robinson, and Kancey, McDonald is that special piece who can make the Bucs defense Super again. With Diaby, Muhammad, Anzalone, a Day 2 ILB and a Day 2 CB, the Defense would be reloaded and ready to hunt Big Game!
I would also like to see what Day 3 athletic freak DL Zane Durrant could add to that mix, specially if the Bucs shift him to the outside and give him ILB help so that Durrant does not have to try to cover a receiver down field. It could be beastly!
April 3rd, 2026 at 2:43 pm
A massive speedy quick non movable DT would be great in the draft
April 3rd, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Will always be on board with a trench pick in the 1st.
Gotta build front to back and it doesn’t appear that an ILB or Edge is gonna be good enough to justify the 15th pick.
If Kayden is best DT, then I am all for drafting him or Ioane and beefing the OL. Otherwise hopefully trade back and get the ILB you want.
Agree with Defense Rules. A trench pick followed by ILB and CB in round 3 would be ideal.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:21 pm
In no order we need
iLB
iLB
Edge
CB
IOL
IOL
DT
Get it done Jason!
April 4th, 2026 at 9:15 am
I agree with DR:
McDonald gives us someone who can stop the run and get into the backfield a little for TFLs. Not very polished in terms of pass rush, but he’s young and the potential is there. Last season Bucs did horrific in terms of allowing Red Zone TDs … as in we allowed 69.8% of Red Zone Attempts to score TDs. That’s beyond horrific, and it must be improved. And improving it has to start in the trenches.
But two things I will point out:
1. The projection of McDonald giving us a pash rush — who knows — if the Bucs take him at 15, I am guessing they are betting that he can be a little better at that — after all he had only one season of playing and thinking he could improve from his 21 year old age has got to be in the equation.
But that being said, if they don’t take him at 15, I won’t lament that — it means they see him more as just the run stopper guys like Nacho and Elijah Simmons, and Robinson along with Vea.
and
2. For all the folks on this site that crap on Kenyon Sadiq for being a 1-year player at age 20 — they don’t seem to do the same with McDonald being a 1 year college player.
To me
April 4th, 2026 at 9:42 am
any buckeye is always CA good choice.