Bucs May Have To Trade Up To Top-10 To Get Sonny Styles
January 25th, 2026
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles.
The Bucs need an inside linebacker in the worst way, even if Bucs icon Lavonte David doesn’t retire.
And if David does retire, the Bucs need three inside linebackers with no less than one of them coming in the draft. The Bucs are so thin at inside linebacker, they need a reserve inside linebacker badly, too. (Yes, Joe has lost so much faith in SirVocea Dennis he may only be a No. 4 linebacker.)
Yeah, Joe is a weirdo. While most red-blooded American men fall asleep dreaming of what Olivia Dunne can do with them, Joe dreams of what Arvell Reese could do to opposing quarterbacks.
Alas, short of Reese pulling a Laremy Tunsil (getting busted with a bong mask minutes before the draft) Reese isn’t falling to the Bucs. But his Ohio State teammate Sonny Styles just might.
However, looking where the Bucs draft and who drafts ahead of them, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may have to trade up to get Styles. And we all know how much Licht loves to trade away draft picks.
Right before the Bucs draft at No. 15 is Baltimore at No. 14. You could bet new Crows coach Jesse Minter would love to get his mitts on Styles.
At No. 12 is Dallas. They sure have a hole at linebacker after trading away Micah Parsons. So you know Jerry Jones would love to get his mitts on Styles.
Joe has a hunch there’s no way Styles gets past the Crows at No. 14. And if Licht sticks to his guns, he’s not giving up enough draft capital to trade up to No. 10, even if Styles could be a total game-changer for the Bucs’ defense.
Now Joe isn’t calling to draft the following guy in the first round but maybe on Day 2 of the draft the pick is Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock.
This Murdock reminds Joe a little bit of Nick Bolton of the Chiefs (who Joe liked a lot coming out of the draft and hoped the Bucs would have selected). Murdock is a heat-seeking missle of a linebacker who blows up ballcarriers.
How so? Well, Murdock, the past three years, has 17 forced fumbles. Go ahead and watch the video of Murdock and tell Joe the Bucs don’t need a guy with these traits. A guy like this, or who at least has the same qualities as Murdock or Styles, is exactly what the Bucs need on defense.
The Sonny Styles tape vs. Indiana in the Big 10 Championship game is some of the best you’ll find from a LB prospect 🌰
🎥: Run fits, block shedding, instincts, agility, physicality… it’s all on full display
Such an easy top-15 pick imo pic.twitter.com/1OXApq7374
— The Draft Room (@TheDraftRoomNFL) January 14, 2026
January 25th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Let’s try to bring back Devin White. He was second in the league with 174 tackles last season.
January 25th, 2026 at 11:22 am
The Bucs should have already signed an LVD replacement before now. It’s pretty close to malpractice, if you can call it that. As to why they thought Dennis was a starter, that’s the $64,000 question.
January 25th, 2026 at 11:23 am
It depends.
Is ME13 done in Tampa?
Is Otton done in Tampa?
Like the legendary head coach Todd Bowles has said – “You have to score points to win in the NFL”
How about Kenyon Sadiq – TE from Oregon with pick #15?
Don’t waste draft capital moving up to draft an ILB…
Draft an ILB in round #2 and maybe another in rounds 3-5.
January 25th, 2026 at 11:31 am
Free Agency is going to be a bust. No one with any sense is going to come here for lame duck Bowles.
And the draft will also be minimally helpful for two reasons: Rookies rarely make an impact enough to turn around a bad team. Even Brooks and Sapp couldn’t their first year. Second, who has any confidence in Licht picking someone right now? This guys is too consumed with his recent failures and has no confidence left.
Long term head coaches and GMs are rare for a reason. They get hot once and live on it until the fact that they got lucky emerges.
Complete erase and reset on 2027.
January 25th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Nope, we’d be just as good going with someone else and drafting Nikhai Hill-Green out of Bama later.
Pair a day 1/2 LB w/a Christian Thomas and/or Shad Banks in here immediately.
January 25th, 2026 at 11:37 am
If you’re gonna trade into the top 10 try to get high enough to get Ruben Bain
January 25th, 2026 at 11:52 am
C’mon. Everyone knows that as long as 🤡 coiches this team, anyone/everyone playing for the team will suck. Regression is the only consistency.
January 25th, 2026 at 11:55 am
ME13 will return unless insulted by offer
Otton should not be asked to return-Culp is capable.
Licht will NEVER trade up in the 1st Round EVER
January 25th, 2026 at 11:57 am
🤔
Who is the Bucs’ best player and how did they get him.
January 25th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
So Joe Licht taded up only once in 11 drafts and that was from 14 to 13 to grab Wirfs , so his track history says he will NOT trade up.
January 25th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
I would not trade up for Styles. If he’s there at 15, you probably take him. If he’s not there and you’re not enamored with anyone, trade back and get some extra picks.
January 25th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
doesn’t matter where they draft or who they draft. as long as bowles is hc/dc this team will never sniff the ring. you could have the 1st 7 picks of the draft and this idiot, along with his sidekick, would screw it up. he’s a defensive guru, but can’t develop anyone, can’t game plan against bad teams, and doesn’t make in game adjustments. licht must have been drunk or high when he let coen walk out the door. now the bucs are stuck with one of the worst hc/dc ever. i.m sure licht will draft sadiq in the 1st round and he’ll have that silly grin on his face like he pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. just like he did with david “that’s how you win superbowls” walker from rice a roni univ. keep it up big guy -hof for you
January 25th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Can you trade up to get a new defensive coordinator? Head coach? Lunch lady?
January 25th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Licht will bust again like he always does on defense.
Dead men walking – Licht and Bowles
Clean house after next year. Hopefully, get new owners as well. They sucks on both sides of the Atlantic. That takes some serious suckage.
January 25th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
If we trade up, it better be for a slam dunk OLB or DE.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Must of forgot who our GM is.. lol he doesn’t trade up. He only did like once.. never again.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
buccintimeforchanges Says:
“Licht will bust again like he always does on defense.”
He hasn’t busted on defense yet.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Those saying Jason Licht does not trade up have obviously not been Bucs fans long. He’s just smart when he does it.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Bucs NEVER draft the most obvious person. I desperately wanted us to snag McBride after Gronk left, but we spent our #2 on Logan Hall that year (sigh), AZ took McBride (now the best TE in the league, or pretty darn close) and we took Otton a round or 2 later.
We’ll sign an obscure FA ILB, then draft one in the 3rd or 4th.
It is the Way.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
As to Sonny Styles, what is the attraction? He doesn’t get sacks, certainly. Isn’t that what we need most?
January 25th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
“Aqualung Says:
January 25th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Can you trade up to get a new defensive coordinator? Head coach? Lunch lady?“
Lol! Lunch Lady Todd. Winner of the day Aqua!
January 25th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
I like Cade Otton.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Todd Says:
“Otton should not be asked to return-Culp is capable.”
That’s just stupid.
Culp has a total of 94 yards and 1 TD in the past 2 years.
Otton has a total of 1172 yards and 5 TDs in hte same 2 years.
Cade Otton is one of our better players, and some of you think Culp is better? lol.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
For those who are too lazy to look it up…Cade Otton was our second best pass catcher this year.
Culp was our 14th best.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Oh, and Baker Mayfield only had 11 picks. Sure, they were ill-timed ones, but he was better than the year before.
Same picks as Patrick Mahomes and not near the worst.
He also had 4 more TDs than Mahomes.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Whatever position we have the least need for that’s the position they’ll draft followed by weeks of articles telling everyone how brilliant it was. 🤢
January 25th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
FormerBucFan, please name the recent picks that were not positions of need.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
“As to Sonny Styles, what is the attraction? He doesn’t get sacks, certainly. Isn’t that what we need most?
No, we need a rangy ILB who can fill run gaps, not get nullified by OLmen at the 2nd level and can play man/zone in effort to helping us close up the middle of our D against the pass. All that is needed no matter what opposing offenses throw at us, no pun intended.
Styles is good, but a lot of his buzz comes from being noticeable on a talent rich roster. Thing is, in terms of value, will Licht & our scouts value him so much higher than day their other 9 top-10 player at the position to feel like missing out would be a big drop in talent?
I’m not too sure, and my thing about taking him first is that.
if ILB is the mirror of RB in terms of positional draft value, as both positions take a backseat as maybe 3rd/4th most valuable spot to draft on their respective side of the ball. Then is Sonny Styles say, Jeremiyah Love good? Wouldn’t be too quick to agree in a value for value comparison, I’m an amateur tho lol
I would say, the lesser draft value on both ILB & RB bodes well for us in terms of priority, because in my opinion picking from either class outside of say the 2nd/3rd round, you’re still picking from a talent rich pool. Can’t say the same for more premium positions like WR/CB or EDGE/OT that pushes talent at other positon down based on having higher priority.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
Trade up for bain im telling you the same way I told u verse and burns. If we dont draft this giy we will be haunted for years. Fck Jason and his picks. F
Go get him
January 25th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
I would rather take Kaden McDonald.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
Off ball backer is hard to take in the first half of the draft. I’d rather see Bucs pick Mesidor from the Hurricanes at EDGE or possibly McDonald at DT fro Ohio St. I think 2nd and 3rd picks at LB better use of slot.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
I don’t watch much college, so most of these guys are new to me. But I watched that highlight tape of Red Murdock — I don’t know. Hard to tell from just the tape and considering the opponent level — but he looked a bit slow and stiff to me. He is listed at 240lbs, for an ILB, that’s getting up there, so maybe he drops 10 pounds and picks up some speed, or maybe I’m just off on the tape and he runs faster than he looks. To me, only having that 5 min video and his height / weight, he seems more like a mid to late round pick.
One guy who’s tape I saw that I did like, however, is LB Erick Hunter – Morgan State Bears. Brian Baldinger highlighted some of his plays, and I watched more film on him, and he looks interesting. I thought he was a smaller guy based on the tape, but is listed at 6′ 4″ 220lbs. Again, hard to tell based on the level of competition, but he looked quick. If his numbers check out, he could be a mid or late round guy at ILB to keep an eye on.
January 25th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
ATLBuc Says:
January 25th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Let’s try to bring back Devin White. He was second in the league with 174 tackles last season.
———
No joke – said the same thing last offseason.
You got a guy out there, who is cheap, who knows the defense and who has the one thing they desperately need — speed. Last year he played really well and could step in right away and start.
Also, if Bowles wasn’t such a moron, he’d unleash White like he did in 2020, when he used him a lot more as an interior pass rusher. What you don’t do with White, or Carlton Davis, or Jamel Dean, or Winfield or anyone else, is have them stand around in zone then complain about how there’s a lack of play making.
With that said, White isn’t coming back – Bowles hates him for whatever reason, probably because he said the zone defense sucks, and like Carlton Davis, that got him off the team.
January 25th, 2026 at 2:35 pm
“if Licht sticks to his guns, he’s not giving up enough draft capital to trade up to No. 10, even if Styles could be a total game-changer for the Bucs’ defense.”
And, this is one of the major reasons for why he is a failing GM. It’s a flawed system and a crutch used by someone who is weak, scared, lazy, in over his head, and who canNOT evaluate TALENT. He has no instincts, and doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.
January 25th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Remember now, we ALL wanted HIM FIRED for the better part of 6-YEARS (the final 6-years of the “lost decade”). Until he got Brady, and the we ‘cautiously’ gave him another chance. Well, our ‘eyes’ are WIDE-OPEN NOW!!!! Always, trust your first instincts. You KNOW BS when you see and hear it.
January 25th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
The confidence yall have in Jason Litch is unfounded.
January 25th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
I will keep saying this until the draft, but if the Bucs are going to trade up, they should draft Rueben Bain. I have been watching him since his freshman year at Miami, and he has consistently been dominant. The knock I keep hearing is that he has short arms. Big deal! The dude is a beast and that was on full display in the playoffs. We can address linebacker in free agency and the draft on day 2.