“Need” Picks Are Not For Round 1
February 25th, 2026
Todd Bowles
So will the Bucs draft another offensive player in Round 1 this year?
Don’t rule it out, no matter what the Bucs’ needs are.
A year ago today, Tampa Bay did not need receiver help on paper. But they did go ahead and draft receiver Emeka Egbuka a month later at No. 19 overall.
Speaking to CBS Sports yesterday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles made it very clear that Round 1 is no place for a front office to get stuck on a roster hole.
“Right now [in Round 1] it’s best available,” Bowles said. “You understand what your need is, but when your need and your best available are the same, obviously you go with the need — if they’re equal [in draft evaluation]. But if they’re not equal [caliber players], you don’t go ‘need’ until you get down the line [in later rounds of the draft]. Right now [in Round 1] you gotta go best available.”
Would the Bucs dare draft a beastly tight end in Round 1 come April 23? They certainly would be in better position for that if they can add a couple of quality defensive starters after the free agency dinner bell rings on Monday, March 9.
February 25th, 2026 at 11:49 am
Although this sounds logical, this is also why the defense sucks
February 25th, 2026 at 11:53 am
As joe said if bucs go out and add the likes of naobe dean and or Devin bush. Add a boye mafe or some other edge rusher that is young and up and coming along with a veteran corner. I would have no issues going offense unless sonny styles is on the board. If he falls to 15 I think he is a must draft defensive player no matter who we signed at linebacker in off season
February 25th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Best available means most versatile , can play all defensive positions and some offense. It’s why Bowles can put anyone out on the field and get the same results.
February 25th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Between Licht’s drafting/free agent signings and Bowles coaching “ability” we’re sure to be MAJOR contenders next season.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
you what that means its time to bring back shaq barrett and jts they know the
amazing designed bowles system time for another year of 28th ranked pass rush!!!
February 25th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
“Would the Bucs dare draft a beastly tight end in Round 1 come April 23?”
There isn’t one worth drafting in the first, unless you feel you “need” to reach for a TE.
Sadiq folks want to spend a first on a player who’s the same size and step slower than Devin Culp, which is preposterous.
Wouldn’t even dedicate a draft pick to the position, just re-sign Otton and keep it simple, stupid.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
I have full confidence that Jason and Todd will screw up the Buc near future with this draft as they head out the door.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Second round defensive picks haven’t worked out so good either.
We’d be better off pairing at second round pick with the 1st round and moving up and getting a decent player.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Draft Devin Culp. Oh wait he’s already on the team. Maybe with some coaching he could be better than he was his rookie year when he was very impactful on the scant handful of plays Bowles entrusted to him. He must not be very good in pass coverage so he doesn’t get to play.
Imagine….good coaching…
February 25th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Last year was the first time in a long time that we were in a position, somewhat, to go for a defensive BPA/Need in 1st round. Once they are drafted in front of you, you have to go BPA or you do a disservice to your team. It turned out to be a good pick seeing what happened in the season but things turned south quickly regardless of who we may have drafted AND we missed potential headaches in the draft. Joe you said it earlier and I’ve said it: Great defensive players are taken early in the draft. There are some that hit in later rounds but by and large the best are taken early. And I’m talking d line and LB’s here.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
There are only less than a handful of great TEs in NFL and the teams that have one are usually teams in the top of league standings year in and year out. Kenyon Sadiq could be elite in his career and wouldn’t be a mistake to draft him at 15.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
If we cant get Styles (which is talent PLUS need) at 15 then i get what he’s doing…trying to throw people off. But Styles wont be there unless he bombs the combine. Next imo is Ioane, next after that imo is Kayden Mcdonald….and the previous two we can trade down to a QB hungry team 3 to 5 spots and still land them.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
This is stupid.
Round 1 is supposed to be: the best player available at a position of need. 💯
Duh.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
February 25th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
“Would the Bucs dare draft a beastly tight end in Round 1 come April 23?”
There isn’t one worth drafting in the first, unless you feel you “need” to reach for a TE.
Sadiq folks want to spend a first on a player who’s the same size and step slower than Devin Culp, which is preposterous. ”
What is preposterous is your post. If all there was to being a good or a REAL good player is size and speed they could mail in that info, rank the positions by this info and let a computer draft for the team.
There are likely a 100 players in pro, college and maybe HS that have better size/weight than George Kittle for the 49rs. Yet he is integral to the team’s success and making big bucks while the rest of them are making stupid posts from home like yours.
Combine a TE like Sadiq and a good OC and it would change FOR THE BETTER the Bucs offense.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
How many NFL coaches are actually good player evaluators when it comes to the draft? Maybe that’s part of the problem with defenseive players
February 25th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
“There are only less than a handful of great TEs in NFL and the teams that have one are usually teams in the top of league standings year in and year out. Kenyon Sadiq could be elite in his career and wouldn’t be a mistake to draft him at 15.”
Pretty sure Licht thought the same thing in ’14 spending the 38th overall pick on a TE and in ’17 spending the 19th overall pick on a TE.
Former UDFA Cam Brate being more servicable, available, and gave us more value having been on the squad with ASJ/OJ howard and having lasted longer than either. Contributed more too.
Give me a guy like Brett Norfleet day 3, with him coming from a program like Iowa, you know the in-line blocking part comes included and he’s got something to his frame being 6’7 +250lb.
That’s IF we don’t bring Cade back.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Those remarks coming from Todd Bowles are neither astute or useful. If you are paying, big money guaranteed to several wide receivers, you don’t draft another receiver. Bucs need at least 7 new defenders and a DC to coach them. The current DC is as incompetent as the HC.
February 25th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
“Combine a TE like Sadiq and a good OC and it would change FOR THE BETTER the Bucs offense.”
Combine a TE like Culp and a solid OC like Robinson, and you don’t have to make bad decisions with your draft picks.
Not only that, but you can keep the players who are better in-line blockers than Sadiq that we have on the roster already and STILL use a guy like Culp as your receiving TE.
Also, I see the name and you don’t have to admit to having a homer bias, but I’m going to presume that’s the case.
Payne Durham has 23 targets since ’23
Devin Culp has 7 Targets since ’24
Plenty of untapped potential. One is faster than most TEs and the other has a city block wide catch radius whilst being a solid, in-line blocker.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
The only first round TE expected is Kenyon Sadiq – and #15 seems a little high for him.I will say watching some highlights and reading some scouting reports, he’d be an interesting fit with the Bucs. He’s certainly more explosive than Otton – but Sadiq doesn’t look like much of a blocker, and didn’t have big numbers like you might expect out of a guy being picked that high. He’s listed at 6′ 3″, 245, which is undersized for a TE nowadays, but also on tape he looks thinner than 245, will be interesting to see his measurables at the combine and if they match the listed numbers. To me, he almost is falling into tweenerland (not wienerland to be sure, that’s reversed for Michael Sam) which would make me a bit hesitant to take him on a team loaded with receiving options. Personally, if I’m taking a TE, I’d rather have someone bigger and is a known good blocker — and I’d hopefully pair them with Otton, assuming he doesn’t break the bank to keep.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
I would be thrilled if they drafted that Notre Dame running back (Love?). He has the speed to outrun DBs. We haven’t had a back like that in decades.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Draft offense in all rounds. Build the roster for the new coach. It does not matter who plays in Bowzo defense. Do not bother with old man FA’s on their last hurrah, We have 3 or 4 years to wecover from The Curse of Bowzo. We will find a 6’4 230 lb QB to replace Shorty too in a year or 2.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
Payne Durham has 23 targets since ’23
Devin Culp has 7 Targets since ’24
Plenty of untapped potential. One is faster than most TEs and the other has a city block wide catch radius whilst being a solid, in-line blocker.
——————
Hey, actual football talk – I love it.
For Durham, I’m just not sure there is much there. While he can catch, he’s so slow, it just pops out to me most of the time. I know I’ve said it before, but after we drafted him, I watched his college highlights, and it was amazing. They went in order from his freshman season to his last year, and as a freshman he basically looked like a WR, looked quick and agile, etc – but by the last year of his tape, he looked like a giant, but also very sluggish. He went through a huge growth spurt and I think the Bucs thought they could get that earlier WR ability in the body of a giant – but man, he looks so slow to me.
For Culp, the guy was a lottery ticket. Exceptional measurables for a 7th round pick, worth trying to develop, but the fans seem way higher on him than the team does. But TE’s also are the slowest developing position in football, so even after 2-years it wouldn’t be unheard of for him to have a breakout offseason. I’m not expecting it, just saying I wouldn’t rule it out, and he’s certainly worth keeping around to see if things come together or not. But him playing late in the 4th quarter of the last preseason game last year tells you a lot about what the team thinks of him and his position on the team.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
1) Edge
2) OG (go with the position Licht knows best)
3) Edge
4) ILB
5) TE
6) BPA
7) BPA
February 25th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Built in excuse for his defense sucking hind tit again.
They’ve tried giving him first round defensive players. Lots of them. He fails at turning them into anything.
Honest question, what defensive position do you trust this team drafting that you think Bowles can maximize the value on?…..?…..? They’ve literally used high draft picks on every level of the defense over the last four or five years and the collective result is crap.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
If they draft Offense in the first, Bowles should be fired instantly.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Gipper Says:
February 25th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Those remarks coming from Todd Bowles are neither astute or useful. If you are paying, big money guaranteed to several wide receivers, you don’t draft another receiver. Bucs need at least 7 new defenders and a DC to coach them. The current DC is as incompetent as the HC.
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Final 6 games of the season, playoffs on the line.
Buccaneers, points against: 10th
Buccaneers, points scored: 28th
So you know, points against, is a defensive stat, and it shows the Bucs were actually good during that stretch.
Points scored, is an offensive stat, and it shows that the offense did not do its job with the playoffs on the line.
February 25th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
Culp could be a beast. We really do need to give him a chance to stretch the field. A good TE is deadly against zone coverage and/or if he draws a LB in man-to-man coverage. Can you imagine a LB trying to keep up with him downfield? It’s a mismatch for sure!
February 25th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
@Rod
You open up a discussion that, until now only has been applied to one player as an explanation/stand-in for the volatility of his career, BUT just think. Everybody we’ve drafted since 2022, has played for a different OC every single year.
Meaning, they’ve had to get re-evaluated annually by new eyes and nobody mentions how it makes it hard to build on any progress or expanding Culp/Durhams’ role respectively, because of having a new “under-boss” every year of their young careers.
RB & TE kind of have the same issue of having plenty of talent, but not being able to max out on progressively year to year, because “you guys this is our new OC tell him your strengths and what you’re working on” every camp
February 25th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
As much as I want an edge in round one, on this particular issue I’m with the coach.
Smart strategy.
February 25th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
LMAO here. This is just one of the big reasons our Defense sucks to Holy Hell. You had better go after a LB or DE with your 1st pick Bowles. Unless you and Jason plan to pull a rabbit out of the hat in Free agency. You should have been fired after your defensive showing of last season.
February 25th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Munch,
Got it. It’s coming back to me what a great defense the Bucs have had the last several years headed by defensive guru, Todd Bowles. Want you to have that same defense and Shedeur Sanders as your QB. That should do it. When Baker excels in 2026 like 2024, you will pout and this time hope you stay away forever.
February 25th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Bowles … “But if they’re not equal [caliber players], you don’t go ‘need’ until you get down the line [in later rounds of the draft]. Right now [in Round 1] you gotta go best available.”
That’s BS. At our #15 pick, our greatest NEED is for a top quality DEFENSIVE player in one of 3-4 position groups (DLine, Edge, ILB or CB). Any holes that we have on offense can best be filled through free agency (backup OLinemen, quality starting TE, quality RB and especially backup QB). Not so with our holes on defense, because we’ve got more holes there AND too many of those holes are for starters OR key rotational players. We simply can’t afford to do all those through free agency.
I’m getting tired of hearing how smart Jason Licht has been at drafting. And I surmise that statement by Bowles is really the party line preached by our GM.
o 2025: WR Egbuka – Started off like gangbusters, then pfft.
o 2024: Ctr Barton – Decent 1st year; 2nd year suspect.
o 2023: DT Kancey – Injured for 22 games out of 51.
o 2022: DT/DE Logan Hall – Should’ve been 3rd or 4th Rnd.
o 2021: OLB JTS – We got 5 whole years out of him.
o 2020: OT Wirfs – Best in the business (we lucked out having him still available at #13 – 4 other OT picked before him).
o 2019: ILB D White – We got 5 whole years out of him.
o 2018: NT Vea – Solid 1st Rnd pick w/availability issues.
o 2017: TE OJ Howard – We got 5 whole years out of him.
o 2016: CB Hargreaves – We got 5 whole years out of him.
o 2015: QB Winston – We got 5 whole years out of him.
o 2014: WR Evans – Best of Licht’s picks.
Bucs’ ownership canned BOTH the HC & GM on 30 Dec 2013. Lovie Smith was hired on 7 Jan 2014 to be Bucs’ HC, THEN Jason Licht was hired 21 Jan 2014 to be Bucs’ GM. So the HC was hired 1 week after the previous HC & GM were fired, followed 2 weeks after that by hiring a new GM. I’ve always had the feeling that Lovie had a significant input into JL’s hiring. And most likely into drafting Mike Evans too?
February 25th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Based on their formal interviews so far it seems that we are going to be drafting for need. Every formal interview at this point has been ILB, Edge, and DT
February 25th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
So will the Bucs draft another offensive player in Round 1 this year?
OG IN THE 1ST!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
You should be able to get a quality tight end in the second/third round.
February 25th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
That photo at the top right, that’s the look of pure genius. Relish it, Bucs fans. 12 months from now that photo will look completely different. Sad.
February 25th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
At this point for the Bucs, they need to make the pick meet the need!
By that I mean, trade up or trade down to get your defensive guy or accumulate more picks.
I understand it takes 2 to tango but those are good options as opposed to.. well our guy just went 2 picks before us and there is a group of defensive guys that are likely available at 24 but let’s stay and draft a TE. Nope!
February 25th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
The aforementioned defensive scoring stats for last 6 games could possibly have been explained by poor offensive opponents? Hint: Quinn Ewers
February 25th, 2026 at 4:40 pm
the comment is meaningless since basically just about every defensive position is a need