Kayden McDonald And The Bucs
April 5th, 2026
Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald.
Say it isn’t so! The schlockers may be full of schlock?
Regular readers know how “this Joe” is irritated by schlock drafts. Joe strives for and craves accuracy. If one isn’t trying to be accurate, then what’s the point?
Schlock drafts have become the literal definition of clickbait.
Twice in the past month, a couple of clowns for CBS — not prickly Pete Prisco! — had the Bucs drafting an offensive tackle. Igits. Nice research.
A prominent schlocker for BSPN (fittingly) once told Joe at a combine years ago, “If you think I’m concerned about accuracy, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Then why should anyone read his fiction? Why should anyone take him more seriously than Sylvester the Cat analyzing draft prospects?
Talk about irresponsible. Yet people can’t stop reading.
Joe misses the greats who did true mock drafts and cared about their accuracy and had access to the shot-callers around the league to get intel. Man, what kind of cash could Joel Buchsbaum make today?
Over the past week, Joe has been more and more thinking the Bucs may draft a defensive tackle in the first round if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht can work a trade-down deal.
Currently, a guy Joe does believe cares about accuracy, Daniel Jeremiah, the former Baltimore, Cleveland, and Philadelphia scout, has one defensive tackle going in the first round, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald at No. 25.
The Bucs pick at No. 15. So selecting McDonald 10 slots higher sure smells like a reach. Generally, reaching general managers get in trouble. So that’s why Joe thinks McDonald could be a trade-down target for Licht.
Former Bears director of scouting feisty Greg Gabriel, however, is a huge fan of McDonald and thinks he’s being undervalued. Gabriel contends McDonald, who measured 6-2 and 325 pounds at the combine at 21 years old, won’t last to No. 25. If he’s accurate, then the Bucs picking at No. 15 really wouldn’t be reaching far for McDonald.
So why would the Bucs want a defensive tackle? It seems Licht saw the defensive softness Joe saw last year. With the addition of lineabacker Alex Anzalone and A’Shawn Robinson, Licht is bringing a hitter and a physical brawler.
McDonald fits that same description.
Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has almost missed as many games as he has played — 22 of 51 regular-season games in his three Bucs seasons. And Vita Vea and Robinson are 31 in contract years. Licht also signed old man Nacho on Friday.
So the Bucs future at defensive tackle is thinner than you may realize. (It’s almost like the Bucs are fully expecting Kancey to get hurt again.)
McDonald at No. 15 may not be a crazy concept. He may not be much of a pass rusher but he sure is a bully in the trenches.
The only DT that I’d even consider at 25 is McDonald. He doesn’t quite fit the athletic profile DA wants but he’s strong, explosive and a the kind of disruptor that DA wants. Personally, I don’t think he gets to 25. The analysts don’t have him high enough
— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) April 4, 2026
Some Kayden McDonald run game highlights. This is what the late Round 1 NTs look like. pic.twitter.com/GlogfXOJKA
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) February 18, 2026
April 5th, 2026 at 10:34 am
I like Kayden, but not at 15….need a trade down partner
Just hit DT in the 4th with Landon Robinson. I hope we trade back and still land
OG
LB
CB
DT
TE
or flip those last 3, TE Trigg, DT LR, then CB
April 5th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Talk about a self fulfilling prophecy. If th3 Bucs reach 10 picks early, then it won’t be a reach? That there is some high end self evaluation. JL is definitely agile enough to pat his own back, but lacks dexterity when a mid-season pivot is needed at trade deadline. He’s a great head scout, but leadership…meh
April 5th, 2026 at 10:46 am
To go off track here, all the Baker talk got me thinking. So I went back to last year’s late season games against Carolina (Week 15) and the next week against Atlanta.
Sorry to burst your bubble, Baker worshipers, but Munch is right. Baker threw two late interceptions against Carolina and the famed one against Atlanta when we still could have won after the 3rd and 28. And Evans was disgusted.
And more to Munch’s point, Baker was not pressured during any of these throws.
You can call injury or bad OL blocking, but not here.
Baker flat out blew it. Watch!
And this isn’t me talking, the tape doesn’t lie.
So stop with the worship, will ya? Baker is an above average QB who has occasional streaks of greatness, the same as all above average QB’s.
I think I’m not alone when I say, “Tom Brady wound NEVER have made those throws.
And that’s the difference between greatness and above average.
And now: cue up the excuse factory …
April 5th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Robinson is a nice player but he’s way too small for the nose. Only 6 ft tall and literally 50 lb less than McDonald. I wouldn’t have a problem. Grabbing McDonald in the first round. As always depends on who’s there.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:51 am
JA, no reason to hijack an article about drafting a defensive tackle with more Baker rhetoric. There are literally dozens of posts where you can do that with the support of your Baker hating compadres. Incidentally, I don’t think anyone, including the Baker lovers excuse those bad. Interceptions. But the reason we needed stellar play in those moments was because of the defense. Didn’t get it at that time unlike earlier in the season. Done and over with.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:54 am
007
Excuse #1 ✔️
April 5th, 2026 at 10:55 am
The Bucs will need to score at least 40 points per game so address the o-line. hahaha
April 5th, 2026 at 10:56 am
I like Georgia big 21 year old 6’4 325 lbs DT Christen Miller
He’s ready to light up the NFL , he’s quick on his feet
And has massive strength, Kirby love him, he’s great
April 5th, 2026 at 11:02 am
If we’re going to reach, at least we’re getting a starter. It won’t be a JTS or Hall. MacDonald will play for years.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:16 am
JA. Not to get off track here. I’m gonna enjoy this beautiful Easter Sunday. So that being said JA. Happy Easter Sunday. Go Bucs.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:20 am
@JA: And that’s the difference between greatness and above average.
And now: cue up the excuse factory
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excuse#2
————
Great quarterbacks are soooooooooooo easy to find, I can’t believe Licht didn’t think of that! ……………..DUH!!!!!!
April 5th, 2026 at 11:27 am
I’ve been thinking DT all along. Vea’s getting up there in years and they can’t trust Cancey to stay healthy.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:36 am
J, you did exactly what I said, no excuse. Did you read the rest of my comment? Context counts.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Reach, my a$$. Kayden McDonald will be a starter in NFL for years.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:43 am
No DT’s that can’t also participate in a pass rush. Waste of resources. The DT’s in this draft are way below par. Pick the best players.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:46 am
JA. You say we could have still won “after the 3rd &28? Explain to everyone how you can still win a game when the final play of the game was the field goal they kicked. That was Atlanta’s 3rd length of the field drive in the 4th quarter. The Carolina game you speak of we let Carolina drive the length of the field and score with 2 minutes left to take a 3 point lead. The ensuing kickoff, after the 15 yard penalty, we started at our 8 yard line with under 2 minutes and Baker slung us right down the field until Mighty Mike Evans popped the hamstring between his ears. Baker didn’t make any excuses JA. Do you have any excuses for being a liar?
April 5th, 2026 at 11:48 am
If all a guy is going to do is plug up the running lanes he should not be a first round pick. That had to be found in the middle rounds.
It’s a very important skill set but as a dt you have to be able to rush the qb at 15.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Been a BUC fan since Tony Dungy‘s days,the Buccaneers has been thought some horrible years with head coaches, including the one we have right now. He’s like lovely Smith; Too stubborn to change his mind.we have been looking for an edge rusher for years and we have one in VITA VEA. Answer this question? Wasn’t he the ONE That Play defensive end in the Super Bowl win against Kansas City? The most important game of the year.!! Why waste his talent playing noise tackle and getting double team every play, instead of letting him have some fun getting after quarterback on the edge Especially at his age ? That’s what good team have, Violent players having fun playing the game of football.With the coach we have he’s NOT going to change no matter who you draft on the defensive side of he team. Meaning we will have to put up a lot of points to win ball games and with the new offense coordinator:Zac Robinson which uses two or three tight ends at a time it would be smart to draft the best tight end in the draft in the first round to make Coach Robinson easier for him and Baker Mayfield. Like Joe always say Rookies normally don’t make that big of an impact their first year, especially on defense..
April 5th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Go watch McDonald’s highlight tape-He creates turnovers with his big bear paws ripping the ball out. Reminds me a bit of Suh-like this kid.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
I rather have a ( Disruptive NT) than a pass rushing NT
We need some enforcers on the D-Line that disrupt, and cause chaos
And let the Linebackers become playmakers, OLB and ILB
April 5th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Sign some dude who weighs 1100 pounds and wheel him out there next to Vita. The combined gravitational field would be so potent, the QB wouldn’t be able to drop back.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
With Vita, Kancey, Robinson, Roberts and Nacho, I think the Bucs are solid at DT. Much bigger needs at Edge, LBer, CB and OL.
If one of the top rated OTs drop, I’m starting to think that’s where the best value might be. After Wirfs and Luke, there is no depth. If the draft a OT that can start at guard and provide depth at OT, that would help should Luke or Wirfs gets hurt and upgrade the guard position.
I think with all these Edge rushers, LBers and Love going in the top 10, a top rated OT falls to 15.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
No one else local went to the meeting for the same reason Mike Evans is no longer a Buc.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Like Bucs are sooooo gooooood at drafting Edge…………………….
April 5th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Joe … ‘McDonald at No. 15 may not be a crazy concept. He may not be much of a pass rusher but he sure is a bully in the trenches.’
And that’s EXACTLY what the Bucs desperately need … a BULLY in the trenches. THAT’s McDonald all the way.
Folks are so worried about not picking him too high that they’ll end up missing out on him altogether. He’s solid, he’s tough as nails, and he can give us 700-plus QUALITY def snaps starting in his rookie season. In short Joe, HE’LL MAKE A MUCH BIGGER DIFFERENCE than any Edge or others folks have been talking about drafting in Rnd 1.
IF he’s there at #15 Jason, grab him and start singing Halleleujah. Because if you don’t, there’s a very good chance that Carolina (Pick #19), Chicago (Pick #25), or Houston (Pick #28) will. McDonald will be drafted in Rnd 1.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
007 & Kenton Smith
Excuse for making excuse—sometimes called The Dialectical Fallacy ✔️
April 5th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Love MacDonald and Lee Hunter as DT picks.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆
What about Anyhony? He’s stupid too……..No?
April 5th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
All for adding talent up front but I doubt DT is a position they are looking for in the first 2 days.
Call it Jason Licht hopium if you want, I bet they feel they are set there. Could be wrong based on couple guys in contract years.
Vea, Kancey, Robinson, Roberts, Nacho, Simmons, Jones… that’s a lot of big bodies and I bet they hope Roberts and Simmons take a step this offseason.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:55 pm
@JA: Excuse for making excuse—sometimes called The Dialectical Fallacy ✔️
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An excuse for an excuse is a secondary justification, often called a “metaphorical shield.”
April 5th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
I can’t name a player I like better and who will be available at 15.
April 5th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
The biggest reason teams might want to trade UP to our #15 is Ty Simpson. Steelers at #21 for instance
April 5th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Agreed JA. Baker has played inconsistent. Deff lost us some games and won us some games. I don’t want the Bucs to extend him until he can show consistency. When he’s on his A-game he’s deff a top 10 even a top 5 QB but when he’s not man he’s makes some Winston type of throws lol
April 5th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
No team is trading up to 15
There’s no value there, that’s a (Reach) spot in the draft
Not many teams will trade up to reach
Licht will be stuck with the pick
April 5th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
But can he defend a WR?
April 5th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
At 15, we should be getting Warren Sapp. This guy ain’t Sapp. Or anything like him. He’s like a younger Vea which is nice, but DT’s like that are pretty common. And this guy is not as good or B-I-G as Vea. If we had a young Sapp now he’d be a huge difference maker on this D. Our biggest problem is we cannot find a pass rush. We need it from our DT’s until we find it elsewhere…
He does have room to grow.
April 5th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Also, excuses are reasons why something happened. And the excuse is simple. No guards completely throws off the rhythm of the offense forcing Baker to play out of the pocket, off schedule, and without timing. There WAS NO POCKET. EVER. Our offense was completely 1 dimensional. Running and short wide passes trying to avoid the interior rush. And rollouts both of which make it easier to jump pass patterns.
April 5th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Anyhony, let’s draft Ty Simpson cause Baker’s the worst.
Ty will fix all our problems, who cares about a Charmin soft defense.
🙄
April 5th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
👍👍👍👆👆👆👆👍👍👍