Mel Kiper: Bucs Get Their Inside Linebacker In Second Round
April 5th, 2026
Texas ILB Anthony Hill.
Last week helmethair Mel Kiper had the Bucs picking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. This week? It’s Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor. Next week, maybe Indiana receiver Omar Cooper.
Who knows, but by all means, do click.
The vast majority of schlockers have the Bucs either picking Sadiq or Mesidor. Joe’s on board with Sadiq. Joe’s only on board with Mesidor if the Bucs hire his position coach, Hall of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor with the Hurricanes.
Ah, but in the second round, Kiper thinks the Bucs finally have their inside linebacker. Kiper thinks Texas inside linebacker Anthony Hill will swap his burnt orange for creamsicle.
The retirement of Lavonte David was expected but still leaves a hole. Hill is an ideal weakside prospect who can produce in the pass rush and pass coverage.
Joe’s intrigued by Hill. If the Bucs can get this guy at No. 46, that seems to be good value based on schlock draft analysis. However, veteran NFL scribe Bob McGinn doesn’t believe Hill at No. 46 is good value at all.
McGinn, now typing for the GoLongTD Substack, has been talking to NFL scouts and he has Hill has his eighth-best linebacker, well behind Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez and even behind Pitt’s Kyle Louis.
8. ANTHONY HILL, Texas (6-2, 239, 4.55, 3-4): Third-year junior started 32 of 40 games. “He got a lot of hype,” one scout said. “Off the body and the athletic ability he was a 5-star, and you could probably say that about him now,” said one scout. “But as an inside backer there isn’t great take-on. As an outside backer, not just a pure edge rusher. He’s sort of caught between and not really great at either one. He isn’t super instinctive. Reading plays and the key and diagnose wasn’t natural for him. He’s built like a pro, but when you start to dig into him you definitely have question marks.” Ran fast and had a 37-inch vertical jump. Arms were 32 3/8, hands were 9 5/8. “He’s not a first-rounder,” said a second scout. “He’s a little soft at the point. He doesn’t have that linebacker mentality. I don’t want to ding him too bad.” Finished with 249 tackles (31 ½ for loss), 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles. “He’s tricky,” a third scout said. “He’s got some biomechanical issues that he might not ever be a good tackler in space.” From Denton, Texas. “I couldn’t get excited about this guy,” a fourth scout said. “They moved him all over the place but he doesn’t play physical. He doesn’t really trigger and get to the ball. He floats around and it kind of gets him to the play. You’ll hear he’s a great athlete but I don’t see that at all. Just an average athlete. Best thing he does is zone coverage. Has a good feel for that. Third round.”
Well, if McGinn’s intel is accurate, then Joe doubts if the Bucs draft Hill. The Bucs’ tackling last year was lousy. Why add to that?
Why not, instead, add guys who have already demonstrated an ability to tackle like Louis?
If McGinn’s intel is correct, Joe isn’t sure Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht would draft Hill in the second round.
The Bucs’ defense last year was soft and so far through free agency, Licht has signed brawlers on defense. That seems to be the theme of the offseason: Be physical and play with heart.
From McGinn’s contacts in the scouting community, Hill doesn’t seem to be instinctive or physical.
Anthony Hill Jr Cut Ups https://t.co/9zDVSGRRdL pic.twitter.com/lh48AjPwFz
— jeremiah🐦⬛ (@NewEraMiah) April 2, 2026
April 5th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Joe, isn’t Anzalone replacing David on the weekside? Don’t we need to draft a true MLB to replace Dennis? That ideal player for the Bucs has to be Rodriguez? We need that field general in the middle. Whether it’s a trade down, or staying put at 15 for him. If he turns into a pro bowl MLB, it’s worth the 15th pick.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:39 am
Licht has hinted, he is going to trade down multiple times in this draft. I could see Licht trading down in the second and getting a guy like Anthony Hill in the late 2nd or early 3rd.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:40 am
Hill is highly overrated. 3rd round seems about right.
The Bucs need a guy who is smart, good in coverage and instinctive. All things Hill is not. Give me J Rodriguez or Golday all day over thos guy.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:49 am
I don’t get why the Joes keep saying Mesidor only if they can bring in Jason Taylor to coach.. is he going to just forget all the coaching he’s gotten previously because he’s in the NFL now?
April 5th, 2026 at 8:51 am
I like Mel Kiper more than most so I would tend to trust his judgement. Three Sundays from now we can all banter about it..Happy Easter! Going to my oldest son’s house for an untraditional Easter dinner of chicken wings.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Licht can hint about trading down all he wants, but not happening if he doesn’t get decent offers. Can’t rely on that happening & gotta be ready to stick & pick if necessary.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:04 am
“Who the hell is Mel Kiper” Happy Easter.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:13 am
Is Mesidor better than Quadin Muhammad? Probably not much… I’ll bet Jermod McCoy is way better than any of our corners and Jacob Rodriguez is way better than any of our LBers except maybe Anzalone. Sadiq is way better than our TE’s. I for one would like to see a huge improvement somewhere.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:25 am
JAG
April 5th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Watched all of his games. All Hill does is make plays in the clutch
April 5th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Sure limits our options if Hill sucks. JL should have been more active in FA. Only young one still out there is Ozereke. Too expensive probably. Surely, they have a plan.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:33 am
CJ Allen is the only true MIKE in this draft
The Bucs are known for trying to convert players
When you’re converting a weakside LB into a MIKE
You’re asking for a lot of trouble on your defense
April 5th, 2026 at 9:38 am
It would’ve made more sense to sign Nakobe Dean in Free Agency
Then sign/draft Inside Linebackers, to replace LVD
April 5th, 2026 at 9:39 am
There are just as many scouts out there saying Hill is the 3rd best LB in the draft. Behind only the 2 OSU guys.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:42 am
HE IS RISEN!
April 5th, 2026 at 9:55 am
I don’t think they are going after an ILB. They signed 2 free agents for a reason. We might WANT them to do it, but I don’t think they will.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Mel Kiper puts on a good show…until you realize he rarely gets it right outside of the top 12.
Oh sure…he floods the Internet with lots of mocks…and he uses them to cover as many based as he can so he can refer back to them during the draft broadcast.
The Bucs tend to do the unexpected though.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:05 am
That was the Bucs biggest problem last season on defense
They tried to convert Sirvocea Dennis into a MIKE
He had problems calling the defense, getting guys set etc
He was trying to do too much, couldn’t focus
You can tell he was lost on the football field
But, he’s a solid weakside LB, and a poor MIKE LB
He looked like Goedeke playing Guard
With a solid MIKE LB, Dennis can be LVD replacement
April 5th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Would rather have Jacob Rodriguez in first round if Sadiq gone. Also ok with big Ohio State DT at 15.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:14 am
Hodad … ‘Isn’t Anzalone replacing David on the weekside? Don’t we need to draft a true MLB to replace Dennis? That ideal player for the Bucs has to be Rodriguez? We need that field general in the middle’.
Alex Anzalone has good experience at all LB positions Hodad, including MLB, but is expected to play mostly weakside LB because of his ability to play in space, cover tight ends & running backs, and act as a reliable tackler. Christian Rozeboom also has very good experience as a MLB, but while competing for the Mike spot, he is versatile enough to play both middle and weakside positions in Todd Bowles’ defense from what I’ve read.
Like you, I’d expect the Bucs to draft a true MLB although it might be awhile in Bowles’ defense before he gets to wear the green dot (since both Anzalone & Rozeboom have a lot of experience doing that).
Personally I wouldn’t be unhappy if the Bucs drafted CJ Allen, Jacob Rodriquez or Anthony Hill in Rnd 2, or even went with Jake Golday in Rnd 3. Any one of those 4 LBs could benefit us this year and in future years, although IMO they’re all slower than what I’d prefer for ILBs in Bowles 3-4 defense.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:21 am
Lakeland … ‘With a solid MIKE LB, Dennis can be LVD replacement’.
You’re more of an optimist than I am Lakeland. Unless we have a lot of injuries this year, I doubt that SVD will even see the field except for Special Teams. And even that’s iffy. I seriously doubt that he’ll be re-signed after this year.
Dennis reminds me somewhat of Kwon Alexandeer for some reason. We converted Kwon to MLB (not his position at LSU) but I never felt like he had the instincts for it. With LVD as our Will in the 4-3 at the time, I always thought that Kwon would do a lot better as a strongside backer (his role in college). We never gave him that chance.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:31 am
The Bucs had better not pick Sadiq or ANY other player from the offensive side. You should be fired for saying you are on board with Sadiq at #15. I don’t expect much from the national media because most don’t know anything about the Bucs. I expect better from you. You know the Bucs normally draft smaller LBs (Brooks, LVD).
Stay away from Golday and Louis at ILB and Faulk at DE. i would be OK with Allen, Rodriguez or Hill also. My biggest fear is there will be a run on ILB late in the 1st/early 2nd before the Bucs are on the clock and all 3 of these are gone. The Bucs may need to trade up in the 2nd to get their LB – like they traded up for Brooks and LVD. Both of those trades worked out pretty well.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Bucs shouldn’t pick any O until day 3
April 5th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Yes, a trade back to another 2nd would be great
Ioane
Hill jr
Cashius Howell
Julian Neal
Trigg
Landon Robinson
April 5th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Who in the hell is Mel Kiper anyway?
April 5th, 2026 at 10:47 am
So, is it really our plan to depend on Carolina castoff Rozeboom to be the starter all year? We won’t (and shouldn’t) draft Rodriguez at 15 and have no assurance he’ll be there at 46. Hill and Allen could be gone by 46 too for that matter. I would not be surprised to see LB pushed to third or fourth round if those guys are gone. We probably have a genius pick up our sleeve.
April 5th, 2026 at 10:49 am
We can always draft Indiana U MIKE Aiden Fischer in the 5th Round
He has a lot to offer us
April 5th, 2026 at 10:53 am
@Joe,
For someone who despises “schlock” drafts, you sure do seem to be a connoisseur. You’re the guy who talks trash about the homely girls at the frat party only to be caught escorting them out of your room in the morning. [Take note: I did ascribe you some decency (and game) via “escorting”]
One Joe loves mock drafts believing they’re entertaining sometimes informative. Even general managers cop to reading some of them. The other Joe has thinks they’re largely shlock.–Joe
April 5th, 2026 at 11:46 am
First minute of that highlight package looked pretty good to me. He was finding the ball through the gaps and getting his mitts on passes.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Mesidor does not fit the profile. Over 23 (he’s 25) and no RAS >9.0. That’s who JL drafts in the first round. It won’t be Mesidor.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Any good tackler can be taught to whiff. It’s what Coach Two Hats does better than anything except assignment busts. Those are his specialty.
So might as well just draft a lousy tackler already trained in the rat of the whiff.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Lakeland says;
“CJ Allen is the only true Mike in this draft”
Not true. Golday and Rodriguez are both true Mike LBers. There are a few others as well that can be had in the later rounds.
I like Allen a lot in 75% of the games Ive watched. Good leader, smart, athletic and has good instincts. Then in 25% of his games, he floats and doesn’t look like a 1st rounder.
The inconsistent play would have me more inclined to draft Rodriguez in round 2, who is rubber consistent and makes more plays and is better in coverage than Allen.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
303 tackles in HS career as a LB leading to 5star recruiting status. Track star. Earned LB starting role at Texas in freshman year then “Finished with 249 tackles (31 ½ for loss), 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles” in the SEC as a starting LB. But he can’t ’finish in space’? Pfft. Get outta here.
At least this one single dissenting opinion scout gives Hill Jr credit for coverage skills – which are critical (eh, Sirvocea?). Doesn’t mention that Hill Jr also
Clutch performer who delivered in Texas’ biggest games.
IMHO: Hill Jr, Jacob Rodriguez are most instinctual LB’s in this class – and that includes the Ohio State boys. CJ Allen very close but the pass coverage skills in this order: Rodriguez, Styles, Hill Jr, Allen. CJ Allen is arguably 1 or 2 best against the run. Instincts win out in this debate. We should be thrilled with Hill Jr or Rodriguez. CJ Allen will also have solid NFL career.
April 5th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
I never said Anthony Hill Jr wasn’t a good Linebacker
I said that the Bucs need a MIKE LB more than an ILB
I knew Hill Jr from high school, he was teammates with Eli Stowers
And he played in the High School All-american game, him and CJ Allen
These other guys like Golday, Rodriguez are older than Hill, Allen
There’s other guys that played in the High School All-American game in 2023
Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, TJ Parker, Keldric Faulk, Monroe Kneeling
Kadlyn Proctor , Spencer Fano, there’s some more of them leaving school early
CJ Allen was a top RB in Georgia also, over 1,600 yards, 26 TDs rushing
And l still say he’s a true MIKE, these other guys are ILB, than can play MIKE
April 5th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
**** I meant Monroe Freeling
April 5th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
*** Anthony Hill Jr was a high school rival of Eli Stowers
Not teammates