Jordan Reid Selects Seven New Bucs
April 21st, 2026
Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas devours former Alabama QB Jalen Milroe.
One guy who has splashed onto the scene in recent years has been Jordan Reid of ESPN. He came up the hard way. He was a grunt of a GA college assistant and worked his way up to the four-letter writing specifically on the draft.
Reid goes to everything draft-related. The all-star bowl games, the pro days, the combine, you name it. So since he’s always talking to NFL scouts and coaches at these events, he has a pulse of what teams are seeking and not seeking.
Joe is highlighting here Reid’s seven-round mock draft with each Bucs player picked and a brief synopsis.
Bucs
First round
Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Joe wouldn’t touch this guy before the third day of the draft with a 10-foot pole. He is damaged goods. The dude hasn’t played since 2024. He blew out his knee working out at home in January 2025.
Now, there are reports, by way of Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, that multiple teams’ medical staffs have flagged this McCoy and are worried he may need a second surgery before he returns to the football field. No thanks, pass.
Second round
R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, one thousand times, yes! Joe damn near jumped out of his office chair reading this. Joe is a huge R Mason Thomas fan. He is lightning quick and you just don’t teach that.
And Joe doesn’t want to hear he’s too small. He’s just as tall as Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett and 20 pounds lighter. Thomas may be quicker. Absolutely, pick this guy in the second round if he slips that far.
Third round
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
Bucs coach Todd Bowles believes there are 10-12 quality inside linebackers in this draft. Is Golday one of these guys?
Golday was a pretty good linebacker on a good team last year. Not great, but good. He flew under the radar because he played for Cincinnati in the Big XII. Not a lot of national TV games for the Bearcats compared to Texas Tech or Houston or BYU. Dane Brugler of The Athletic, in his draft guide “The Beast,” has Golday as his No. 4 inside linebacker.
Fourth round
Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Hey, Joe is OK with a starting receiver in the SEC from a playoff team. He averaged 11 yards a catch. After Oklahoma QB John Mateer got hurt and missed a few games, he was never really 100 percent after that. So Burks averaging 11 yards a game, catching passes from a backup and a beat-up starting QB in the SEC isn’t shabby.
Fifth round
Wesley Williams, Edge, Duke
Well, a guy from Duke ought to be able to figure out Todd Bowles’ defense. Williams is a really solid run-stopper but as a pass rusher? Well, maybe Bowles, the noted developer of edge rushers, can coach him up.
Sixth round
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Not a bad move to take a flyer on a prayer QB. Say what you will about Cade Klubnik, but he cannot be worse than current Bucs No. 3 quarterback Connor Bazelak.
Entering the 2025 season, Klubnik was expected to perhaps be the No. 1 quarterback taken in the draft, a first-round pick for sure. Instead, Klubnik totally imploded this past season. Now folks think he’s a sixth-round pick. Hey, maybe Zac Robinson and highly respected Bucs QB coach Chander Whitmer can work some magic?
If Whitmer can make Klubnik a quality backup, that’s yet another gold star on Whitmer’s stellar resume. Everywhere Whitmer has been, he’s had quality QBs.
Seventh round
Jager Burton, C, Kentucky
OK, Joe already has a nickname for this SEC center: Jagermeister!
Joe is OK taking a flyer on any starting lineman who played in the SEC. Seventh-round picks are Hail Marys anyway. So, sure, why not Jagermeister?
April 21st, 2026 at 9:03 am
Throw this whole mock in the garbage, where it belongs.
April 21st, 2026 at 9:16 am
This mock draft is actually really good if the Bucs came a ay with this amazing even though I don’t know if McCoy is on there board kuz of injury
April 21st, 2026 at 9:25 am
Not a bad draft, I love it
Especially the Cabe Klubnik pick in the 6th round
He may have the most value of a 6th round QB
Since the Pats drafted TB12 in the 6th round
I love all of these picks
April 21st, 2026 at 9:28 am
McCoy pick will make me puke and Sadiq haters have McCoy remorse. So then Benmo goes to the pine? If so, somewhat of another wasted 2nd. RMT I like way better than Faulk or Howell. Problem is, RMT could be a first rounder.
Burks is ok.
Klubnik never reached his po at Clemson, so finally a QB pick to hut on.
The rest of the draft, meh…
April 21st, 2026 at 9:30 am
Awful. Good thing draft analysts are usually wrong
April 21st, 2026 at 9:40 am
I’ve got a dart board too. Can I do a few shots and spew out a mock draft too?
April 21st, 2026 at 9:56 am
Well, a guy from Duke ought to be able to figure out Todd Bowles’ defense.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
good one Joe!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
April 21st, 2026 at 9:57 am
Looks like zero out of seven. Using a dart board?
April 21st, 2026 at 9:58 am
No!
McCoy is going to need another knee surgery and may not play in 2026…
NO THANK YOU!!!!
We need young, healthy and cheap.
We don’t need another oft injured CB to be in and out of the line-up for the next 4 years…
The Bucs already took a big risk with Morrison.
Enough is enough.
April 21st, 2026 at 9:59 am
Is McCoy really “damaged” goods? I think the NFL medical staffs will determine if a 20 yr old who will be 18 months removed from an ACL is “damaged goods”. If that is truly the case(highly doubtful), then of course I’d pass. But the guy is a shut down CB and super talented.
If McCoy is damaged goods at 20, thrn what does Joe think about a 25 yr old with an extensive injury history in Mesidor?
JL will most likely bring in a vet CB this summer and draft someone in the middle to late rounds.
Still think it’s Rodriguez, Mesidor or Proctor.
April 21st, 2026 at 9:59 am
Just wasted 3 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. Jermod McCoy ? Seriously ?
April 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
swap the 1st round pick with OL and swap the 4th & 6th round picks for CBs and this would be a great draft…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 21st, 2026 at 10:06 am
🙂
Thank you.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:07 am
First round picks for the Bucs:
1) Edge – Mesidor
2) ILB – CJ Allen
3) IOL – Ioane
4) TE – Sadiq
5) IDL – K. McDonald
Depends on who is available when we pick and if our GM is able to move down in round #1…
April 21st, 2026 at 10:21 am
Joe Says: “He is damaged goods. The dude hasn’t played since 2024. He blew out his knee working out at home in January 2025… Multiple teams’ medical staffs have flagged this McCoy and are worried he may need a second surgery before he returns to the football field.”
Hmmmm… Then, sounds like the perfect Bucs early round draft-pick.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:23 am
I just read a good reason not to draft a linebacker in the first round, when it comes time for fifth year option inside and outside linebackers are assigned the same amount, so your inside guy is going to start his second contract millions and millions above his worth
April 21st, 2026 at 10:31 am
Klubnik is from the same high school as Drew Brees and Nick Foles- they’re rival HS is Lake Travis, the school of Basket Mayfield
April 21st, 2026 at 10:33 am
I liked watching Thomas play, too! I forgot about him. I have been soooo bored with this draft. Maybe, the most unremarkable draft that I can remember in a long time.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:35 am
Damn. Will Anderson got $50-MIL per ($134M fully guaranteed)!? WOW.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:37 am
I don’t think Jermold McCoy or Mansoor Delane is the nation top CB
They played in the SEC against tougher competition
But k believe Chris Johnson from San Diego State is the top CB
Even though he played against lesser competition
April 21st, 2026 at 10:39 am
Marine Buc…
The list. My order might be a little different but it’s the right players for sure.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:43 am
Root canal.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:43 am
Mccoy is on 15 months rehabbing an injury that should have been done in 9.
Also, we interviewed over a dozen tight ends, and he doesn’t draft any?
April 21st, 2026 at 10:43 am
No 24-25 year-olds early in the 1st-Round, please.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:44 am
2 and 3 I like quite a bit.
Absolutely not on McCoy.
April 21st, 2026 at 10:46 am
@ KA
I didn’t mean to list a specific order. I should have clarified that better…
Like I said – “it depends on who is available and if our GM is able to move back”
April 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
We have plenty of injured players on this squad from last year.
This article was completely useless and devoid of anything relevant.
R Mason Thomas in round two was the only pick that makes any sense.
We need to just grab J Rod in round one, no matter if it is a stretch.
LB, Edge, and CB are the biggest needs. Everything else is fluff.
April 21st, 2026 at 11:04 am
Joe, you should post Steven Cheah’s all new updated 4.0 NFL Draft LoL. HE’s our local “Mr. Bucs Fan” extraordinaire on FS1’s “Wake Up Barstool” (WUB). Idk, maybe you don’t like him Hahahah. He’s got the Bucs taking UGA’s CJ Allen. I said 3-months ago, HIM or Styles. A lot has changed since then. I haven’t heard much about him of late. CJ Allen, that is.
April 21st, 2026 at 11:06 am
Most draft gurus have JRod mocked somewhere 40- 50
If the Bucs pick him at 15
That will be a great over reach, according to them
And the pick will make them puke 🤮🤮
Everyone has their preferences
But in the end, no one will be 100% correct in these picks
That’s why l just analyze the players, instead of mocking them to a team
April 21st, 2026 at 11:11 am
Cheah has Jacob Rodriquez going to Houston at #28. They definitely have nothing to lose there. They can afford to reach for defense.
April 21st, 2026 at 11:11 am
One Center named Barton and the backup named Burton? um…. NO
April 21st, 2026 at 11:16 am
I lot of mocks have CJ Allen dropping to round 2, which I’ve been saying for months. He disappears in games and seems like he would need work in coverage, kinda like SVD but much more athletic.
I still think J Rodriguez would be a great pick at 15 or after trading down. The guy is super smart, creates turnovers, great in coverage, team leader and fills a huge need.
Get your edge in round 2 like Thomas, Lawrence or Derrick Moore.
Add an upgrade at guard in round 3 or if you get an extra 2nd by trading down, do it in round 2.
April 21st, 2026 at 11:22 am
They are doing wonderful things with knee and hip replacements nowadays. Morrison and McCoy could be quite a duo.
April 21st, 2026 at 11:33 am
1) DT McDonald
2) LB Rodrigues
3) DB Julian Neal
4) Edge LT Overton
5) LB Tauren York
6) OG Jerimiya Wright
7) TE JM Gyllenborg
This is based on no trades
April 21st, 2026 at 11:42 am
Excellent article.
Reads logic is off. A talented guy thar was hurt gets no penalty but one that had a rough year gets clobbered.
And we just picked a cb that had been hurt bad in the 2nd round and arent sure what we have after a year.
I like the guys mentioned but not all the spots taken
April 21st, 2026 at 11:45 am
I don’t really see any Superstar players in this draft
Not even the players at the top, Mendoza, Bailey, Styles etc
This just my opinion, l see a lot of average to above average players
I don’t see that WOW player in this draft
April 21st, 2026 at 12:00 pm
This might be the worst mock draft I’ve seen for the Bucs. The best one’s have us trading down in the 1st and taking Mesidor and then trading up in the 2nd to take JRod. That would be a dream scenario at least as far as I’m concerned
April 21st, 2026 at 12:00 pm
For all those spewing stuff like “damaged goods”, “bum knee”, saying he’s still rehabbing etc.
Go watch his pro day that he completed. Ran 4.3 40, 38 in vert and 10’7″ broad jump. Hard to do any of that on 2 good knees, much less a bum knee.
But if there is any medical concern with they knee, thrn I’m ok with them passing.
My favorite CB in this draft is Ponds. If he was an inch or 2 taller, hed be the first CB off the board. If the can get Ponds in round 2 or 3..home run.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Was he wearing pads, shedding blocks from tight ends? Was he in bump and run coverage? Was he weaving through traffic trying to get a tackle? Was he fighting with a receiver for the ball?
(Real) football is a far cry from track practice.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Lakeland:
Ive seen recent mocks that have J Rod going as high as Dallas at 20.
What we have to remember is most if these mock drafts are people not in the “know” and what happens is they all start parroting each other.
I would be perfectly happy with J Rod at 15 or after a trade down in round 1. He’s just that good.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:08 pm
That mock is horrible.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:13 pm
If a player you want won’t be there for your next pick, you take him with your current pick. Period.
That’s not overreaching.
The term “overreaching” is based on rankings of people who get it wrong every year.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:28 pm
What a kook.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:29 pm
This could be the worst draft in Buc History.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
I would be happy with any of these players
They all are similar players to me.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
You people keep on try to fix the Bowzo Defense Disaster. Have fun and good luck. HAHA
April 21st, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Joe:
No it was a pro day. Get your rhetorical questions, but all ask my own rhetorical questions.
Can a guy with a “bum knee” that is “damaged goods” that is “still rehabbing” run a 4 3 40, do a 38 vert or 10’7″ broad jump?
I already agreed that if team doctors have longterm or even short term concerns, then pass.
I just think saying a 20 yr old who had a simple ACL surgery is damaged goods is ridiculous.
Did you play high level sports? Have you torn your ACL? I have and did so at 20 years old in college. That was 30 years ago (surgery has come a long ways) and his rehab team and treatment is far superior to anything I had.
Passing on McCoy because you dont want to draft another CB coming off an injury is completely understandable.
I think the kid will be special and someone is going to get a shutdown CB, something the Bucs haven’t had in a long time.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Joe says:
“Real football is a far cry from track practice.”
I agree with that. That’s why I watch the games these guys play in and base players I like on what I see on the field.
So why is Joe so enamored by Sadiq?? If you just watched all of his college tape and not the combine, would you still want the Bucs to draft him at 15?
My guess is no. Kinda works for all players, not just the ones you like.
April 21st, 2026 at 12:52 pm
I watched Oregon and Kenyon Sadiq a lot in college
He never got my attention, it was like, he wasn’t in the game
But when l watched Vanderbilt, l seen a lot of Eli Stowers
I’m not sold on Kenyon Sadiq
He may be an excellent NFL player
But he did nothing as a college player
He padded his stats against lesser competition, like most players
But that’s not what makes you great
April 21st, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Outside of Mendoza and Love, there just doesn’t seem to be very many “Perfect” Prospects in this year’s draft. There are lots of ‘red-flags’ with almost every one of them. Except for maybe, a couple of O-Lineman. Even, Caleb Downs had some secret ‘insider’ info on HIM a month or so ago, concerning a mystery injury!? Real Weird Draft-Class.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:01 pm
@Joe dogging a poster using “ track practice” numbers to support a player. Then, ….. Joe uses “track practice” numbers as he drools over Sadiq 5 times a day.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Joe *does* the combine but he doesn’t *watch* the combine. The indoor track practice which people call the combine means nothing to Joe. If a guy can play football, he can play football. The combine Joe does, very little of that is ever televised.
Sadiq is a freakshow. Joe watched several Oregon games. Live. Love the dude. He is the one thing this offense does not have: A tight end who can stretch the field and is a mismatch for anyone on the second or third levels of the defense.
Joe believes the defense is two years away from being good. The Bucs offense could be elite with a guy like Sadiq, who can also play multiple positions.
If a team is going to have a lousy defense then it better have a damn good offense.
Joe’s been all over this before, several times actually.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Yeah, adding a rookie 1st round corner to a group that struggles communicating will really help…. smh
April 21st, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Guess BigBoi should start watching Oregon games like Joe has.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Dang, just read FanofdaBucs post above…. after I posted mine. We said the exact same thing to Joe.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:04 pm
They say Kenyon Sadiq athleticsm is off the chart
But Eli Stowers had a higher Broad Jump and Vertical Jump
And Eli Stowers production is way way higher than Sadiq
April 21st, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Joe swears these guys need to start learing sign language. smh
April 21st, 2026 at 1:06 pm
@Joe gets salty when someone points out his hypocrisy sometimes. Lighten up Francis. You dogged a poster who used track star data, yet you use it on Sadiq. You got busted bruh. Punt. And I watched every Oregon game this year.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Eli Stowers averaged 12.4 yards a reception on 62 catches
April 21st, 2026 at 1:14 pm
Zack Kuntz, a tight end from Old Dominion, delivered what is widely considered one of the greatest athletic performances in NFL Scouting Combine history in 2023. At roughly 6’7″ and 255 lbs, he recorded a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), ranking him as the most athletic tight end among over 1,000 prospects tested since 1987.
7th round to the Jets . Has not played 1 NFL play yet. Practice squad, cut, to the UFL, practice squad.
@ Joe, there’s your Combine Stars…..
April 21st, 2026 at 1:16 pm
Trade back a few…
Ioane
Jrod/Hill jr
Cash Howell
Will Lee 3
Trigg
Landon Robinson
Jack Kelly
Caden Curry
April 21st, 2026 at 1:18 pm
Zyon McCollum recorded a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score (RAC)
If you watched him play last season
You would think his RAS Score was closer to a 4.0
April 21st, 2026 at 1:23 pm
How did Helen Keller communicate? The Bucs defense needs to try what she did, it wouldn’t be any worse.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:24 pm
@ Lakeland Says: “I don’t see that WOW player in this draft.”
Oh, Jeremiyah Love is 💯 ALL “WOW,” in my book. And, Mendoza looks like he’d be the #1 QB (and pick) off the board, even including 2027’s class. I think he is actually underrated maybe, a little. Love is a STUD. Put him at WR, in the slot, or anywhere… It doesn’t matter. Just give HIM the damn ball. His only problem will be going to Tenne-Frickin-See. The Cards might just snag him tho… Now, that could be interesting with their new ‘offensive-minded’ HC.
If he’s there for Ole Hairball (thanks, Phyllis RIP), then he’s NUTTS for not taking him to pair with Skattebo. It’d be THE very best thing he could do for his young QB, especially after losing WanDale. Then, take one of the Tackles at #10. He can get a solid #2-WR at the top of the 2nd-Round, to replace WanDale and to go ‘opposite’ of Nabers. If I’m them, I’m going OFFENSE all the way, and LOADING TF UP for my young ‘franchise’ QB. 💯
April 21st, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Joe thinks the defense is 2 years away from being good. So wouldn’t it make sense to add more players to the defense so in 2 years they will be really good?
Such a strange line of thinking.
How is the defense going to be good in 2 years if you keep selecting offensive players while passing on good defensive players?
How’s that working out in Cincy?
Joe,
So you’re basing your love for Sadiq on his college tape?
In 2025 he had 6 games where he had 2 catches or less.
In 2025 he never once had a 100 yard game.
That numbers are freakish..for sure.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:41 pm
If the Bucs want one of the top ILBers – they are going to have to create that opportunity. Talking about Allen, Rodriguez and Hill specifically. Any of those 3 would be a major upgrade for the middle of our defense.
Problem is – 15 is too rich for any of those players – as all 3 will almost certainly still be on the board at #20…. (I say 20 specifically because Dallas probably takes their pick of those ILBers at 20 unless they somehow miraculously wind up with Styles at #12).
So are we prioritizing pass rush at the top of this draft – or are we prioritizing the Bucs defense’s biggest need which is MLB?
If Licht is prioritizing ILB at the top of this draft – then the Bucs will either have to find a trade partner to move back a few spots in round 1 and get their pick of the litter at better value than 15 – or do a big move up in rd 2 to select whoever is left of those 3 at #34 or whatever….
All 3 of those ILBers will be selected somewhere between 20>40 and the Bucs picks are 15 and 46. So Jason is going to have to do some wheelin and dealin Thursday night in order to draft one of them at the right value….
April 21st, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Skattebo is a VERY BIG injury that he is coming off of, too… Horrendous. They would make the absolute PERFECT “Thunder & Lightning” together, for the Giants and their young athletic QB. That could be SUCH a dynamic offense with a healthy Nabers. Too bad they couldn’t keep WanDale. He was beaten up quite a bit too though, so far, throughout his young career. Nabers has to stay on the field. He and Love could make up the most ‘EXPLOSIVE’ 1-2 WR-RB combo in the entire league. Without a doubt, hands down.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Fanofdabucs Says:
“I just think saying a 20 yr old who had a simple ACL surgery is damaged goods is ridiculous. ”
Given what this team has been through in the past year, it really isn’t.
April 21st, 2026 at 1:53 pm
@ Pickgrin – Exactly. Have To. 💯. Can’t reach that high for an ILB. It doesn’t make sense. Especially, given there are at least 3 to choose from. Gotta trade back.