Albert Breer: Bucs Are A Possible Trade-Up Target
April 22nd, 2026
“Todd, will you be OK with me drafting two linebackers Friday night?”
When the 2026 NFL draft kicks off tomorrow night — tomorrow night! — Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has made it clear: He wants to trade down.
Seeing/reading/hearing so many other teams say they want to trade down as well gave Joe the impression this won’t be an easy task.
Albert Breer thinks the opposite. In fact, Breer, the long-time NFL columnist for SI.com, put fingers to keyboard to explain the Bucs might be a prime trade-up target and since there may be more than one suitor for the Bucs to dance with, Licht may be able to pull off a sweet deal.
Per Breer, several teams picking right behind the Bucs are hunting for a tackle. And the Bucs, of course, have zero need to draft a tackle at No. 15, or draft a tackle at all this weekend.
Mark the Buccaneers down as another team looking to move down on Thursday night, from their perch at No. 15. And I think they’re positioned to pull it off.
Behind them, you have the Lions at 17, Panthers at 19, Steelers at 21, Eagles at 23, Browns at 24 and Bears at 25 as teams that might need tackle help. And with a run on the position potentially looming over that alley of picks, the Bucs could give someone the opportunity to jump the line. Which, I think, is something to keep an eye on as we draw closer.
Now this is some really good research of the chessboard. Joe never gave that angle a whole lot of thought. But if more than one team talks turkey with Licht tomorrow night, wouldn’t it be awesome if Licht could also squeeze a second-round pick out of another team?
That way Licht could trade down, draft Kayden McDonald in the first, Jacob Rodriguez in the second and maybe Jake Golday or Kyle Louis, too?
That would be a helluva haul to start the draft.
Jake Golday (6’4 237) Cincinnati
+ Ideal size for the position
+ Effective shedding blockers
+ Coverage upside with his length and athleticism (77.5 grade)
+ Blitz timing and pursuit speed
+ Open field tackling
+ 90.6 run defense grade in 2025
+ Work ethic to go from a 190… pic.twitter.com/oBXq8kyfCN— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) January 24, 2026
April 22nd, 2026 at 4:35 am
Trading down down is recommended. Your guy Golday looks good but he tackles kinda high. That’s coachable.
April 22nd, 2026 at 4:45 am
Wow compared to Dennis. Very fluid the way he moves, sheds blocks with those long arms that should help in coverage. You have to like his size. At 6’4″ he’s eye to eye with most TEs. Compare that to Allen at 6’1″. I would not mind him in the second, McDonald in the first trading down.
April 22nd, 2026 at 5:41 am
Anything that improves the Putrid Pass -defense I am all for it.
April 22nd, 2026 at 6:00 am
Picture shows this may be worst draft ever for Bucs.
April 22nd, 2026 at 6:04 am
Not interested in Golday or Louis. Neither would be more than a short term replacement for Dennis in the box. Need an Edge. Even though Mesidor will be gone and I wouldn’t touch Faulk, but there’s probably at least 5 or 6 DE/Edge still available in the 2nd round:
Thomas OU
Howell TX A&M
Parker Clemson
Jacas Illinois
Lawrence UCF
Young Mizz
Moore Mich
April 22nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
Rodriguez and small and slow.
He missed a ton of tackles too.
He’s way overrated.
Do not draft Rodriguez!
April 22nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
Rodriguez won’t be there in rd 2… unless its pick 33 or 34 – then maybe.
More likely JRod and Allen both get selected somewhere between 20 and 32.
If Licht wants a good ILB this year at the right value – he needs to trade down 8-10 spots and then draft Allen or JRod in Rd 1.
Either that or select BPA at 15 and then jump way up from 46 to the top of rd 2 and get whoever is still on the board among Allen, JRod and Hill.
I prefer option 1 because we likely get our choice of MLB and also an extra day 2 pick.
Golday is not the consolation prize we want I don’t think….
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:00 am
Cleveland would be nice, give them our 1st & 4th for their 1st & 2nd. Not sure if that’s a realistic trade package but getting 4 picks in the first 3 rds would be nice, especially with two second rounders.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:05 am
Trade down for extra 2nd. Please, please, please. 🙏🏼
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:13 am
Only problem with getting an extra 2nd is Lichts record picking in the 2nd, other than lineman it’s pretty bad
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:32 am
Teacherman. Your earlier post said Tykee was the same size as Lavonte. That was inaccurate to say the least. It made me wonder about you. But now you’re pounding on JRod? Well, that’s not only inaccurate- that’s insane. At least I’m not wondering about you anymore.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:36 am
Licht’s 2nd round picks are lacking
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:49 am
If we can pull it off, trading down is the move.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:52 am
“Behind them, you have the Lions at 17, Panthers at 19, Steelers at 21, Eagles at 23, Browns at 24 and Bears at 25 as teams that might need tackle help.”
Mauigoa
Fano
Proctor
Freeling
Lomu
Miller & Iheanachor.
Those are names we may see drafted at OT in the first round and it’d be really nice if 3-4 of the guys go before we pick at 15th. I’d like to think a position swap in the first along with a 2nd or 3rd rounder depending on how far we’re looking to move back would play some part in making a deal.
Very likely Licht has a handful of prospects he wouldn’t mind walking out of each round of draft with. If the draft works out where we can move back and still be in range for 2-3 of those players in the 1st while making a deal that gets him an extra selection in the top 50-100.
April 22nd, 2026 at 7:58 am
I wish someone would be dumb enough to give us a 1st round pick in 2027.
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:01 am
“I wish someone would be dumb enough to give us a 1st round pick in 2027.”
Bengals already rang the pre-draft bad move bell.
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:11 am
What would Pittsburgh have to give us to move up from 21?
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:26 am
Teacherman says:
“Rodriguez is too slow”
Hope youre not teaching our youth.
LVD ran 4.61
Derrick Brooks ran 4.71
J Rodriguez ran 4.5
Wrong!
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:41 am
Can we fire Bowles and Licht before the draft?
That’s the only way the draft will be worth anything.
If not we’ll just get boat raced in 2026.
Those who resist change are guaranteed to perish.
3-14
April 22nd, 2026 at 8:59 am
It’s pound on Teacherman day. LOL That’s what happens when you type dumb stuff
“Teacherman Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
Rodriguez and small and slow.
He missed a ton of tackles too”
In the first comment you’re basically saying it’s all about the combine and not true college production. In the second statement, it’s true he does miss more tackles than average but he’s also a beast with forcing turnovers. Off the charts actually. I’ve read elsewhere that if he focused on only the tackle, his percentage would be mich higher, but he’s always looking to force the ball out if at all possible. And he’s frequently successful.
Just shows that if you pick a few specific stats, you can make somebody look below average but the production and film shows this dude is everywhere, instinctive and is a turnover machine.
April 22nd, 2026 at 9:01 am
IF JL can pull off the trade down and gain an extra 2nd or 3rd rounder, then here are my targets:
-Lawrence Edge
-J Rodriguez LBer
Getting one of those 2 guys AND picking up more draft picks, would be special.
April 22nd, 2026 at 9:20 am
It would be crazy if someone traded up. Took Mesidor or someone they liked and then they end up being a stud. Like how the Bears traded up with us to grab Floyd and left us with a bust.
April 22nd, 2026 at 9:24 am
Hammer. Scrotum. Bash repeatedly.
April 22nd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Geez Albert Breer I would assume many teams are trade up targets
April 22nd, 2026 at 9:29 am
Read the story. Breer points out *why* the Bucs would be that target. smh It actually makes sense, not just throwing crap against the wall.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:35 am
Lions, panthers, eagles all have solid OL fronts and they want to fortify their OL lol…what an idea lol
Draft Proctor and plug him in at LG…he’ll provide position flexibility…running behind Wirfs and Proctor is almost a guaranteed 1k yard alone
if panthers draft OL first round, they’ll win the division again
GO BUCS
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:38 am
Trade down with the Browns, Jets, Giants – they typically have bad GM’s who’ll do anything.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:07 pm
I suppose that everyone is a ‘potential’ trade up!? Except for say, the Raiders. But, let’s hope it’s NOT the Bucs. Unless, Love falls outta the Top-10. Otherwise, IF they’re doing anything at all with that 1st-Round Pick, it better be to trade DOWN. Or, for a 2027 1st. I’m hoping for some Ty Simpson HYPE. Most teams will be looking for 2027 compensation in return for their 2026 picks. The Bucs need to be one of them.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Yeah, I can see that happening, and was thinking about it the other day! It’s very possible for a strong O-Lineman or two, to be there. It’d be sweet if the Bengals even wanted to jump back in there to grab one. They’ve GOT TO keep Joe Cool CLEAN, or they’ve got no shot! I’d take their 2027, in a heartbeat. Along with this year’s 2nd-Rounder, and with whatever else it takes to complete the deal. If Burrow is hurt again, then it can turn into another Top-10 Pick in a hurry!!!!
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Teacherman Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
Rodriguez and small and slow.
He missed a ton of tackles too.
He’s way overrated.
Do not draft Rodriguez!—-
——————–
Again proving you don’t know squat. Rodriguez ran sub 4.6 at the Combine… his speed shows on the field. Sorry you don’t see it but you’re wrong. He’s actually underrated with people thinking he’s a mid 2nd round draft pick… he’s worth a top 25 pick and it will show on the field.