2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 7 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: September 07, 2026Overview
Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 7 selections. Biggest needs: Quarterback, IOL, Cornerback.
Complete Draft Class:Georgia
— Grade C
Texas
— Grade C-
View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →---
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #10 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CJ Carr, Quarterback, Notre Dame
Rank: #18 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:Quarterback sits atop Tampa Bay's needs board, and with three signal-callers already off the board by pick nine, the front office clearly decided to move on Carr before another team jumped the line. Taking him eight spots ahead of his #18 ranking is a reach by the numbers, but at a premium position where the drop-off after this tier can be steep, teams often pay a premium to secure their guy rather than gamble on a trade-back. It's defensible, though it does mean Tampa is betting on projection over draft-slot value.
The Fit:Carr fits a structure-first offense that can lean on his elite anticipation and rhythm accuracy, the traits that produced a Notre Dame-record 168.06 passer rating and 9.4 yards per attempt in 2025. He handled the nation's highest blitz rate last season with poise, resetting his platform under pressure rather than bailing, which should ease his transition against NFL pass rushes. The concerns that kept him outside the top ten on the board, a lack of mobility with negative rushing yardage, a light 210-pound frame, and a rough split against ranked competition (6 TD, 5 INT), mean Tampa will need to protect him well and build the offense around timing rather than asking him to create off-script.
---
Pick #42 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Cole, Linebacker, Georgia
Rank: #40 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:Addresses key depth concern. While Linebacker wasn't the top priority, Chris Cole's talent at #40 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.
The Fit:Chris Cole brings immediate impact to Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chris Cole is the modern coverage linebacker NFL defenses keep hunting for. A five-star out of Salem, Virginia, he was the top-rated player in his state and a top-35 national prospect, and he picked Georgia over Miami, Penn State and Tennessee after... His best trait—covers as well as any linebacker in the class, rare for an off-ball backer—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Jamin Davis speed-and-cover hybrid-type player at the NFL level.
---
Pick #74 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Peal, Cornerback, Syracuse
Rank: #75 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Critical need filled. Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately needed Cornerback help (need #3), and Chris Peal was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Chris Peal brings immediate impact to Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chris Peal is the best zone cornerback in the 2027 class, a 200-pound cover man who reads the quarterback, drives on the throw, and beats receivers to the spot. He grew up in Charlotte as a four-star recruit and a top-25 corner in the country, signed... His best trait—elite zone-coverage instincts, reads the quarterback and drives on throws, ranked near the top of the position in coverage grade—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Cameron Sutton (zone-coverage fit and reliable tackler whose value is dependability over splash takeaways)-type player at the NFL level.
---
Pick #106: Earnest Greene III (Offensive Tackle,Georgia
) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #138: Harlem Berry (Running Back, LSU) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #170: Malachi Toney (Wide Receiver, Miami) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #202: Michael Masunas (Tight End,Texas
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
---
Draft Class Summary
Overall Grade: B | 7 positions addressed across 7 picks.---