ClutchPoints
After back-to-back playoff appearances, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no longer flying under anyone’s radar. This is a team with staying power—gritty and determined to make noise in a top-heavy NFC. Yet, no matter how solid the current roster looks, smart front offices are always looking ahead. With a few question marks lingering around key defensive positions, the 2026 NFL Draft may prove critical for keeping this team competitive.
Two intriguing collegiate stars are already on Tampa Bay’s early watch list.
The Buccaneers may not have made a deep postseason run last year, but they earned respect. Tampa Bay won the NFC South again. They clawed out victories with just enough defensive stops and Baker Mayfield’s revived swagger under center. Unfortunately, the good times stopped rolling in the Wild Card round at the hands of Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. Some ill-timed fourth-quarter botched snap exchanges were ultimately too much for Mayfield and Co. to overcome.
Still, the arrow remains pointed up. The Bucs somehow managed to return all 11 starters on offense. They added stud first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State, and saw the defense get a much-needed injection of speed and versatility. The departure of offensive coordinator Liam Coen to the college ranks hurts. However, the infrastructure he helped build remains largely intact. Vegas even pegs Tampa Bay as one of the most potent scoring threats in the league heading into the new season.
In a division that’s still searching for identity, Tampa Bay is the clear favorite. That said, winning the South isn’t the end goal. Elevating to true Super Bowl contender status will require long-term planning. That’s where the 2026 NFL Draft looms large.
Here we’ll try to look at two players who are way-too-early 2026 NFL Draft prospects the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must monitor.
The Buccaneers’ front office has done a masterful job keeping the defensive line anchored by Vita Vea and rising star Calijah Kancey. Still, edge rusher remains a long-term concern. Shaquil Barrett is gone. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka hasn’t fully panned out. The team could use a twitchy, speed-based threat to round out its pass-rush profile. Patrick Payton might be the perfect fit.
A high-upside edge rusher who began his collegiate career at Florida State, Payton turned heads early with a breakout 2023 campaign. He posted 7.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. However, like many of his Seminole teammates, his production took a dip in 2024. Seeking a fresh start and a chance to bolster his draft stock, Payton transferred to LSU. That’s where he’ll be playing in a loaded SEC and under the bright lights every weekend.
Scouts still love his get-off, flexibility, and closing speed. If Payton reclaims his form and dominates in Baton Rouge, he could vault into first-round territory by next spring. For Tampa Bay, he would be an ideal counterbalance to the interior pressure generated by Vea and Kancey....
