Pewter Report 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft

The Bucs’ offseason is here and the 2024 NFL Draft just three months away. With the Senior Bowl practices starting next week, it’s time for the initial Pewter Report 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report.

Coming off a 9-8 season and a third straight NFC South championship, Tampa Bay has a host of needs and will have several star players slated for free agency in 2024. The Bucs are also expected to part ways with 31-year old edge rusher Shaq Barrett this offseason, as well as let starting inside linebacker Devin White walk in free agency.

Tampa Bay is hopeful of re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield, Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., legendary inside linebacker Lavonte David and kicker Chase McLaughlin – all of whom are free-agents-to-be. This initial Pewter Report 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft is operating under the premise that those five stars return in 2024.

Bucs Personnel Needs

Outside Linebacker

The Bucs found a third-round gem in YaYa Diaby, who led the team with 7.5 sacks during his rookie year despite not being a starter until mid-November. But Tampa Bay is expected to part ways with Shaq Barrett, whose production dipped to just 4.5 sacks at age 31 while coming back from a torn Achilles tendon. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is entering a contract year and the team is not expected to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2025 season.

The Bucs need another athletic pass rusher who can start opposite Diaby in 2024. Anthony Nelson is a good rotational rusher and is strong in run defense. Tampa Bay has two promising young edge rushers in Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez, but neither appears ready to start, and both must beat out veteran reserve Cam Gill first.

Interior Offensive Line

The Bucs could use an upgrade at left guard and center this year. Veteran free agent Matt Feiler wasn’t the answer and was benched for backup Aaron Stinnie, who played slightly better in the run game. Tampa Bay drafted right guard Cody Mauch in the second round and he showed some real promise and has one guard spot locked down. The Bucs could draft another guard or sign a value guard in the second wave of free agency.

At center, the Bucs have gotten average play from Robert Hainsey over the last two years as a fill-in for injured starter Ryan Jensen. At age 33, Jensen’s career is likely over due to his devastating knee injury during the 2022 training camp. Hainsey is a smart, tough player, but lacks the power and tone-setting attitude that Jensen brought to the offensive line. The Bucs could draft a center to compete with Hainsey or sign one in free agency.

Strong Safety

The Bucs’ play at strong safety has taken a step back since losing Jordan Whitehead in free agency after the 2021 season. Mike Edwards and Keanu Neal weren’t the answer last year, and neither was Ryan Neal this season. The Bucs may tinker around with moving Christian Izien from nickel cornerback to strong safety, which is where he played at Rutgers, or roll with Kaevon Merriweather in his second year with the team.

But adding another safety who can play in the box as well as rotating to centerfield for competition would be ideal. Zyon McCollum played some safety in the playoffs, but mostly at free safety with Antoine Winfield Jr. in the box.

Tight End

In terms of strength of position, tight end might have been the weakest in Tampa Bay last year. It was certainly the youngest and most inexperienced with a pair of second-year players in Cade Otton and Ko Kieft atop the depth chart, along with rookie Payne Durham. All three players are Day 3 picks and the Bucs could use an upgrade in talent in the tight end room.

None of the Bucs’ tight ends are real weapons in the passing game, nor is any one of them an exceptional blocker. Tampa Bay made do at tight end this year, but could certainly due better in 2024 with a more talented starter to supplant Otton, who might be better as TE2.

Running Back

Rachaad White was the wire-to-wire starter at running back this year for the Bucs, and he excelled in that role as the season went on. While he finished with 990 yards rushing and was 10 yards short of his first 1,000-yard season, White did top 1,500 yards in both rushing and receiving, and was the league’s fourth-most productive back. The Bucs need more depth at the running back position, as White shouldn’t have to carry such a huge workload in 2024.

Chase Edmonds was a nice change-of-pace back, but the Bucs jettisoned former third-round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was a bust, at midseason. Heralded undrafted free agent rookie Sean Tucker never made an impact, nor did he see the field much. The Bucs could use another good running back to compete for the backup job behind White in 2024.

Bucs’ 2024 NFL Draft Picks

The Bucs currently have seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. They traded their fifth-round pick to the Eagles last year in order to move up and select wide receiver Trey Palmer in the sixth round. The Bucs are expected to receive a seventh-round compensatory pick for the loss of free agent safety Mike Edwards in the 2023 offseason.

Pewter Report’s 2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft  is energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. Try the new CELSIUS Essentials, which come in a variety of flavors, including Cherry Limeade, Blue Crush, Dragonberry, and Orangesicle, and are perfect for the workout enthusiast.

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2024 7-Round Bucs Mock Draft
By Scott Reynolds

Round 1 – Alabama OLB Chris Braswell
Senior • 6-3, 255

The Bucs are expected release veteran edge rusher Shaq Barrett. Former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is entering a contract year and has not lived up to expectations. Tampa Bay could use another starting-caliber player at outside linebacker, and Braswell is a dynamite prospect. Braswell had to bide his time behind two absolute studs in Will Anderson Jr., who was the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and Dallas Turner, who is expected to be a Top 15 pick in this year’s draft.

Anderson won the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott Impact Trophy Award and the Lombardi Award last year, in addition to being the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Turner was this year’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year, but Braswell showed he could be a dominant player, too.

After recording 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble as a rotational player as a junior, Braswell doubled his amount of snaps as a senior. He recorded 42 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, forced three fumbles, had a pick-six on an interception and blocked a field goal for the Crimson Tide in 2023.

Chris Braswell’s Defensive Stats
2021: 13 tackles, 1 TFL, blocked punt
2022: 20 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, FF
2023: 42 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 FFs, INT, blocked FG

Braswell is a big-time hitter and a violent tackler with impressive speed-to-power as a pass rusher. A very good athlete, Braswell has the ability to bend the edge and uses his hands well to not only get past offensive tackles but to force fumbles. Braswell had an 87.9 pass rush grade from PFF last year with a very good 18.2% pass rush win rate, and was credited with 10 QB hits and 33 hurries.

The Alabama star has the strength to set the edge on the perimeter and take on tackles one-on-one in the run game. Braswell has the grip strength to drag down running backs or quarterbacks with just one hand, and is great in pursuit of the ball. Although he wasn’t asked to drop in coverage with regularity, the fact that he has the athleticism to do that, evidenced by a pick-six, makes him a worthy fit in Todd Bowles’ defense.

Round 2 – Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
Junior • 6-3, 320

The Bucs could very well address the center position in free agency, as the team is seeking an upgrade over Robert Hainsey, who has been a two-year starter. But if the team doesn’t go that route, Powers-Johnson would be a great fit in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Powers-Johnson was a two-year starter at Oregon, where he played 350 snaps at right guard and 44 snaps at center as a sophomore before becoming a full-time center in 2023.

During his junior season, Powers-Johnson played 829 snaps at center and only allowed one hurry with zero sacks and zero QB hits surrendered. In three years at Oregon the 6-foot-3, 320-pounder only allowed one QB hit.

Powers-Johnson earned a 90.6 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus last year, in addition to an 85.2 run blocking grade. A player with a nasty demeanor, Powers-Johnson even played some defensive tackle in a pinch during the Alamo Bowl as a freshman, recording his first tackle.

Powers-Johnson’s playing style is reminiscent of that of former Bucs Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen, who was known as a violent finisher in the run game. With a wrestling background from his days in high school, Powers-Johnson plays with an edge and is the brawler the Bucs need in their interior offensive line.

Round 3 – Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley
Junior • 5-11, 205

The Bucs got eaten alive by Lions All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in two games this season, and that prompts the team to go out and draft a similar player in Corley, who is dangerous after the catch. At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Corley has thick build and is a St. Brown clone in some respects. While he may not be as shifty off the line, Corley is tougher, more physical and a better tackle-breaker than St. Brown.

Corley has supreme body control and contact balance, which allows him to bounce off would-be tackles. In fact, he forced 15 miss tackles last year and was deadly on screens, where his 40 receptions were the second-most in college football and his 325 yards on screen passes were the most.

The Hilltoppers used Corley a lot in the slot, where he could thrive in Tampa Bay due to his tremendous vision, but he is also dangerous outside and can beat cornerbacks one-on-one. A consistent producer at Western Kentucky, Corley had 101 catches for 1,295 yards (12.8 avg.) and 11 touchdowns as a junior and 79 receptions for 984 yards (12.5 avg.) and 11 TDs as a senior.

Malachi Corley’s Receiving Stats
2020: 6 rec. for 65 yards (10.8 avg.)
2021: 73 rec. for 691 yards (9.5 avg.), 7 TDs
2022: 101 rec. for 1,295 yards (12.8 avg.), 11 TDs
2023: 79 rec. for 984 yards (12.5 avg.), 11 TDs

Bucs general manager Jason Licht found a gem in the third round in 2017 with the selection of Chris Godwin. Corley’s game has some similarities to Godwin’s game as well, and it’s worth noting that Godwin is entering a contract year and will turn 28 this March. The Orange City, Fla. native plays the game of football with tremendous attitude and enthusiasm and would be great fit in Tampa Bay.

Round 4 – Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott
Junior • 6-4, 245

Cade Otton, a former fourth-round pick, made some strides as a receiving tight end in Tampa Bay. Otton had 47 catches for 455 yards and four touchdowns in his second year with the Bucs, and added 13 receptions for 154 yards and another score in the playoffs. But Otton has some limitations as a run blocker and isn’t terribly fleet of foot, evidenced by his 9.7-yard receiving average this year.

Sinnott brings more speed and receiving ability to the table for Tampa Bay. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2022 with 31 catches for 447 yards (14.4 avg.) and four touchdowns, before an even better campaign this past year. Sinnott led K-State with 49 catches for 676 yards (13.8 avg.) and six touchdowns.

Ben Sinnott’s Receiving Stats
2021: 2 rec. for 15 yards (7.5 avg.), rushing TD
2022: 31 rec. for 447 yards (14.4), 4 TDs
2023: 49 rec. for 676 yards (13.8), 6 TDs

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound target excels at getting yards after the catch and is an excellent red zone weapon. Sinnott has the concentration to make catches in tight windows, plus the ability to break tackles. In three years at K-State, Sinnott showed good ball security and the power to absorb contact and still keep trucking.

Sinnott was an above-average in-line blocker in the running game, and even better at the point of attack on the move from either the H-back or fullback position. The Wildcats star was a featured weapon on offense and could be TE1 for the Bucs, with Otton moving to TE2.

Round 6 – Iowa CB Sebastian Castro
Senior • 5-11, 205

The Bucs could use more depth at cornerback, especially in the slot, and Castro would be a great late Day 3 selection. A part-time starter as a junior playing alongside Bucs safety Kaevon Merriweather at Iowa, Castro had a breakout year as a senior with 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss and his first three career interceptions, including a big pick-six in the win over Iowa State.

Sebastian Castro’s Defensive Stats
2021: 6 tackles
2022: 33 tackles, 3 TFLs, 5 PBUs, 1 sack, 2 FFs
2023: 67 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 INTs, 8 PBUs, 1 sack, FF, TD

Castro earned a 91.2 overall grade and coverage grade from Pro Football Focus as a senior. He came away with three interceptions in 2023 and didn’t surrender a touchdown. Castro, a fantastic tackler, allowed just 39 catches for 239 yards and an opposing QB passer rating of 43.7.

The Bucs love tough, instinctive players in the secondary, and Castro fits that mold. He played 394 snaps in the slot in 2022 before seeing 703 snaps there this past season, and could challenge Christian Izien for the nickel cornerback job while contributing on special teams.

Round 7 – Samford QB Sam Hiers
Senior • 6-1, 215

The Bucs use one of their final picks on another quarterback to come in and compete with Kyle Trask for the right to back up Baker Mayfield. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Hiers has a similar build to Mayfield and is mobile enough to be a good fit in Dave Canales’ offense.

Hiers had a breakout season at Samford in 2022, completing 77 percent of his passes for 3,534 yards with 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions. His numbers dipped a bit in 2023, as he completed 71 percent of his throws for 3,056 yards with 18 TDs and eight INTs.

Sam Hiers’ Passing Stats
2022: 353-of-461 for 3,544 yards with 36 TDs and 4 INTs
2023: 315-of-442 for 3,056 yards with 18 TDs and 8 INTs

Before enrolling at Samford, Hiers played two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Community College where he started all 18 games and passed for 4,519 yards and 34 touchdowns. He’s known to be a fierce, scrappy competitor with an NFL-caliber arm and nice touch.

Round 7 – Monmouth (N.J.) RB Jaden Shirden
Junior • 5-9, 195

The Bucs’ draft ends with the selection of Shirden, a speedy, small-school running back with an electric burst. Compactly built at 5-foot-9, 195 pounds, Shirden could be this year’s Keaton Mitchell, the undrafted free agent out of East Carolina. The 5-foot-9, 191-pound Mitchell ran for 396 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 8.4 yards per carry for Baltimore before a knee injury ended his season.

Shirden was a home-run hitter at Monmouth, where 14 of his 26 rushing touchdowns came from 50 yards or more. The two-time Walter Camp FCS All-American had back-to-back years with 1,400 yards or more, scoring double-digit touchdowns in each season.

Jaden Shirden’s Rushing Stats
2021: 77 carries for 497 yards (6.5 avg.), 3 TDs
2022: 206 carries for 1,722 yards (8.4 avg.), 13 TDs
2023: 221 carries for 1,478 yards (6.7 avg.), 10 TDs
 
Jaden Shirden’s Receiving Stats
2021: 3 rec. for 11 yards (3.3 avg.)
2022: 2 rec. for 27 yards (13.5 avg.)
2023: 20 rec. for 120 yards (6.0 avg.), TD

Shirden has limited experience in the passing game, and that, combined with the small-school competition he faced could lead him to go undrafted. But he has rare acceleration, great vision and a knack for big plays. Shirden may not be able to carry a workload in the NFL due to his size, but he could be an upgrade over Chase Edmonds as a change-of-pace back in Tampa Bay.