Todd Bowles’ defense needs help at nearly every position, and they hope to get what the team needs in the NFL Draft. The Bucs require a starting edge rusher, more interior depth, and additional cornerback competition. With seven total picks, including No. 15, Tampa Bay must find immediate contributors.
NFL Draft: Edge Rushers And Others Who Fit Tampa Bay
Top 1st-Round Target
Akheem Mesidor (Miami) – A 6-3, 280-pound edge rusher with 13 sacks, 50 QB hurries, and a 20.8% pass-rush win rate in 2025. While primarily an edge, his size and motor make him a potential DT option if the Bucs need a versatile interior pass rusher.
Keldric Faulk (Auburn) – A 20-year-old high-level run defender with elite PFF grades (83.4+ in 2024–23). He’s a developmental piece but could fit as a rotational DT if Tampa trades back.
2nd-Round TarR Mason Thomas (Oklahoma) – 6-2, 249 lbs, with 6 sacks and 19 QB hurries in 2025. His speed and agility could make him a starter at DT or as a hybrid edge/DT.
3rd-Round Target
Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) – 31.5 TFLs over three years, strong power, and twitch. Could serve as a rotational nose tackle or interior defensive lineman.
Other Notable DT/Interior Targets
Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) – 3 straight years of high-pressure rates, bend, and pass-rushing moves. Could be a 1st-round trade target if Tampa moves up
Zion Young (Missouri) – 6-6, 262 lbs, 16.5 TFLs, 8 sacks in 2025. Physical DT/edge hybrid with heavy hands and wingspan.
Draft Strategy Context Most mocks have Tampa Bay prioritizing pass rush, but the defense is also expected to get two starters at edge and depth at DT, according to a number of sources. The Bucs’ GM, Jason Licht, is likely to balance immediate impact with long-term fit, so DTs with elite run defense and versatility are prime candidates.
Summary of Key DT Targets
Akheem Mesidor – 1st-rounder, edge/DT hybrid, high motor.
Keldric Faulk – 1st-rounder, developmental DT, elite run defense.
R Mason Thomas – 2nd-rounder, speed/athleticism.
Lee Hunter – 3rd-rounder, power/rotational DT.
Cashius Howell – 1st-rounder via trade, bend/pass rush.
Zion Young – 3rd-rounder, physical DT/edge.
Why Defense Must Be a Priority for Todd Bowles
Tampa Bay enters this draft knowing that Todd Bowles’ identity and the team’s long‑term stability hinge on rebuilding a defense that has slipped from its championship standard. The Bucs still have cornerstone pieces, but the unit has struggled to generate consistent pressure, create takeaways, and close out games against top offenses. Bowles needs more speed, more length, and more disruptive playmakers to regain control at all three levels. With the NFC South wide open and the margin for error shrinking, this draft offers the clearest path to restoring the physical, attacking style that once defined Bowles’ best defenses. Tampa Bay can’t afford to miss on this opportunity, and the front office knows that upgrading the defense is the fastest way to keep the team competitive and keep Bowles’ vision intact.
