With the 2025 NFL Draft two weeks away, the consensus among league-wide experts is that the Buccaneers will look to add a defensive talent in Round One. The exact position is still unknown, however, General Manager Jason Licht has multiple routes to explore.
He could bolster the pass rush by adding a dynamic edge rusher or linebacker. He might target a proven collegiate cornerback to upgrade the team's passing defense. He could also seek a new starter alongside safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the secondary.
Although all these options are firmly in play, there is a high possibility that the team might go another direction - wide receiver.
The thought of adding another wideout might make fans uneasy. The Buccaneers re-signed franchise player Chris Godwin this offseason, keeping him in Tampa Bay for the next three years. Last year saw the emergence of Jalen McMillan as a reliable downfield target after his eight-touchdown rookie campaign. There is no doubt Tampa Bay has one of the best wide receiver rooms in the league. Despite this, the front office will never shy away from special talent.
During the NFL Annual Meeting on April 1st, Head Coach Todd Bowles sat down with reporters and discussed his thoughts on the upcoming draft.
"I learn that you win by scoring points. I don't ever want to bypass a very good offensive player ... You can never have enough horses on offense. I'd like to add some pieces [on defense] if that's what you're asking me, but whether they come in the first [round] or whether they come in the middle [rounds], remains to be seen."
Despite having the likes of Godwin and future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans, Licht doubled down on this line of thinking during his pre-draft press conference on Thursday.
"We could always use receivers. I think Todd [Bowles] even said, 'You have to score points to win.' We're fortunate to have those two [Godwin and Evans], and who knows how long they'll play. It could be longer than what people are saying ... We always want to try to keep that group fresh and look for the next 'J-Mac' [McMillan]. We're not going to overlook that position at all if everything falls that way for us."
The team had no trouble putting up points in 2024. Even when Evans was out for three games and an injury prematurely ended Godwin's season, the Bucs still produced a top-five offense. None of that matters to Licht; he is always looking to improve.
"We always have needs. We have needs on both sides of the ball. We were very good on offense – it doesn't mean we don't have needs. We can get better in a lot of areas and if there's a guy that can help us get better, we're going to take him. You don't bypass him because he's great and you're already loaded – you keep loading up and you kind of go from there."
The top receivers in the 2025 draft class are widely believed to be Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, Texas' Matthew Golden and Missouri's Luther Burden III. All three would add firepower to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s arsenal, a nightmare for opposing defenses. However, Licht said multiple prospects have stood out across the class.
"I've got Todd [Bowles] excited about a lot of offensive players and we have a good offense but we can make it even better. We do need help on defense and it would be fun to see us improve there and I think we will without really making any huge changes."
It is still clear that defense is a priority. With six picks spanning seven rounds, the Buccaneers are well-positioned to add impact defenders to their roster. With that in mind, this 2025 draft class appears to offer comparable value throughout the middle rounds.
"You might be able to get the same level of player in the second round as you can in the fourth round at certain positions," said Licht. "I think this particular draft just seems to be a little bit more leveled out which I'm excited about. I'm not saying that's something I don't like about this draft. It's something I do like about the draft."
Licht is open to all possibilities.
"It really truly depends on how it's going to fall."
