Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Five Potential 2025 First-Round Targets for Buccaneers

From Donovan Ezeiruaku to Nick Emmanwori and even to a surprise receiver pick, here are our five suggestions of players Tampa Bay could be targeting at pick number 19 on Thursday night

Apr 24, 2025 at 09:15 AM

Scott Smith

Senior Writer/Editor

Let's say Jason Licht, the 12th-year general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had a list in his pocket of the five top players he would reasonably hope to land with the 19th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Do we think there is any scenario in which he would share that list with you or me or anybody else who isn't going to have access to the Buccaneers' draft room at team headquarters?

Yeah, of course not. There's nothing to gain by revealing any strategic information before the Bucs are on the clock. Still, that doesn't have to stop us from speculating on what such a list could look like. Let's take a look at five players who could be on Tampa Bay's radar on Thursday night.

If those first two paragraphs weren't direct enough, what follows is in no way meant to reflect the actual thoughts or strategies of Licht or anyone else involved in making the Buccaneers' draft picks. And, again, we're talking realistic options at number 19, so you won't see Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter on this list. And we're going to rule out trades so that this is only a discussion about who the Bucs could get at their current spot.

1. Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

The Bucs signed Haason Reddick to a one-year deal in the hopes of juicing up their outside pass rush, but they likely won't shy away from double-dipping at the position in the draft. The Bucs' 46 sacks last year was actually tied for the sixth most in the NFL, but a lot of that was reliant on bringing extra rushers or simulated blitzes and Head Coach Todd Bowles said it's important for the defense to get more pressure with traditional four-man rushes in 2025. Since the interior duo of Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea already combined for 14.5 sacks last year, that means the level up has to come from the outside. A rotation of Reddick, Yaya Diaby, Ezeiruaku, Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson just might do the trick.

Ezeiruaku's scouting report starts with his sheer production: He was second in the nation in 2024 with 16.5 sacks. He also had an 8.5-sack season in 2022. He has a well-developed arsenal of pass-rush moves and an effortless bend around the corner. Ezeiruaku stacks his moves well, too, and is an effective hand-fighter.

Ezeiruaku isn't the only intriguing edge rusher who might still be available at number 19, as it is a relatively deep if not exactly top-heavy group to sort through this year. The Bucs might like to see the 6-2, 248-pound prospect add some weight and strength to hold up against the run in the NFL, but he could step right into the rotation on passing downs.

2. Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston

The Buccaneers seem very likely to address the cornerback position in the draft after Bowles acknowledged that his team needs more depth at that critical spot. And they might very well wait until the second round given the attractive depth at the position this year. However, there are a handful of cornerbacks that might make the Bucs flip that plan and start there before addressing other needs on Day Two. One of those temptations could be Kentucky's Hairston, whose draft stock has steadily risen in recent weeks. It's also quite possible the Bucs would be enticed by Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron, too, but both could be off the board by pick 19.

Hairston ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all players at this year's Combine at 4.28 seconds. Is speed that critical in draft evaluations. Well, Bowles was asked that question at the NFL Annual Meeting and he specifically answered that it mattered at cornerback. The Bucs have had good luck drafting speedy cornerbacks with long wingspans (Hairston has that, too) in Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum, their two current starters. Hairston also has a trait that Bowles would love to have in his secondary after the team secured only seven interceptions last year: He finds the football. Hairston had six picks over the past two seasons, three returned for touchdowns.

Hairston has great vision in zone coverage and reads the quarterback well but he also likes to mix it up in press coverage, so he should fit whatever scheme Bowles wants to emphasize in 2025.

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - February 27, 2025 - Stadium scenics during workouts at NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers