So far, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has released two mock drafts. In each of his predictions, he has the Buccaneers drafting Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner with the ninth overall pick. CBS Sports' Rob Rang agrees – listing Buckner as Tampa Bay's selection in his own mock draft.
Should he fall to No. 9, most analysts agree the Bucs would be landing one of, if not the best defensive lineman in the country. Nearly every mock draft available has Buckner as a top-ten pick, with many listing him in the top five. NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has Buckner listed as the fifth-best prospect in the country and the second-best defensive end, one spot behind Ohio State's Joey Bosa.
The top 50 prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft class according to NFL Media analyst, Daniel Jeremiah.
- LB - Josh Perry, Ohio State
- CB - Artie Burns, Miami (Fla.)
- LB - Deion Jones, LSU
- DT - Sheldon Day, Notre Dame
- DE - Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma
- LB - Kyler Fackrell, Utah State
- OG - Cody Whitehair,Kansas State
- DT - Jonathan Bullard, Florida
- DT - Austin Johnson, Penn State
- DT - Kenny Clark, UCLA
- S - Vonn Bell, Ohio State
- WR - Josh Doctson,TCU
- DT - Chris Jones, Mississippi State
- RB - Devontae Booker,Utah
- S - Karl Joseph,West Virginia
- CB - William Jackson III, Houston
- RB - Derrick Henry, Alabama
- LB - Kamalei Correa, Boise State
- OG - Germain Ifedi,Texas A&M
- OT - Taylor Decker, Ohio State
- DE - Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
- WR-William Fuller, Notre Dame
- QB - Paxton Lynch, Memphis
- DT - Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
- DT - Andrew Billings, Baylor
- DE - Shaq Lawson, Clemson
- DT - Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
- CB - Eli Apple, Ohio State
- CB - Meckensie Alexander, Clemson
- C - Ryan Kelly, Alabama
- OT - Jack Conklin, Michigan State
- DT - Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
- LB - Leonard Floyd, Georgia
- DE - Kevin Dodd, Clemson
- WR - Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
- WR - Corey Coleman, Baylor
- DT- A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
- DT - Jarran Reed, Alabama
- LB - Reggie Ragland, Alabama
- LB - Darron Lee, Ohio State
- OT - Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
- CB- Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
- QB - Jared Goff, Cal
- QB - Carson Wentz, North Dakota
- RB - Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
- DT - DeForest Buckner, Oregon
- DE - Joey Bosa, Ohio State
- LB - Myles Jack, UCLA
- S - Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
- OT - Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
Jeremiah's colleague, Mike Mayock, has him listed as the top defensive lineman in the country in his position rankings. When asked about Buckner, Mayock said he was very impressed with what he's seen.
"I think he's special," Mayock said on NFL Network. "I think he's a stud. He's 6-8, 295. He can play up and down the defensive line of scrimmage. He's nasty, he's tough, he's powerful. He's got a little Reggie White hump move that's awesome. Eight to 10 years from now, I think he'll be one of the guys that we'll be looking back at that will be in the conversation as the best defensive player to come out of this draft."
Mayock has Buckner listed as an interior defensive lineman, with pass-rushers being listed separately. Buckner would likely be a defensive end if he ended up in Tampa Bay, though. He played on the edge during his time at Oregon, but is versatile enough to move inside if asked.
Buccaneer fans would like to see the Bucs draft Buckner, or another defensive end, too. Each week, Bucs fans are asked to vote in a poll listing which position they would most like the Bucs to draft in the first round. Of those who voted, 43% would like the Bucs to draft a defensive end while 40% would prefer the team select a cornerback. In total, almost 90% of voters would like the Bucs to draft a defensive player in the first round.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah's predictions for the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
- Broncos: OT Le'Raven Clark - Texas Tech
- Panthers : DE Shaq Lawson - Clemson
- Cardinals: FS T.J. Green - Clemson
- Chiefs: DE Kevin Dodd - Clemson
- Packers: DT Andrew Billings, Baylor
- Seahawks: DT Chris Jones - Mississippi State
- Steelers: CB Artie Burns - Miami
- Bengals: WR Josh Doctson - TCU
- Vikings: WR Laquon Treadwell - Ole Miss
- Texans: TE Hunter Henry - Arkansas
- Redskins: DT Jarran Reed - Alabama
- Jets: QB Paxton Lynch - Memphis
- Bills: LB Reggie Ragland - Alabama
- Colts: CB Eli Apple - Ohio State
- Falcons: LB Darron Lee - Ohio State
- Lions: C Ryan Kelly - Alabama
- Titans: OT Taylor Decker - Ohio State
- Oakland: CB William Jackson III - Houston
- Dolphins : RB Ezekiel Elliott - Ohio State
- Saints: DT Sheldon Rankins - Louisville
- Bears: LB Leonard Floyd - Georgia
- Giants: OT Jack Conklin - Michigan State
- Buccaneers: CB Vernon Hargreaves - Florida
- Eagles: OT Ronnie Stanley - Notre Dame
- 49ers: QB Jared Goff - California
- Ravens: OT Laremy Tunsil - Ole Miss
- Jaguars: DE DeForest Buckner - Oregon
- Cowboys: DE Joey Bosa - Ohio State
- Chargers: CB Jalen Ramsey - Florida State
- Browns: LB Myles Jack - UCLA
- Rams: QB Carson Wentz - North Dakota State
