Best Start To The Draft
April 4th, 2025
Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce.
In the wake of the owners meetings from the swanky Breakers resort in Palm Beach this week, unless the Bucs are flat out conning people, it sure seems like it’s a pretty good guess where the Bucs are leaning in the draft.
In less than three weeks, the Bucs will be on the clock. It seems the Bucs may just go secondary or defensive line (tackle or edge rusher), depending who is on the board.
And the way Joe looks at it, if the Bucs get a defensive tackle and/or a secondary player on the first two nights of the draft, the Bucs will be damn happy.
That’s the way Chad Reuter of NFL.com sees it. He decided to select what he thinks would be the perfect first two draft picks for each team. Below is Reuter’s one-two punch for the Bucs to begin the draft.
Round 1: No. 19 overall: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina.
Round 2: No. 53 overall: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee.
Emmanwori is a big safety who can play in the box to complement Antoine Winfield, Jr. — the versatility of both defensive backs would make life easier for Bucs coaches and more difficult for opposing offenses. Thanks to a lack of bulk and an inconsistent 2024 performance, Pearce might be available on Day 2. And he could grow into a starter as he matures playing behind veteran free-agent signee Haason Reddick.
And if the Bucs drafted Pearce, that would allow him time to ease his way into the NFL. One reason why Joe was so adamant before free agency that the Bucs needed an edge rusher is rarely do rookie edge rushers make an impact.
Of course, there are always exceptions but dominant rookie edge rushers are very much an outlier. It helps if your last name is “Bosa.”
With the news yesterday that Mike Edwards decided not to re-sign with the Bucs as he went back to Kansas City, you could argue that safety may be a thinner position for the Bucs than corner.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:04 am
Pearce seems to be going in the 1st round in every mock draft I see, not sure he’d be available that late.
Also he’d be yet another developmental edge rusher … like JTS and Braswell, and while I’m not writing off Braswell yet, the hit rate on these lottery tickets seems lower than the hit rate of lottery tickets that produced in college.
But if he falls that far, then maybe you take him … but then again you’d have to wonder why he fell that far.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:13 am
I want Emman/Starks…then Jayden Higgins, then Deone Walker or Farmer…then we hit CB.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:16 am
I am with Munch.
Pearce Jr seems to be rated as a first rounder per scouting services.
Rankings:
Draft Buzz 12
PFF 12
PFN 13
Walter Football 13
SI 14
CBS 16
NFL.com 19
The Athletic 19
MD DB 24
ESPN 27
McShay 30
33rd team 41
April 4th, 2025 at 1:02 am
Pearce has issues.
April 4th, 2025 at 1:05 am
Pearce, who lit up the combine with a 4.47 forty at 6-5, 245lbs, has raised some red flags due to perceived character concerns.
“I was told that the Tennessee football program could not only breathe easier once Pearce left campus but that his pitch count in SEC play was not injury related. Pearce was seen as undeniably uncoachable and as a player with one foot out the door already this season, giving his coaches little incentive to put him on the field full-time,” Kinnan wrote.
“I was told by one scout that Pearce Jr. is seen as the player with the worst character report of any player in this draft class. Another scout told me they think the environment and people around him in Tennessee are the main issues, and they think he could become a pro when he enters an NFL building,” Kinnan wrote
April 4th, 2025 at 1:17 am
Would much rather draft a beastly DT/NT in Rnd 1 or 2 than pick up an Edge. If we lose Vea for any period of time, any Super Bowl hopes just went right down the drain unless we draft someone to rotate in with him. There are several who MIGHT be there in Rnds 1 or 2 when we pick, but the last thing we want to do is over-reach.
April 4th, 2025 at 2:26 am
I agree with DR here. NT is the lynchpin of this Todd Bowles 3-4 defense. VV is over the hill as far as 345 pound D tackles go and we need someone to disrupt that line. Finding a stud nose tackle is much more a first round pick than safety or corner.
April 4th, 2025 at 3:10 am
PASS on Pearce. If he already has known issues with character it will probably follow him into the NFL. Why risk it?
April 4th, 2025 at 3:24 am
The best start to the draft would be what draftbuzz mock draft simulator let’s you do. First you can trade 1-3 26′ and dean to the colts for 14 and their 5th round. Mason Graham falls to 14 50% of the time. Obviously go with him then Tyler warren at 19. If mason isn’t available you can take warren at 14 and barron at 19. Then it lets you take emmanwori most of the time in the second. Then stutsman hairston Porter or a solid dl pick will be available in the 3rd. That is the best start to the draft possible even though its not very possible.
April 4th, 2025 at 3:26 am
Character issues are unlikely to be resolved by an NFL salary and increased publicity. Hard pass.
April 4th, 2025 at 3:36 am
LOL
Lets just say that in my youth I was a wild child. It was not the folks I was hanging with. I was the guy that ultimately was responsible for my actions as I have since learned. Most people rarely do things they don’t wish to do. Pearce is who he is until he decides he wants to change who he is. Not easy.
Stay away Jason. Tampa is a great city but it is a place with many temptations. For immature millionaires? That is a very bad mix.
Go Bucs!
April 4th, 2025 at 4:47 am
“Uncoachable” WHERE have we heard that one before?
April 4th, 2025 at 5:00 am
That pic is what the Bucs alternate uniforms should look like.
Just add a B to the helmet.
April 4th, 2025 at 5:49 am
Emmanwori is a talent but not a fit with the Bucs. Bowles rolls with safeties who can play high and in the box so Malaki Starks would be a nice tight fit at 19 if he is there but I’m hoping the Bucs can take Donovan Ezeiruaku, Derrick Harmon or trade out of the first with a team hot enough for a WR or DT on the board at 19 to give up their picks in round 2 and 3 in exchange. John Lynch has a pile of mid round picks this year.
If the Bucs get themselves more pass rush in round 1 then “the right player” in round 2 is safety Andrew Mukuba. He needs some time in an NFL weight room, to develop his patience vs the run and play action a bit and clean up his tackling a touch but the SEC INT leader is a coverage master who brings the pain for such a little guy. He isn’t a ready to roll Week 1 starter like Starks but his vision, hands and ball skills might be second only to Travis Hunter among all DBs in this draft. He is single high, in the box and nickel fluent. He was Offensive Player of the Year in his District in high school as a WR, was the first true freshman DB to start at Clemson since 1972, has proven himself against SEC and ACC talent and was a force of nature in last year’s SEC Championship game.
If the Bucs can trade out of round 1 I’d love me some Landon Jackson who has good tape at all positions in the front 7 and Mukuba with their two second rounders/first two picks plus Nohl Williams with the extra third rounder the Bucs gained. That is a pair of versatile beasts and a ball hawking, press man and zone ready CB who can hit for Bowles to redeem himself with in 2025.
Some team will overlook Pearce’s character issues but it won’t be the Bucs.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:39 am
I keep seeing everyone say DT, Edge, S and CB. However, I still believe the Bucs biggest need on D is ILB. Maybe Bazza from Oregon in the 3rd rd if you aren’t going to address it early. He”s been climbing draft boards and now seems to be a late 2nd, early 3rd round pick instead of late 3/early 4 pick.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:39 am
Xavier Watts out of Notre Dame is an interesting Safety. Definition of ballhawk. Converted WR, had 7 INTs last year.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:48 am
Licht already hinted at picking a large interior Defensive lineman as a top priority. If I was a betting man, I would bet the Bucs pick a DL for #19.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:53 am
I had to check Reuter didn’t publish this on April 1st. This would be the worst case scenario.
Emmanwori is overrated and lacks instincts. Pearce, well, we know the reason he was still on the board.
April 4th, 2025 at 7:09 am
If stories of Pearce character issues are accurate, he’s not even on Licht’s draft board. I’d say the chance of him being a Buc are near zero. I’m still surprised at the number of mocks that put him with us.
April 4th, 2025 at 7:32 am
“safety may be a thinner position for the Bucs than corner.”
Winfield, Smith, Izien and Merriweather – thats 4 good players who have all proven themselves as capable NFL defenders.
You can’t say that about CB…
McCollum and Dean (when healthy) are solid. But after that? OK – Bryce Hall should be decent as well – but who is #4 right now – Funderburk? Hayes???
Bucs need to draft a CB no later than 2nd rd this year – and then do the same again next year.
No way should we be spending a 1st round pick on a safety! You can find good safeties in the 3rd and 4th round…. Edge? DT? Not so much…..
Keep bolstering the trenches! Reddick is 31 this season and likely won’t be here next year. Vita Vea is on the wrong side of 30 and probably only has 2-3 years left in the league….
April 4th, 2025 at 8:12 am
ILB is a need but the truth of the matter is that most ILB’s coming out of college have no ability to be three down linebackers and cover.
My gosh we saw that with Devin White who as fast as he was — really never became very effective at that.
So, if you have a guy that you can draft in the 1st round at ILB that you fell comfortable that can be effective on1st thru 3rd downs — fine draft him.
But it is would be extremely rich to pick an ILB that you find cannot cover when you can get an all down corner back or an all down safety or an all down defensive lineman.
I think Jihaad Campbell probably has the best coverage ability as a ILB in the draft. However, Licht has done poorly with guys that size and type with shoulder issues in his past. Noah Spence and Sirvocea Dennis.
April 4th, 2025 at 8:21 am
Emmanwori would be a steal at 19. If he had played CB in college, he’d be a top 10 pick. He could play anywhere in our secondary but has elite traits that translate well to outside CB in our system.
April 4th, 2025 at 8:59 am
Screw this website and it’s algorithm posting here is almost impossible
April 4th, 2025 at 9:00 am
I’d be shocked if we picked Pearce. Does he not have some maturity issues? Bucs tend to stay away from these type of players in the draft.
April 4th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Then it seems like there are a lot of people doing the impossible Josh.
April 4th, 2025 at 9:18 am
The best fix for the Secondary is pressure on the QB. HOF GM will pick a good one for the Bucs franchise. (No Kickers!)
April 4th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Bucs are clearly going to draft a safety and one or two corners in this draft. Secondary very well could end up being half of the Bucs draft.
Best way to guess which way the Bucs would lean is to follow whom they have brought in for a visit and whom they interviewed at either the Senior Bowl, East/West game or Combine.
Have the Bucs interviewed either of those prospects? Does not mean they would not draft them, but the probability seems low if they have not.
I am surprised that JoeBucsFan does not write an article letting its readers know a list of which players have been interviewed or brought in for a visit by the Bucs.
April 4th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
ocala Says:
April 4th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Don’t be too surprised. It’s not really in J03’s wheelhouse. Details. They always say they post what interests them. Obviously, that kind of information doesn’t interest them all that much. This is more a place for opinions, rants, and speculation. There are other sites that do reporting.