Rondé Barber Issues Draft Guarantee; Makes A Round 1 Pick
April 23rd, 2025
A man with a key card to One Buc Palace, a man who has said publicly that he’s seen the Bucs’ draft big board (he didn’t specify 2025), a man who has the trust and friendship of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht, has weighed in on Tampa Bay’s draft.
Iconic Rondé Barber has a new show produced by WFLA-TV and there yesterday he issued a draft “guarantee.”
Barber was adamant and firm that his beloved Bucs will draft a cornerback somewhere in Rounds 1 through 3 this week. But Barber doesn’t think that will be in Round 1 on Thursday night.
“I truly believe they’re going to find the best defensive player at either inside or outside linebacker with their first pick,” Barber said. “I think probably there’ll be a corner after that, maybe a safety [in Round 3], and then an offensive lineman or wide receiver. And then that last pick, who knows?”
So who does Barber project the Bucs to pick in Round 1?
“There’s a guy that was mentioned to me …,” Barber began, after saying he believes Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell will be off the board when the Bucs pick at No. 19.
That player “mentioned” to Barber is UCLA inside linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the All-American whose college career began as a walk-on.
“The guy looks the part and he’s very productive, got a high motor. The things that we do on defense, he’s able to do,” Barber said. “His skillset in college fits what Todd Bowles does with his defense.”
Joe wrote about Schwesinger over a week ago. Is there a bigger Licht kinda guy in this draft?
Very intriguing.
April 23rd, 2025 at 7:50 am
There are a couple of UVA DB’s that Ronde has been watching for years now that could get called later in the draft
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:04 am
Maybe Schwesinger or Demetrius Knight of S Carolina…in the second or third. Edge or big a$$ DT in the first if Campbell is of the board.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:10 am
A day and a half to go…
And then 2 1/2 – 3 hours until pick 19. 🙄
Of course the other 18 picks before ours will be interesting (maybe not so much the first three) and shape what we do.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:14 am
… if the U of Miami QB, The freak athlete edge rusher and Mr both ways don’t all go in the first three, then I take back what I said.
It WILL be interesting… but we all know they’ll be gone in the top 10, it’s just a shift around of the same top 10 best players.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:26 am
Seems like a good kid too. There may be other teams interested in him. On the fence about being our number 19 draft pick due to his hamstring injury.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:35 am
I think this is a weak draft.
Obviously Ward is going first.
Then I think the three real high skill players are:
Ashton Jeanty, Abdul Carter, and Travis Hunter.
I personally do not anyone else in this draft fits a typical top 10 talent for an NFL draft. So the whole idea that players can “drop” to the Bucs is not really a surprise.
I also would not be surprised when they get to 19 that someone like Carson Schwesinger is really as highly rated for them a first team All American who led the nation in solo tackles, and a team captain.
Based upon all the mocks and boards, that would feel like a reach to me. But what the heck do I know or these boards know.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:36 am
I dont know at 19…i mean I want him but thats a little high. In a trade down maybe…then we can hit wr Higgins, DT, CB and safety. Wouldnt mind a true OC late rds if we have the extra pick. Who backs up Barton if he goes down? Plus a true OC for the 2nd team when they’re practicing. McLaughlin but he’ll probably be gone by the 5th.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:40 am
This is smoke and mirrors. I don’t see Schwesinger being chosen in round zero (recently I have been told that since the invention of odometers counting doesn’t start at one anymore and that I have to adjust to modern times).
Based on Licht’s tendencies, I expect he will go defensive line, probably Ezeiraku. Maybe Loveland if a miracle happens and he falls to 19.
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:47 am
This draft class may not feature once-in-a-generation talents, but it’s exceptionally deep across most positions. Many Day 3 prospects have starting potential, and I can name several I like just as much as some second-rounders. It’s important to remember that you can’t expect a Patrick Mahomes, Randy Moss, Warren Sapp, or Barry Sanders in every draft—that’s simply unrealistic.Every draft can’t be stacked with transcendent talent, but depth can be just as valuable, especially for teams building through the middle rounds. Those Day 3 gems often become the backbone of rosters—guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown, George Kittle, or even that guy Tom Brady wasn’t considered “ELITE”
April 23rd, 2025 at 8:54 am
@geno711,
Good points. Jason has been on record saying the Bucs don’t have high grades on players that other teams have high on their draft board. So, it’s very plausible that the Bucs pick outside of what these “gurus” have been saying.
Also, even if Jihaad is there at 19, I think the Bucs are in win-now mode and already have Kancey’s constant injuries to spook them into getting a healthy player. Hamstring is something they may deem manageable.
What will be interesting is to see if we trade up to get the guy we want or trade down if trading up doesn’t work out. This draft seems like a perfect time to trade down if the Bucs would rather throw bodies at the position holes given the number of defensive draftees. For that reason alone, I wouldn’t be shocked if they went WR at #19 and went defense the rest of the way.
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:03 am
Schwesinger In round 1 ?Nothing like reaching at 19 , Bucs have passed on more starting LBs in the later rounds in past 3 drafts why would Licht reach for a LB with 1st pick, gotta be the Big DT with 1st pick, then let the rest of the draft fall to them. Collapse that pocket again. Go Bucs!!!
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:17 am
Round 1 will be a big ole side of beef DT barring a trade down. If we can trade back, pick up an extra 3,and still land schewz that would be coolio.
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:23 am
Big uglies please. Stop the run, sack the QB. The rest will work itself out.
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:35 am
Build the trenches with the first two picks – Edge and DT. Lots of very good ILB, S and CB available in the 3rd and 4th rounds.
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:53 am
Mirrors and smoke
April 23rd, 2025 at 9:58 am
no way ronde. wayyyyyy too early to take him
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:24 am
Schwesinger in round 2 would be a solid pick.
April 23rd, 2025 at 10:47 am
1st Dt or ilb or edge maybe trade down for more picks
2nd cb or safety or hybrid to play maybe both just in case
3rd repeat
April 23rd, 2025 at 11:12 am
MadMax- I too was thinking take a center late but there isn’t one worth a pick and Bredeson was a starting center with the Giants so he can slide over and we’ll get a chance to see what the Bucs have in Ezra Klein at guard. I’m still hoping the Bucs can acquire veteran depth at the position once rosters are cut down to 53.
Barber’s neglecting to mention DT has me thinking that is where the Bucs may be leaning. I’m liking Nolan or Harmon and I’m low on Grant. Reports of Nolan’s lack of motivation had me down on him but the Iggles’ “Big Dom” has taken his measure and asserts absolutely that those concerns are nonsense. Big Dom may be the unofficial hype-man/assistant mascot of the enemy but management of character and chemistry is the super power that has him in his unique role so I respect his perspective.
My version of the prognostication game Barber is playing but without the responsibility to not tip the Bucs hand so I can be more specific goes:
19: Trade back or out of round 1/ DTs Harmon or Nolan but not Grant/ Loveland if he falls or maybe a WR- Golden or Egbuka/ S Starks but not Emmanwori
53: DL Landon Jackson/ CBs Amos, Thomas or Revel but not Morrison or Hairston/ DTs Collins or Norman-Lott/ WR Bech
84: S Mukuba/ ILBs Bassa or Knight/ DL Jared Ivey/ Edge Tyler Baron, Oluwafemi Oladejo, Kyle Kennard, Bradyn Stinson
121: DT JJ Pegues/ CBs Nohl Williams or Darien Porter/ WR Issac Teslaa
157: DT Thor Griffith
235: Australian Vea understudy and bonus roster spot Laki Tasi