stestansfield'S MOCK DRAFT
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stestansfield'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON AUG 24, 2025

Jason Licht adds to both sides of the trenches!

  • stestansfield DRAFTING FOR THE
    Buccaneers
Draft Selections
Rueben Bain Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 22 RND: 1 (TB)
Rueben Bain Jr.
DL-EDGE Miami
Deontae Lawson Head Shot
PICK: 54 RND: 2 (TB)
Deontae Lawson
LB Alabama
D'Angelo Ponds Head Shot
PICK: 96 RND: 3 (TB)
D'Angelo Ponds
CB Indiana
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 122 RND: 4 (TB)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Mark Fletcher Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (TB)
Mark Fletcher Jr.
RB Miami
Malik Hartford Head Shot
PICK: 200 RND: 6 (TB)
Malik Hartford
S Ohio State
Tosh Baker Head Shot
PICK: 235 RND: 7 (TB)
Tosh Baker
OT Notre Dame
Draft Picks Received
D'Angelo Ponds Head Shot
PICK: 96 RND: 3 (BUF)
D'Angelo Ponds
CB Indiana
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 3 (BUF)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 5 (BUF)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 86 RND: 3 (BUF)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Draft Grade — Buccaneers
Overall B
ValueB+ NeedB TradesC+ FutureB
Grand theft in the 54th pick: the Buccaneers steal Lawson and grade out a B.

You could see the war room lean forward. Deontae Lawson at Round 2, Pick 22 is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did. It does the job without flash, and the B reflects it.

If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through interior defensive lineman. Job largely done: offensive lineman settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.

All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.

Pick Analysis
Pick22 Rnd1 Rueben Bain Jr.
In pick No. 22 they get a double-digit-sack hope, and a steal at that. A real need, handled.
Pick54 Rnd2 Deontae Lawson
Deontae Lawson at the 54th overall pick is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A minor itch, scratched.
Pick96 Rnd3 D'Angelo Ponds
A clean, defensible pick in the 96th pick with a little surplus value in D'Angelo Ponds. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick122 Rnd4 Fernando Mendoza
A quarterback of that caliber at Round 4, Pick 20 is the definition of value, full stop. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick161 Rnd5 Mark Fletcher Jr.
They paid sticker price for Mark Fletcher Jr. in pick 161, and that is fine. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick200 Rnd6 Malik Hartford
Malik Hartford in the Round 6 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Pick235 Rnd7 Tosh Baker
Tosh Baker in slot 235 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.