Tampa Bay got a steal off the bat on Saturday afternoon, and they went on to address some key needs with logical selections.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the stories of the first round when they took Miami Hurricanes EDGE Rueben Bain, Jr. with the No. 15 overall pick.
They started Day 3 by taking one of Bain’s college teammates early on, and they ended up making four selections by the time Saturday afternoon had come and gone.
Let’s take a look at the Bucs’ latest picks.
This might go down as one of the steals of the draft in a few years.
Scott was one of the top nickel cornerbacks in the country last year on a vicious Hurricanes defense. He did it all in the slot for the Canes last season. He brought pressure off the edge, where he had 5 sacks. He had two pick sixes, including the game changer against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. He’s a hard hitter and willing tackler who plays bigger than his 5-11, 193-pound frame.
I cannot wait to see what he can do in Tampa. And Scott’s presence also means the Bucs have flexibility now to potentially shift Jacob Parrish to the edge, depending on how training camp goes with him and Benjamin Morrison .
Bottom line: Scott is a first round talent who plays a less-than-premium position, and I have a feeling he’ll show quickly that he deserved to go much higher.
Grade: A+
Tampa Bay needs some depth on the defensive line, and at miniumum they got that with Capehart. The Clemson defender measured in at 6-5, 313 pounds at the NFL Combine, and he ran a 4.85 40. The big tackle can move well for his size and is a physical, solid run defender, giving Tampa Bay a potential rotation player on the inside. With Vita Vea and A’Shawn Robinson both free agents after 2026, Capehart also gives them a possible option down the road.
Grade: A-
The Bucs needed depth on the interior of their line, and they got it with Schrauth. The Notre Dame lineman had his final season shortened last year with an MCL injury. He fought it through for the majority of the Irish’s 34-24 win over USC, but that would be his final college game.
He’s a tough player, who was particularly good last year in pass protection. He allowed two QB pressures in 213 pass blocking snaps at left guard, per Pro Football Focus.
Grade: A-
The Bucs finally addressed the tight end position, and they did it in a spot that, frankly, to me, appears to be in a more appropriate spot. As in, not using a second or third-round pick for a TE2, as some teams did on Friday.
Sharp started off his career at the FCS level, but he played for Oklahoma in 2025 before transferring to LSU for 2025. His best season came with the Sooners, when he had 42 catches for 324 yards and two scores.
He has the frame (6-5, 249 pounds) and the potential in the passing game to contribute, but has room to improve as a blocker.
Grade: B+
This could end up being one of Jason Licht’s better drafts in a number of years. They added some physical, tough defenders and a big wide receiver on Thursday and Friday. They continued the positive momentum on Saturday, addressing a number of needs with intriguing picks, especially with Scott in Round 4.
Hard to imagine a better draft than this for Tampa Bay.
