ESPN’s Ben Solak compiled a list of the best draft picks at each slot earlier today, featuring 7 Buccaneers among the 262 players listed.
While the Bucs are entering their 50th season in 2025, they’ve won each of their 2 Super Bowls during the latter-half of their existence (2002, 2020). That’s not too surprising, considering they had the worst start of any franchise in league history.
The Bucs went winless during their inaugural season (1976) and lost their first 26 games (an NFL record) before securing back-to-back wins to finish year 2 in 1977. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only other team in modern NFL history (since 1967) to lose 20-plus games in a row, accomplishing the feat during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
But, let’s get back to the positives. The Bucs earned 7 spots on Solak’s best draft picks list this morning.
Solak acknowledged several factors that influenced his list, writing the following disclaimers:
- I took “best” to mean some combination of “most talented” and “most successful.”
- In order to be the best draft pick, you kind of have to play for the team that drafted you.
- There isn’t a bump for QB value (unless it was inescapable).
- I am 28 years old.
As a 27-year-old myself, I can appreciate his need to clarify. With those disclaimers in mind, let’s jump right into which Bucs Solak included on his list of the best draft picks at each slot.
3 out of the 4 Bucs Drafted in the Top 100 are Hall-of-Famers
Here are the Bucs’ best draft picks in the top 100 in order:
- No. 12 – DT Warren Sapp (Hall-of-Famer)
- During his final 7 seasons in Tampa Bay, Sapp played just about as well as any DT in the league. He earned 7 straight Pro Bowl nods, 6 All-Pro selections (4 First-Team and 2 Second-Team) and a DPOY.
- No. 28: LB Derrick Brooks (Hall-of-Famer)
- Brooks earned 10 straight Pro Bowl nods, 9 straight All-Pro selections (5 First-Team, 4 Second-Team) and a DPOY during the Bucs’ first Super Bowl run in 2002.
- No. 58: LB Lavonte David
- David is the only active Bucs player on the list. He’s a 3-time All-Pro (1 First-Team, 2 Second-Team), 1-time Pro Bowler and 8th all-time in combined tackles. In a just world, he would have the accolades to ensure his spot in the Hall-of-Fame, but we’ll have to wait and see.
- No. 66: DB Rondé Barber (Hall-of-Famer)
- Barber played all 16 seasons in Tampa Bay, earning 5 Pro Bowl nods and 5 All-Pro nods (3 First-Team, 2 Second-Team). He set the record for the most consecutive starts by any defensive back (215) and sent the Bucs to their first Super Bowl in franchise history with a game-clinching, 92-yard pick-six during the 2002 NFC Championship game.
Since he’s the only Hall-of-Famer (so far) to be drafted at No. 12, DT Warren Sapp sort of earned the spot by default. But, don’t get it twisted: the 13-year-veteran is, without a doubt, one of the best draft picks in league history.
Solak called Sapp “one of those rare defensive tackles who could accumulate sacks from the interior,” acknowledging that he “has a Defensive Player of the Year award and a Lombardi on his shelf.” However, Solak notes that Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons could be on his way to dethroning Sapp for the spot.
“How much longer can he hold off Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, though?,” Solak asked. “It depends on the hardware Parsons collects over his own career.”
The Other 3 Bucs Among the Best Draft Picks Went on to Have Better Careers Elsewhere
Here are the rest of the Bucs’ best draft picks in order:
- No. 169: CB Al Harris
- Harris never played a game for the Bucs, but he went on to enjoy a 14-year career, earning 2 Pro Bowl nods.
- No. 176: S Mike Prior
- Prior recovered 3 fumbles during his rookie season in Tampa Bay, but landed on the IR before his second season. He served as a replacement player for the Indianapolis Colts during the strike-shortened 1987 season, reviving his career. He went on to play 11 more seasons, winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996.
- No. 254: LB Elijah Alexander
- Alexander played just 1 season with the Bucs before being placed on waivers. He would go on to play 9 total seasons in the NFL.
As a note, the Buccaneers also selected Hall-of-Fame quarterback Steve Young during the 1984 Supplemental Draft. Young experienced all of his success with the San Francisco 49ers, though.
He won 3 Super Bowls, 2 MVPs, 7 Pro Bowls and earned 6 All-Pro selections (3 First-Team and 3 Second-Team). But, the Bucs clearly saw something that made them believe in Young initially.
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