There’s going to be a day, in the near future, when current Tampa Bay Buccaneers stars like linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Vita Vea won’t be on the field but will be watching games from a plush suite.
David is headed into his 14th season. Vea is closing in on a full decade in the NFL.
They can’t play forever, as much as we want them to. It’s just facts.
That’s why Pro Football Network predicts the Buccaneers will continue to build their defense through the draft, where the latest PFN mock draft predicts Tampa Bay will land what could be a first round talent in the third round with University of Cincinnati defensive tackle Dontay Corleone in the 2026 NFL draft.
Corleone, 6-foot-1 and 320 pounds, seemed destined to leave school and enter the 2025 NFL draft after a breakout season in 2023, where he had 39 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 7 TFL and 1 forced fumble in 12 games. That was before he ran into a serious medical issue in June 2024 and was ruled out indefinitely after blood clots were discovered in his lungs.
While “The Godfather” returned to play 11 games in 2024 — and once again faced consistent double and triple teams — his production took a slight dip. Despite that, he still had 3.5 sacks and was still named All-Big 12 for a second time. Corleone was also an All-AAC selection in 2022 as a freshman.
Even if he plays amazing in 2025, it’s not a stretch to think his issue with blood clots might scare NFL teams off in the first and second rounds — even if he’s already been medically cleared.
Medical Diagnosis Shocked Cincy Fans
The team announced the news of Corleone’s blood clots on its official X account along with a statement from the Cincinnati native.
“I am incredibly grateful to my family and for Aaron Himmler, Dr. Jon Divine, our whole medical staff and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for guiding me through this over the last few weeks,” Corleone said. “Right now, I’m focused on my recovery. My hope is I will be able to return to football soon, but in the meantime, I will do everything I can to rehab and help the football program as a leader and mentor to our younger players. I’m looking forward to being around the guys soon. The sky is the limit for the Bearcats this season. I love my teammates, our coaches, this university, this city, and — of course — this fan base, which has been incredibly supportive of me over the last three years.”
Before the diagnosis, Corleone was being projected as a first round pick in 2025.
From NFL Draft Buzz: “Corleone transformed from an under-recruited high school prospect into one of college football’s most feared interior defenders … His 2024 campaign was particularly remarkable given the adversity he overcame — blood clots discovered during summer workouts sidelined him for three months and forced him to miss the season opener.”
It’s been almost 40 years since the Buccaneers picked a player from Cincinnati — the last time was running back Reggie Taylor in the 11th round (No. 280 overall) of the 1987 NFL draft. Taylor never played a game for the Buccaneers.
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