The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the more complete rosters in the league entering the upcoming 2025 NFL season… if Haason Reddick manages to revert back to his 2023 form as the team’s crown jewel addition in free agency this offseason.
Well, one recent 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN has the Bucs finding a definitive solution to their EDGE issues with a prospect that is an ideal match for Tampa Bay’s defensive front.
Bucs Select LSU EDGE Patrick Payton in Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft from ESPN
ESPN’s Matt Miller managed to find a long-term pass rusher opposite of YaYa Diaby by selecting LSU EDGE Patrick Payton at No. 22 overall in his latest 2026 NFL mock draft.
Miller wrote, “Payton has been on scouts’ radar since 2022, flashing as a freshman at Florida State before compiling seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2023. He struggled along with the rest of the Seminoles in 2024, with his sack total falling to four. He’ll look to regain his first-round status at LSU in 2025. If he does, Payton would be an intriguing fit for the Buccaneers, as his quickness and speed off the edge would be an ideal match to the power that defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey possess.”
Payton has a strange profile for a player with a ton of physical talent who already had a breakout year back in 2023, racking up seven sacks with the Florida State Seminoles in their undefeated season.
What is strange about Payton’s profile is his drop to just four sacks last season, which mirrored the Seminoles head-scratching fall into college football obscurity in 2024.
Ian Cummings of Pro Football & Sports Network has a mostly optimistic outlook about Payton’s profile entering the NFL, “Paytonâs pure playmaking imprint is already clear, and his 2023 production is proof of that. But Payton also brings a hot motor on every down, and thereâs untapped potential with his hand usage and pass-rush arsenal. He can win with bend or power, and adapt with ease.”
Payton displayed the physical traits many scouts salivate over back in 2023, which means the talent is there for him to make an impact at the next level if he manages to revert back to his previous form with the LSU Tigers.
Did the Bucs Miss an Opportunity to Fix Their Edge Rusher Issues in the 2025 NFL Draft?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the chance to select EDGE prospects like Mike Green, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and James Pearce Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft but elected to add Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 overall to join Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in a loaded offense entering the upcoming season.
The team’s decision to pass on a pass rusher in the first round likely had something to do with the Bucs signing Haason Reddick in free agency to give this defense a bit more pass rushing juice off the edge for the 2025 NFL season.
Admittedly, general manager Jason Licht did address the EDGE position by selecting David Walker out of Central Arkansas in the fourth round, who did have 10.5 sacks in his final collegiate season, but is far from a sure thing entering the NFL from a smaller school.
The Bucs rolled the dice on Reddick this offseason. We’ll see if that gamble pays off in 2025 or if they’ll need to address the EDGE position early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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