B-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers cashed the board's mistake on Rodriguez: B-.
by stestansfield ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 6 steals
· 0 reaches
You could see the war room lean forward. Jacob Rodriguez at the 116th pick is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
A whole weekend of picks and interior defensive lineman is somehow still a want. The Rodriguez pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with interior defensive lineman, tight end and other spots still on the board.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, outstanding value to boot. Need was not the driver here.
Joshua Josephs in the 46th pick is fair value, right on his grade. A need, and now a little less of one.
The board fumbled Jake Slaughter all the way to pick No. 74, and they scooped it up. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They barely believed it either: Jake Golday still on the board at No. 77. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A surprising call. With interior defensive lineman, tight end and other spots still to address, they spent pick 116 on Jacob Rodriguez, a linebacker they were not short of.
Nice patience on Malik Benson, who had no business lasting to Round 5, Pick 15. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
The board had TJ Hall higher than the 229th overall pick, and the cornerback fell to them anyway. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.