FlurrySports projects three possible Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft targets with the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Miami’s Akheem Mesidor.
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After being hailed as one of the better teams in the NFL during last year’s offseason, to say that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers disappointed is an understatement. After starting the season 6-2, injuries and inconsistent play doomed the Bucs, as they went on to drop seven of their last nine games. Now, the Buccaneers enter a year where it really feels like it could be the end of an era, if things go sideways again. Baker Mayfield will remain the quarterback in the future, but Tampa has already parted ways with the franchise’s greatest receiver in Mike Evans, and Todd Bowles’ seat keeps getting hotter and hotter.
While the draft is a place for teams to find pieces that can help them in the future, Tampa Bay is in a position where it needs immediate help at a number of positions. The most notable of those holes comes on both sides of the line. On top of that, linebacker and defensive back are needs, as well as tight end, which has been a need for the past couple of seasons, but may be amplified now that Evans is gone. Either way, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ draft targets will look to right the ship in a hurry.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Targets at No. 15
Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
It is no secret that the offensive linemen group in 2026 is the highlight of the draft, so with Tampa needing help on the interior offensive line, it makes sense for them to be in the hunt for a player from the position early. Vega Ioane is the best guard prospect in the draft and appears to have all of the tools to be a prototypical bruiser in the trenches. While this certainly is not the sexiest pick for the Buccaneers, it feels like the right one. Ben Bredeson was bad for Tampa last year, so bringing in Ioane will help sure up the left side of the offensive line, creating a fun and elite pairing with Tristan Wirfs.
Given that Tampa struggled to run the ball last season, bringing in Ioane, who is a nightmare when he has you locked, would be a major boost to making the offense more balanced. Without Evans to help bail him out, keeping Baker Mayfield upright and healthy throughout the season is going to be key for the Bucs to get back to the playoffs this season, and Ioane will surely help with that.
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
As I stated before, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in an odd position in this year’s draft, as, instead of drafting a guy and letting him develop, they need someone who has experience and can instantly step in and play. That is where Miami’s Akheem Mesidor comes into play. Mesidor is coming into the draft as a 25-year-old rookie. While that might turn some teams off of him. Tampa should see this as an opportunity to add that experience. Given where he is with the organization, Bowles does not have much time to develop players, so bringing someone in who is ready to play seems like the right decision. Mesidor has an arsenal of pass-rushing moves and gets after the quarterback on a majority of his rushes. With speed around the edge, Mesidor has an elite play-wrecking ability.
With Bowles’ strength residing on the defensive side of the ball, he should be able to use Mesidor in a variety of ways to help kick-start that defense. With 17.5 tackles for loss in college last season, Mesidor and Tampa Bay appear to be a great fit, as the NFC South continues to improve every year.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
One of the more interesting prospects in this year’s draft is Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy. With his ACL tear in January last year, McCoy was forced to miss the entire 2025 campaign, leaving many to wonder how that will affect his draft stock. Taking the injury out of the equation, McCoy looks like he can be the best cornerback in this draft, as he ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at Tennessee’s pro day and has elite athletic tools. With a 77-inch wingspan, McCoy figures to be a great player to slot in at Tampa’s outside corner spot.
That outside corner spot is certainly a need for the Buccaneers, as down the stretch of last season, the corners on this team were extremely disappointing. Add to the fact that Jamel Dean is now in Pittsburgh, and all of a sudden, cornerback is near the top of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ draft targets this season.
