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2023 NFL Draft: Instant Analysis and Grades for Every Team’s Picks

By Sayre Bedinger

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud poses NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud poses NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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2023 NFL draft
2023 NFL mock draft: Calijah Kancey #8 of the Pittsburgh Panthers reacts after sacking Kasim Hill #8 of the Rhode Island Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • 19. Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
  • 48. Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
  • 82. YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville
  • 153. SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh
  • 171. Payne Durham, TE, Purdue
  • 181. Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas State
  • 191. Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
  • 196. Jose Ramirez, EDGE, Eastern Michigan

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers obviously are taking on some water in the old Black Pearl this offseason. Tom Brady retired. Donovan Smith was cut. The Bucs are a team somewhat in transition, I think it’s fair to say.

Draft classes get evaluated so often based on the quality of the picks, which is spot on, but you also have to think about the context of the team around these picks. This Tampa Bay team had a lot of resetting to do all around the roster, they’ve got Devin White asking for a trade, and they’ve got a lot going on.

They also play in seemingly a very winnable division if the offensive staff can work things out with Baker Mayfield.

At the top of this class is Combine superstar Calijah Kancey. He’s not the next Aaron Donald, but he’s a good pick for that interior defensive line and he’s going to be able to cause some problems.

Cody Mauch can slot in as a replacement for Shaq Mason on the interior, and my guess is that the Bucs envision him playing there on the inside and not at the tackle position where he played in college.

YaYa Diaby is an incredible story of perseverance, a late-bloomer who could factor into the pass rush rotation immediately.

It was on Day 3 where I think the Bucs really made some hay in this draft class, though.

Getting Payne Durham out of Purdue was a pick made about two or three rounds too late. Durham was lost in the shuffle of this elite tight end class. Outstanding value.

The Bucs also landed Nebraska speedster Trey Palmer, a player who undoubtedly projects as someone who will make the roster and potentially make an impact as a field stretcher.

Jose Ramirez to cap things off gives the Bucs a draft class I think Jason Licht and his staff can really be proud of. I don’t see a miss on this list.

Grade: A

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