2021 NFL mock draft: Final 7-round projections for Bucs

NFL draft week is finally here, so it’s time to put the finishing touches on our projections for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this year’s event.

The Bucs don’t have any glaring needs after bringing back their entire starting lineup from last year’s Super Bowl team, but they should still be focused on building young depth for the future, and hopefully still landing some instant-impact players like they did in last year’s draft.

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Here are our final projections for all of Tampa Bay’s eight picks in the 2021 NFL draft:

1st Round, No. 32 overall | Georgia EDGE Azeez Ojulari

It’s much tougher to peg the Bucs’ ideal target at No. 32 than it has been in recent years at higher slots. That said, edge rusher feels like the position where Tampa Bay’s needs (scarce as they are) will best meet the value likely to be on the board in this year’s draft.

Ojulari has been a favorite of mine throughout this process, and his well-rounded skill set would be a perfect fit for Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay defense. He’s a polished, technically sound defender who can get after the passer and stuff the run. He’d be the perfect player to rotate in as a rookie before eventually taking over for Jason Pierre-Paul opposite Shaq Barrett.

2nd Round, No. 64 overall | Wisconsin-Whitewater OL Quinn Meinerz

The offensive line is set in stone for 2021, but things are far less certain beyond this season. Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa are both in the final year of their contracts, so both center and guard could end up being huge needs for hte Bucs next offseason.

Meinerz is a small-school stud who proved at the Senior Bowl that he can handle top competition. His athleticism is rare for an interior lineman, and he has the versatility to play either guard or center. Bucs GM Jason Licht has an affinity for small-school blockers who light it up in Mobile (Ali Marpet, Cappa), so don’t be surprised if he targets Meinerz on Day 2.

3rd Round, No. 96 overall | Tennessee OL Trey Smith

The Bucs double-dip in the offensive trenches here, this time going with another athletic, powerful and versatile blocker in Smith. His career was interrupted due to blood clots, but he’s a first-round talent at full health. He returned for his senior season at Tennessee and was named first-team all-conference.

Things appear to be set at tackle for Tampa Bay, but having a player like Smith who can play either guard or tackle gives them added insurance for the future. If Smith can stay healthy at the next level, he could prove to be a huge steal at this pick.

4th Round, No. 138 overall | Florida QB Kyle Trask

Tom Brady isn’t showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon, but the Bucs have made it clear throughout the offseason that finding a young quarterback to develop behind him is a priority. This year’s class doesn’t offer much upside outside of the top five prospects at quarterback, but Trask is an intriguing prospect who could make sense if he’s still on the board at this point.

Trask may not have the high-upside traits of this year’s top quarterbacks, but he’s solid across the board, and doesn’t have any glaring flaws. He’s a low-floor prospect who could develop into a quality starter, and what better place to do so than in Tampa Bay behind Brady.

5th Round, No. 177 overall | West Virginia LB Tony Fields II

These late-round picks are all about potential, depth and special teams. Fields checks all three boxes for the Bucs, who don’t have much in terms of youth and upside at inside linebacker behind Lavonte David and Devin White.

Fields is an undersized but athletic linebacker prospect with starter upside who would fit perfectly in Todd Bowles’ scheme. He also has the athleticism, toughness and intelligence to excel on special teams.

6th Round, No. 218 overall | Boise State CB Avery Williams

Williams has become a popular mock pick for the Bucs in the later rounds, and with good reason. Tampa Bay lost their best special teams ace in Ryan Smith, who left in free agency this offseason, leaving a need there as well on defense in terms of corner depth.

The Bucs have also been in desperate need of a difference-maker in the return game for years, and Williams would immediately be the best man for the job on the roster. He excels both on special teams coverage units and as a big-play returner, which makes him a perfect fit for Tampa Bay on Day 3.

7th Round, No. 253 (from PIT) | Ohio State TE Luke Farrell

Sure, the Bucs are loaded at tight end, with the three-headed monster of Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate returning for the 2021 season. But Tampa Bay lost their blocking specialist in Antony Auclair to free agency, leaving an opening for a key role player in their offense.

Farrell is underrated as a pass-catcher, but it’s his blocking prowess that would make him a valuable pick for the Bucs here. Roster spots will be tough to come by this fall in Tampa Bay, but Farrell’s ability to replace what Auclair brought to the ground game as a blocker would give him a high chance of locking up one for himself.

7th Round, No. 261 overall | Michigan DL Carlo Kemp

It’s not a great year to need interior defensive line help, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bucs punt on this year’s class altogether, even though they could use some young depth along the interior. If they are going to find value there, it’s likely to be in the late rounds, where they can find some versatility and upside that would fit their scheme.

That’s why Kemp makes sense, with his size and skill set that would allow him to line up at multiple spots along Tampa Bay’s defensive front. Kemp is also the nephew of NFL coach Chuck Pagano, who is a close friend of Bucs head coach Bruce Arians.