Buccaneers: 2023 NFL Draft Picks Recap, Analysis & Team Grades

And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

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NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers (Day 2 | Day 3)
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2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades

Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Draft Grade: B-

Pick	Team	Position	Rank	Name	School	Comp
19	Bucs	DL2	22	Calijah Kancey	Pittsburgh	John Randle
48	Bucs	OL3	33	Cody Mauch	North Dakota St.	Cole Strange
82	Bucs	ED15	97	YaYa Diaby	Louisville	Boye Mafe
153	Bucs	LB12	159	SirVocea Dennis	Pittsburgh	Joel Iyiegbuniwe
171	Bucs	TE12	213	Payne Durham	Purdue	Gavin Escobar
181	Bucs	CBx	—	Josh Hayes	Kansas State	—
191	Bucs	WR19	133	Trey Palmer	Nebraska	Jalen Reagor
196	Bucs	ED29	247	Jose Ramirez	Eastern Michigan	Uchenna Nwosu

This wasn’t a sexy class, but it has the potential to move the needle for a franchise that desperately needed a talent infusion.

DT Calijah Kancey is a havoc-wreaker. He doesn’t look like much off the bus, but every ounce of the athleticism he showed during the pre-draft process was apparent on tape. He’s got the agility and burst of a souped-up linebacker playing on the interior.

Speaking of athleticism, OL Cody Mauch moves as well as any offensive lineman in this class. He was a destructive force at left tackle in an NDSU running game that made great use of his mobility. Due to Mauch’s lack of length and inconsistent technique in pass-pro on the outside, I think his best fit in the NFL is at guard.

Either way, that was a good value pick. After it, outside of taking one of only two players in the draft who wasn’t amongst the 800-plus players I ranked before it (CB Josh Hayes), I thought Tampa Bay blended high-floor cost certainty and high-upside dart throws in appropriate slots.

Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades

Calijah Kancey fits a need and was one of the best players left on the board in Round 1 for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay showed restraint by holding back for a tackle despite the need. They are rewarded with a super productive albeit undersized interior disruptor that can be a staple in Todd Bowles defense. TB would eventually add an offensive lineman in Round 2 in the form of a trade-up for Cody Mauch. It was a great selection for an OL-needy team, and Mauch offers dual-ability as a tackle/guard. His strengths are highlighted in the run game which is music to the ears of Rachaad White fantasy managers (as is the fact that Tampa added zero RBs during the draft).

Tampas also addressed another need for edge rusher, with YaYa Diaby. Diaby was a mega-disruptor at Louisville, compiling the 4th-best pressure rate in the defensive tackle class (12%) while finishing 2nd in overall pressures per game (2.5) — the same as Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. Diaby also possesses top-tier athletic traits, hanging 86th percentile or better marks in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split and vertical jump.

On Day 3, the Buccaneers went with a linebacker with a do-it-all linebacker in SirVocea Dennis. He could easily be a starter for Tampa in Year 1. Tampa likes to play fast on defense and got three guys that can deliver exactly that.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B