It’s still early in mock draft season, so the predictions are all over the board, including those regarding who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take with the 19th-overall pick in April. As we get past the NFL Scouting Combine and the college Pro Days, and as the more plugged-in analysts gather behind-the-scenes information, some predictions will start to coalesce.

Right now, however, these mock drafts still have the ability to surprise. Last Monday, well-respected draft analyst Chad Reuter of NFL.com made a prediction for the 19th pick that I definitely wasn’t expecting: Missouri tackle Armand Membou. Wait, I thought, don’t the Buccaneers have a pretty darn good tackle duo in Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, both of whom are still very much in their prime?

To Reuter’s credit, his explanation of the pick made sense. First, Membou has a “guard build” and the Buccaneers could be needing a new left guard if pending free agent Ben Bredeson is not re-signed. Second, Goedeke is going into the last year of his rookie deal and Membou could be his replacement if he leaves in free agency.

So yeah, I get it. But also, nah. While it’s true that Jason Licht clearly likes spending high draft picks on the men in the trenches, I just don’t see a second straight first-round pick going to the O-Line. Four of the five starters are under contract for 2025 and I’m of the opinion that the Bucs and Goedeke will work out an extension. Maybe Bredeson comes back, maybe the Bucs find another solution at left guard in free agency or with somebody like Elijah Klein.

(By the way, Chad is out here posting a three-round mock draft in early February. Much respect. And I very much like his picks for the Bucs in the second and third rounds; check it out.)

So what position or positions do I think are more likely than offensive tackle for the Bucs to target in the first round this year. Or, more to the point, what position do I want them to target? Well, that happens to be this week’s topic of debate.

As Staff Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix and I continue our weekly offseason-beginning series of Point/Counterpoint debates, we are going to turn our attention to the draft, specifically: What position would each of us like to see the Bucs target in the opening round on Thursday, April 24?

Brianna and I have lined up six topics we will be debating over the course of a month and a half, one to begin each week. Here’s the whole schedule:

Monday, February 17: What position would you like to see Tampa Bay target in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft?

Monday, February 24: Give us one specific statistical prediction for the Bucs’ 2025 season?

We’re not going to be making specific player predictions. Frankly, I doubt either of us would have much luck guessing that here in the middle of February. Since we alternate the order of our picks from week to week because we aren’t duplicating picks and therefore who goes first could matter – Brianna is back at the top of the list.

Brianna Dix: Linebacker

I am going to go with Tampa Bay selecting a linebacker in the first round. The Buccaneers could opt to snag an edge – cannot ever have too many pass rushers – or a cornerback to add to the secondary depth, which was depleted in 2024. A lot can happen before the end of April but right now on paper, this pick makes sense.

As things currently stand, the Bucs could possibly face a mass exodus at the inside linebacker position. Legendary Buccaneer Lavonte David headlines the list of 22 potential unrestricted free agents after leading the club with 122 tackles in 2024 in his 13th NFL season at the age of 34. The previous two seasons, David has signed one-year contracts and it remains to be seen what David’s decision will be regarding the future. K.J. Britt, a member of Tampa Bay’s 2021 draft class, has completed his initial four-year contract and is slated to hit the open market in March. In addition, J.J. Russell is a restricted free agent, meaning he has three accrued seasons in the league, whereas an unrestricted free agent has four or more accrued seasons with an expiring contract.

SirVocea Dennis, who was brought in on sub-packages primarily on clear passing situations to maximize his skillset, was placed on injured reserve and missed most of the 2024 docket. He will likely have a bigger role in 2025 but the Bucs still need to bolster the position group either through free agency or the draft. A player at the position that would be an ideal fit for the Bucs at 19 is Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell, a First-Team All-SEC selection in 2024. The Bucs have to find a long-term successor for David and Campbell possesses the range and athleticism that the Bucs’ brass covets. Campbell is a consistent open-field tackler and can mirror backs. He has outstanding coverage skills and is adept on third downs as a blitzer. Campbell could be the next weapon for Todd Bowles to unleash in pressure packages. He plays with solid eye discipline in zone, which Tampa Bay employed frequently in 2024, and he could help fortify the middle of the Bucs’ defense. The 2025 draft class is seemingly deeper at both cornerback and edge but in terms of quality at a position of need, if he is available, Campbell would be a playmaker.