From Donovan Ezeiruaku to Nick Emmanwori and even to a surprise receiver pick, here are our five suggestions of players Tampa Bay could be targeting at pick number 19 on Thursday night

Scott Smith

Let's say Jason Licht, the 12th-year general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had a list in his pocket of the five top players he would reasonably hope to land with the 19th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Do we think there is any scenario in which he would share that list with you or me or anybody else who isn't going to have access to the Buccaneers' draft room at team headquarters?

Yeah, of course not. There's nothing to gain by revealing any strategic information before the Bucs are on the clock. Still, that doesn't have to stop us from speculating on what such a list could look like. Let's take a look at five players who could be on Tampa Bay's radar on Thursday night.

If those first two paragraphs weren't direct enough, what follows is in no way meant to reflect the actual thoughts or strategies of Licht or anyone else involved in making the Buccaneers' draft picks. And, again, we're talking realistic options at number 19, so you won't see Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter on this list. And we're going to rule out trades so that this is only a discussion about who the Bucs could get at their current spot.

1. Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

The Bucs signed Haason Reddick to a one-year deal in the hopes of juicing up their outside pass rush, but they likely won't shy away from double-dipping at the position in the draft. The Bucs' 46 sacks last year was actually tied for the sixth most in the NFL, but a lot of that was reliant on bringing extra rushers or simulated blitzes and Head Coach Todd Bowles said it's important for the defense to get more pressure with traditional four-man rushes in 2025. Since the interior duo of Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea already combined for 14.5 sacks last year, that means the level up has to come from the outside. A rotation of Reddick, Yaya Diaby, Ezeiruaku, Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson just might do the trick.

Ezeiruaku's scouting report starts with his sheer production: He was second in the nation in 2024 with 16.5 sacks. He also had an 8.5-sack season in 2022. He has a well-developed arsenal of pass-rush moves and an effortless bend around the corner. Ezeiruaku stacks his moves well, too, and is an effective hand-fighter.

Ezeiruaku isn't the only intriguing edge rusher who might still be available at number 19, as it is a relatively deep if not exactly top-heavy group to sort through this year. The Bucs might like to see the 6-2, 248-pound prospect add some weight and strength to hold up against the run in the NFL, but he could step right into the rotation on passing downs.

2. Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston

The Buccaneers seem very likely to address the cornerback position in the draft after Bowles acknowledged that his team needs more depth at that critical spot. And they might very well wait until the second round given the attractive depth at the position this year. However, there are a handful of cornerbacks that might make the Bucs flip that plan and start there before addressing other needs on Day Two. One of those temptations could be Kentucky's Hairston, whose draft stock has steadily risen in recent weeks. It's also quite possible the Bucs would be enticed by Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron, too, but both could be off the board by pick 19.

Hairston ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all players at this year's Combine at 4.28 seconds. Is speed that critical in draft evaluations. Well, Bowles was asked that question at the NFL Annual Meeting and he specifically answered that it mattered at cornerback. The Bucs have had good luck drafting speedy cornerbacks with long wingspans (Hairston has that, too) in Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum, their two current starters. Hairston also has a trait that Bowles would love to have in his secondary after the team secured only seven interceptions last year: He finds the football. Hairston had six picks over the past two seasons, three returned for touchdowns.

Hairston has great vision in zone coverage and reads the quarterback well but he also likes to mix it up in press coverage, so he should fit whatever scheme Bowles wants to emphasize in 2025.

3. Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell

This isn't exactly a sleeper pick. If you've read 10 mock drafts in the last week you've probably seen five that matched Campbell with the Buccaneers. It's a very popular pairing. Of course, there are good reasons for that.

First of all, it's an obvious team needed, whether for the moment or the near future. The ageless Lavonte David is thankfully back for a 14th season in 2025, but there will come a time when he completes his illustrious career. The Buccaneers made sure they weren't desperate at any position by signing Anthony Walker to pair along with the SirVocea Dennis, who is returning from injury, and can reasonably expect some combination of the two to hold down the spot next to David. It still makes sense to add some dynamic athletic talent to a position that hasn't seen any early-round attention in recent years.

Campbell ran a 4.52-second 40, has an 80-inch wingspan and has good size (6-3, 235) for the linebacker position in the NFL. He's very rangy, both laterally and vertically and is good in pass coverage, which the Bucs' crave at that position. He was productive at Alabama and rarely missed tackles. In addition, Campbell has some clear pass-rush ability and could be useful in that area as well. That causes some to label him as a 'tweener, but that versatility could also help him get on the field more quickly and more often for the Buccaneers.

4. South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori

The Buccaneers have an opening at safety next to Antoine Winfield Jr. They could fill that with either Tykee Smith or Cristian Izien, but the team could also have other roles in mind for those two versatile players. Bowles would find ways to get all of them involved.

The idea of pairing Winfield and Emmanwori is intoxicating. Winfield was a 2023 first-team All-Pro and is looking to get back to that level in 2025 after a season marred by injuries. He's big-time playmaker, as was Emmanwori at South Carolina, so it's possible the two could form one of the most dynamic back-end duos in the NFL.

Emmanwori demolished the Combine, essentially rating as the most athletic safety ever tested, but he's no workout warrior. He was very productive for South Carolina; last season he combined four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) with 83 tackles. When Emmanwori plays the run he almost looks like a linebacker, so it's intriguing to consider Winfield patrolling centerfield while the rookie serves as an enforcer in the box. In such a deployment, Emmanwori also has the quick feet and physicality to keep running backs and tight ends in check in the passing game.

5. Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan

I had to include at least one offensive player, and there are plenty of draft analysts who are now connecting the Buccaneers with a wide receiver in the first round. That's primarily the product of both Bowles and Licht emphatically stating that they would not pass up on a coveted offensive player just to stick to defense. This would be more of a long-term consideration, given that the Bucs' are already starting with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and 2024 breakout Jalen McMillan.

So, in that case, could I interest you in another Mike Evans? That is a common comp for the 6-4, 219-pound McMillan, who isn't quite the size of Evans but he's close with a similarly powerful frame, wide catch radius and contested-catch ability. McMillan is also a dangerous open-field runner after the catch, capable of running around or through defenders.

Will McMillan be available at number 19. While he seemed like a top-10 lock early in the offseason, some analysts have cooled on him in the intervening months and have wideouts Matthew Golden and Luther Burden ahead of him. Yes, McMillan still has a pretty good chance to go in the top 10, but he now seems a little bit more likely to fall than Golden, who would also be attractive to the Buccaneers. It's at least possible he's there at number 19.