Bucs Draft Needs: OL Preview

The NFL draft is quickly approaching, and as the combine winds down it’s time to start preparing for whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will announce as their selections on that stage at Lambeau Field. To simplify this process, I’ve ranked seven of the Bucs needs:

Despite retaining all of their starters on the offensive line (one of the very best in the league, by the way), the Bucs lost some depth especially from their backups. Swing Tackle Justin Skule skipped town for Minnesota, and former starting Center Robert Hainsey followed Liam Coen to Jacksonville. They did bring back Sua Opeta, who missed all of last season with injury, and Royce Newman, another restricted free agent, remains unsigned. They also brought in Charlie Heck as a Skule replacement candidate as the top backup Tackle.

While it is highly unlikely that Tampa Bay spends an early pick on a lineman, Jason Licht has been very good at finding offensive linemen, Including Ali Marpet, Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch and Donovan Smith in the second round, Alex Cappa and Robert Hainsey in the third round, Tristan Wirfs and Graham Barton in the first round, all of whom has started for the Bucs in the last 5 years.

Being of the opinion that the offensive line is the second most important position group on the field, I would say that taking at least one offensive lineman every year would be good team building strategy, ESPECIALLY if you’re good at it.

Rather than just listing drills and a bunch of numbers, I’ll be using the RAS system, created by Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb and @mathbomb.bsky.social on Twitter and Bluesky). RAS, or Relative Athletic Score is a composite scale that factors height, weight, speed, and agility drills to spit out one number that can be viewed as a percentile. For example, QB Mac Jones had a RAS of 7.15, meaning he is just below the 72nd percentile for physical traits among QBs, while former WR Calvin Johnson’s 2007 combine and Anthony Richardson’s 2023 combine scored them a perfect 10.00 for their respective positions.

Until pro days end, I’ll be using combine measurements as well as available film to break down each prospect, which means if they didn’t test certain drills at the combine, their RAS may be incomplete.

So, what should the Bucs be looking for in a potential offensive linemen. We know they value versatility. With Wirfs swapping Tackle positions, becoming the first to win an All-Pro at both positions, and with picks like Graham Barton, Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch, and Luke Goedeke playing or having played “out-of-position” in the NFL. Barton, Mauch, and Hainsey being a former Tackle, while Goedeke spent 2023 playing Guard, before sliding back out to Tackle this season.

We also know schematically, the Bucs favored Gap run schemes last year, pulling Guards and Tackles every which way.

Additionally, Jason Licht has tended to favor players from small schools, including Division-II football programs.

T Wyatt Milum, WVU

6’6”4/8 313 lbs

40 yard dash: 5.27s

3-cone: 7.59s

Vertical: 30in

RAS: 8.01

Milum is country-strong, and over his three year span as a starter, he did not give up a single sack. He’s an even better run blocker. He was graded as a 91 last season at WVU, his best year in college. His feet are a little slow, and he looks top heavy on the field. He seems a little stiff and awkward in the open field, and even sometimes in pass protection. Due to his shorter arms and otherwise lumbering movements, I could see him being moved to Guard at the next level. Don’t be shocked if he’s wearing a Bucs jersey after round 3.

Fit Grade: B+

G Tate Ratledge, UGA

6’6”4/8 308 lbs

40 yard dash: 4.97s

Bench: 25 reps

3-cone: 7.38s

Vertical: 32in

RAS: 9.96

Ratledge tested really, really, well. I wouldn’t say his athleticism pops on film, but clearly he’s very athletic compared to past prospects. He’ll certainly be a people mover at the next level, given the opportunities. I don’t see any true holes in his game, outside of improving in gap schemes. I think he’s worth kicking the tires on as a project prospect, partially because his technique could use some tune-ups, particularly in terms of foot work and pad level.

Fit Grade: A-

T Charles Grant, W&M

6’4”⅞ 311 lbs

Bench: 19 reps

RAS:???

Grant is preparing to make the jump to the NFL after spending five seasons playing FCS football… after not playing a lick of high school football until his junior year. The former all-state wrestler looks like a freak of nature on tape. He certainly needs some help with his technique, and there are obviously questions about jumping to the NFL, but there’s plenty of examples of players that have done so successfully as offensive linemen, especially in Tampa Bay. Ali Marpet played Division-III football for the Hobart Statesmen and immediately started 13 games at Right Guard, and while it took three years before he was a full time starter, Ryan Jensen played Division-II football at CSU Pueblo. Grant has the hard-nosed grit of every Jason Licht fantasy and the raw athleticism any fan could drop their jaw at.

Fit Grade: B+

T Anthony Belton, NCSU

6’6” 336

40 yard dash: 5.26s

3-cone: 7.77s

Vertical: 29.5in

RAS: 8.15

Belton is one of the big dawgs. In spite of his 336-pound frame, he moves very well, losing virtually no explosion or speed. His build and play style are virtually lab-created for gap schemes. While his physical traits are very impressive, his technique is lackluster. His feet are sometimes off-balance (as he tries to compensate for slower lateral movement), and his hands are sometimes late, letting pass rushers get to his chest, further emphasizing the off-balanced habits. The other issue is age. Belton spent six years playing college football, starting in JUCO. His technique issues at 24 years old are more than mildly concerning. Surely it will be ironed out if he gets drafted and developed in the right place, but spending anything above a fourth round pick is a high enough risk to scare most teams away.

Fit Grade: C-

T Jalen Rivers, UMiami

6’5” 6/8 319 lbs

40 yard dash: 5.29s

Bench: 23 reps

RAS: 6.50

Rivers is another prospect likely to slide to the interior in part due to his size, and in part due to his poor speed and explosiveness. He also spent parts of 2024 switching between Guard and Tackle. His technique is great, and he should fit well in a gap scheme. When healthy (and only playing Left Tackle), he was an All-ACC selection. It would be a safe bet to take any of the linemen from Miami this season. There’s a reason QB Cam Ward was well protected and RB Damien Martinez logged his highest touchdown and yards per attempt totals of his collegiate career. Rivers is a safe bet later in the draft, especially if the intention is to slide him to the interior of the line.

Fit Grade: B

G Willie Lampkin, UNC

5’10” 6/8 279 lbs

40 yard dash: 5.21s (unofficial)

Bench: 18 reps

Vertical: 23.50in

RAS: 3.10

Lampkin is one of the smallest offensive linemen in NFL Combine history (since 1987), and he’s not exactly physically impressive in the other measurements either. However, his technique, effort and overall grit sets him above the rest of the pack. The guy plays with a ton of heart, he’s played all three interior spots, uses his leverage well, great footwork, and he was borderline elite in all five years of college between UNC and Coastal Carolina. His PFF zone grade is 90.6 over the last 2 seasons, and he boasts one of the highest gap grades in the draft. He hasn’t given up a sack in 2 years, and he’s only allowed 4 QB Hits in the last two years. His versatility and work ethic should get him an earlier than expected nod from a needy team.

Fit Grade: B-

T Chase Lundt, UCONN

6’7”4/8 304 lbs

40 yard dash: 5.40s

Bench: 20 reps

RAS: 6.37

Lundt intrigues me. Measured at nearly 6’8”, he would enter the league as one of the tallest players in the game, and he’s in the 93rd percentile among all NFL Combine measurements since 1987. However, his 304 pound frame is in the 36th percentile, and he would be even closer to the bottom among active NFL Tackles. He moves well in terms of explosiveness, his technique is mostly fine, but he simply won’t be strong enough at the next level. I’m interested to see how he develops regardless of where he lands. He’s only been penalized 4 times in his last 1,700+ snaps, and he’s been a great run blocker against albeit weak competition while playing for the Huskies. Unfortunately for Lundt, he’ll remain a very raw prospect until he puts on weight. Pick up a fork and a dumbbell, kid.

Fit Grade: D+

All in all, I’m intrigued by this position in this draft. It seems awfully deep to me, and these Linemen consistently look better in every draft class, whether it’s athletically or technique-wise. Watch out for a Jason Licht surprise Montana State selection in the middle rounds a physical, corn-fed, country-strong monster who only played a year of high school football and won the State Wrestling championship. Something along those lines.