Published: April 20, 2025 at 04:33 PM
TAMPA FL — WP Rader — BuccaneersFan Shipmate & Captain Booty

“THE BUCCANEERS' DRAFT BE NIGH”

A KREWE"S CALL TO ARMS!

TAMPA, FLORIDA - RADER - April 20, 2025, 4:33pm ET - DRAFT PARTY Count down

Aye, the wind howls low, and the tide rolls steady beneath me boots as I sit upon this weathered dock in Raymond James Port, with wood creakin’ like the knees of Old Lavonte after a full day’s plunder. Only days remain ‘til the Great NFL Draft commences, and me thoughts are heavy with anticipation.

CALLING ALL BUCCANEERS TO YE BONE YARD.

JOIN US ON THE FIELD AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM FOR THE DRAFT PARTY PRESENTED BY MILLER LITE. BE A PART OF BUCS HISTORY AS THEY MAKE OUR FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK AND KICK OFF OUR 50TH SEASON CELEBRATIONS.

• Raymond James Stadium

• Parking lots open at 6:00 p.m.

• Doors and Gates open at 7:00 p.m.

• Draft begins at 8:00 p.m.

Let’s chart the waters ahead, shall we?

One o’ the most thrilling times on the NFL calendar be fast approachin’ — the 2025 NFL Draft is fixin’ to pull anchor and set sail in just a few sunsets. From me seat on this plank-blanketed dock outside Raymond James Harbor, I peer out toward the horizon, awaitin’ word from Cap’n Bowles and his First Mate Licht on which salty sea dogs we’ll be addin’ to our Krewe.

The Captain — a sturdy soul named Bowles — soon takes to the crow’s nest with his spyglass, peerin’ over the horizon, preparin’ to choose new Krewe mates. The Buccaneers finished the 2024 campaign with a hearty 10-7 record, atop the NFC South treasure pile — but aye, the ship met its fate in the Wild Card maelstrom. Still, our crew fought like the fiercest of freebooters, and now we look to reinforce our ranks for a deeper conquest.

Cannon Fire Ready: Buccaneers' 2025 Draft Ammo

1st Cannon Round – Pick #19

Here lies the gold doubloon of the draft. We be seekin’ a trench-holdin’ lineman or perhaps a pass rushin’ deck-wrecker. The enemy's broadsides found too much success last year, so we need a brute to anchor the line — someone to keep Quartermaster Mayfield upright and our ship steady in rough seas.

2nd Cannon Round – Pick #53

With this shot, we may aim for a cornerback — a swift blade who won’t be caught nappin’ in the crow’s nest. Our secondary showed cracks in the hull, lettin’ too many raiders past the stern. The Captain needs a sharp-eyed hawk, fast and fearless

3rd Cannon Round – Pick #84

Aye, here we might grab a receiver — a young swashbuckler to one day stand beside or replace our legends, Evans and Godwin. Mayhaps this be where a future treasure is unearthed: someone who can catch the wind and the ball with equal grace.

4th Cannon Round – Pick #121

Time to fish for depth, perhaps a tight end to help anchor the sails or a linebacker who’s got salt in his veins. With Devin White gone overboard, the deck needs a new enforcer.

5th Cannon Round – Pick #157

By now, we be trawlin’ the deeper waters. A punter? A special teams rogue? A gem hidden in the sea foam? ‘Tis where legends start quietly before they explode like powder kegs.

7th Cannon Round – Pick #235

Arrr, the final shot. Could be nothin’ but driftwood — or could be the next Cap’n Brady, plucked from the muck to lead the fleet. Only the football gods know.

(With a full war chest ahead for 2026, too: picks in all seven rounds remain untouched!)

PROSPECTS IN THE SPYGLASS

There be whispers across the water that a prized treasure may fall into our lap come the 19th cannonball — MALAKI STARKS, the land-locked safety from the Georgia fleet. Some say he’d already be hoisted by the time we come around, but now the winds blow in our favor, and his sail may soon be flyin’ Buccaneer RED & PEWTER.

But if Starks be snatched by another vessel, fret not — we’ve got our spyglass trained on a full crew o’ potential Krewe mates ready to be shanghaied:

• LB - Jalon Walker

• CB - Will Johnson

• LB - Jihaad Campbell

• ED - Mike Green

• ED - Mykel Williams

• CB - Jahdae Barron

• ED - James Pearce Jr.

• CB - Shavon Revel Jr.

• CB - Trey Amos

• CB - Azareye’h Thomas

• ED - Princely Umanmieln

• WR - Jaylin Noel

• CB - Jacob Parrish

• LB - Jeffrey Bassa

• DT - Omarr Norman-Lot

With a 65% chance the Bucs trade up and a 33.3% chance they slide back down the board, the chartin’ of this course be far from certain. But whichever direction we go, we’re lookin’ to haul aboard lads who can steady the ship and fire the cannons with vengeance.

STEADY AT THE HELM

The Buccaneers’ wheel remains in the calloused hands o’ Cap’n Baker Mayfield, who be returnin’ to command the ship once more. With trusted lieutenants Evans and Godwin still manning the rigging, and Antoine Winfield Jr. guardin’ the treasure like a sea dragon, the core of our vessel remains strong.

But fresh blood be needed. New steel for the trenches. Faster cutlasses in the secondary. We can’t be caught sleepin’ in the crow’s nest this year — not with the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers mendin’ their own sails and readin’ the same maps.

PLANKGATING BE UNDERWAY!

As the draft storm brews, the shores of Raymond James be already alive with Plankgaters — loyal Krewe fans pilferin’ supplies, paintin’ their faces, and chantin’ for new Buccaneers to man the decks. The cannon smoke will rise again, the sails will be unfurled, and come September, the Jolly Roger will fly high once more.

We wait now, quiet on the dock, but ready. Ready for our Cap’n to pick his next mates. Ready for another voyage. Ready to set sail on a season that may lead — Gods willin’ — back to the harbor o' the Super Bowl for a 3rd Trophy to add to #BUCSMOBILE.

“RAISE YER TANKARDS, MATES. DRAFT DAY BE COMIN'”

Draft Strategy: Pickin’ With Purpose:

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#BUCSMOBILE

Media Contact: W.P. Rader

BuccaneersFan.com