ESPN predicts Bucs’ first-round pick in early 2027 NFL mock draft

The 2026 college football season is just getting underway, but the early projections for the 2027 NFL Draft are already starting to take shape.

In his latest first-round mock draft for ESPN, Jordan Reid has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton with the No. 19 overall pick. The draft order was based on ESPN’s Football Power Index projections, so Tampa Bay’s position will obviously change as the season unfolds.

Cornerback as the selection is notable, given the Bucs have spent considerable resources trying to strengthen the secondary. Zyon McCollum returns after an injury-filled 2025 season, while Benjamin Morrison enters his second year after Tampa Bay selected him in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Reid views Hampton as a potential answer if the Bucs eventually need another option on the outside.

At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Hampton brings the size Tampa Bay has traditionally valued at cornerback. His physical style and ability to operate in man coverage could also make him an intriguing fit in Todd Bowles’ defense.

There is still plenty of time to learn about Hampton. The upcoming season will play a significant role in determining whether he ultimately belongs in the first-round conversation, and Tampa Bay has an entire NFL season to determine whether cornerback is actually one of its biggest needs.

Still, this is now another early 2027 mock connecting the Bucs with a cornerback at No. 19. NFL Trade Rumors recently projected Syracuse’s Chris Peal to Tampa Bay at the same spot, making the position an interesting one to track throughout the fall.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: ESPN predicts Bucs’ first-round pick in early 2027 NFL mock draft

Source link