Thursday, September 17, 2026Vol. XII · No. 214

Sports

Bucs Rejected Offer From Lions to Trade Down in First Round

Jason Licht prioritized landing elite pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. over extra draft capital, passing on Detroit’s draft night trade offer to secure his top target instead.

Bucs Rejected Offer From Lions to Trade Down in First Round
Wire / Centuries Mutual

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the NFL's most exciting crops of rookies this season. The Bucs' draft class is full of players who won't only be expected to help in the future, but who are expected to earn major roles this season. Fourth-round pick Keionte Scott is expected to be the team's new slot corner, with Jacob Parrish moving outside to accommodate him, despite his own success inside as a rookie last year. Linebacker Josiah Trotter, taken in Round 2, has been getting reps with the starters during training camp. Wide receiver Ted Hurst, Tampa's third-rounder, has looked good so far and is looking to be another key weapon for the offense. According to Josh Queipo of PewterReport, the Bucs could have added two more picks to add quality talent, but turned down an offer from the Detroit Lions to trade back in the first round. New video footage released by the c…

Would they have taken Bain? The Jets had already taken edge rusher David Bailey second overall, so it may be a stretch that they also would have drafted Bain. However, the temptation of drafting the draft's two best pass rushers would be very difficult to resist. Even if the Jets wouldn't have selected Bain, it is always possible another team could have traded with New York to jump in front of the Bucs and snatch him away. We will never know whether Tampa could have still gotten Bain if they traded down, but we do know Licht wasn't going to take the risk. NFL teams almost always say they got the guy they wanted in the first round, no matter who they pick. Of course, that is not always true, despite what they say publicly.


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