TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off their 2023 NFL draft by selecting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey with the No. 19 selection of the first round on Thursday night in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

The Bucs opened draft night with nine of the draft’s 259 picks, and ended up with eight after trading their seventh-round pick to the Buffalo Bills.

Here's a pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Buccaneers’ selections:

Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart

Round 1, No. 19 overall: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

My take: The Bucs have now selected a defensive tackle with their first pick in two consecutive years, and three times since 2018, with Logan Hall at No. 33 in 2022 and Vita Vea at No. 12 in 2018. The Bucs didn't re-sign Akiem Hicks in free agency, so this was a need, but one could argue replacing left tackle Donovan Smith was more pressing. They passed on taking Oklahoma's Anton Harrison (he went to Jacksonville at No. 27). Harrison was arguably the last of the top-tier offensive tackles in this draft.

Key stat: It's hard to overlook Kancey's production, with 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in two years at Pitt, and he posted a 4.67 40-yard dash -- the fastest by a defensive lineman at the NFL combine since 2006 (Aaron Donald ran a 4.68 in 2014) -- and 33.5 inch vertical.

What we're hearing about him: "He's a super disruptive interior player. He can actually play outside a little bit too. Our coaches are excited about all the different things you can do with a player like this just because of his elite athleticism, quickness, he's super intelligent, just a great competitor. He's from the same area of Miami, same high school as [Bucs inside linebacker and team captain] Lavonte [David], very similar personality in ways that they lead. An intense, fiery competitor," Bucs general manager Jason Licht said.

Round 2, No. 48 overall: Cody Mauch, OT, NDSU

My take: Although the Bucs have a vacancy at the left tackle position after the release of longtime starter Donovan Smith, Licht said that right now, they see Mauch as a guard -- where he lined up at Senior Bowl practices. He appeared in every game from 2019 to 2022, making him very durable, and he started 39 consecutive games over his final three seasons with the Bison (two at right tackle and 37 at left tackle). Mauch's movement and lateral ability -- he's a converted tight end and a former defensive end -- are also a plus for new offensive coordinator Dave Canales' wide zone scheme.

Will he start as a rookie? To be determined, as the Bucs will have an open competition at both right and left guard featuring Matt Feiler, Robert Hainsey, Nick Leverett, Aaron Stinnie and John Molchon. Licht did reveal Luke Goedeke, who was a converted right tackle out of college before struggling as a rookie at left guard last season, is the front runner for the starting right tackle role, with Tristan Wirfs moving to the left side. But before Licht went too far into what the O-line will look like next year, he stated: "It’s kind of a work in progress. I’m certainly not gonna set the depth chart here.”

Round 3, No. 82 overall: YaYa Diaby, DE, Louisville

My take: With Pro Bowl outside linebacker Shaq Barrett coming off a torn Achilles tendon and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's lack of sack production (four over the last two seasons), the Bucs needed help at edge rusher and were able to grab one in the third round in a relatively deep class at the position. His nine sacks last season were second-most in the ACC. He had just 1.5 sacks in 2021 though, so a big question is if he can replicate this level of production and do it at the next level. Bucs general manager Jason Licht believes he's a bit of a late bloomer and said, "His best football's in front of him, and that's what excites us about him."

Key stat: Diaby ran a 4.51 40-yard dash time at 6-foot-3 and 263 pounds, and his average time to first pressure was 2.7 seconds, which ranked fifth in the ACC. "He's got speed to power, which is hard to find," Licht said. "I've found that over the years, the guys that don't make it don't have an element of power. You can be fast as hell off the edge, but if you don't have any power combined with it, you get figured out by NFL tackles. So he's got speed, and he's got power and he's got great effort."

What’s next: After addressing defensive line, offensive line and outside linebacker, the Bucs still need a nickelback after the departure of Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency. They also are thin at offensive tackle compared to their interior.

Round 5, No. 153 overall: SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh

My take:Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin White has requested a trade, and while the Bucs say they have no intention of trading him, 33-year-old Lavonte David is only under contract for one more season. So inside linebacker depth is a need, and given coach Todd Bowles' propensity to blitz from that position, a blitzer like Dennis fits. His 7.0 sacks last year were the most in the ACC by any inside linebacker -- with only a half sack logged when lined up off the edge -- and tied for the most in the FBS by an inside linebacker, according to ESPN Statistics & Information.

Round 5, No. 171 overall (compensatory pick): Payne Durham, TE, Purdue

My take: The Bucs did draft two tight ends last year in Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, but with Cam Brate's release and not re-signing Kyle Rudolph, more help was needed. Like Otton, Durham can line up as an in-line blocker and in the slot. New offensive coordinator Dave Canales' system featured some of the highest two-tight end usage in the league, so this pick makes a lot of sense, and he could be a viable red-zone contributor. His eight touchdowns last season were tied for second-most in the FBS among tight ends. His 21 career receiving touchdowns were also the second-most in Boilermakers history.

Round 6, No. 181 overall (from Indianapolis): Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas State

My take: The Bucs were thin at cornerback after the departure of Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency and not re-signing Logan Ryan. The same goes for safety, after losing Mike Edwards and Keanu Neal. Hayes allowed a 52.9% completion percentage and five touchdowns as the primary defender last year for the Wildcats. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash and has experience playing both cornerback and safety -- so he has the makings of a nickelback for Todd Bowles' defense -- but his ability to serve as an impactful special teams player will help him the most at the next level.

Round 6, No. 192 overall (from Green Bay/LA Rams/Houston/Philadelphia), Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

My take: The Bucs offense was sorely lacking in big plays and speed last season, but Palmer brings it as a true deep threat. He runs a 4.33 40-yard dash and averaged 38.7 yards per reception last season on post and vertical routes. His 237 yards versus Purdue last year were the fifth-most receiving yards in a game in the FBS last year. The Bucs could use him in a number of places. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, he's big enough to line up on the outside. But he had eight receiving touchdowns coming out of the slot in 2022 as well, tied for the most in the Big Ten, while his 53 completions out of the slot last season were third-most.

Round 6, No. 196 overall: Jose Ramirez, OLB, Eastern Michigan

My take: Ramirez registered 12 sacks last season -- second-most in FBS behind only USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu (13.5). His 18.5 tackles for loss in 2022 were ninth-most in FBS. He was also the only FBS player to record multiple games with three sacks. The Bucs could use more production off the edge, as Anthony Nelson led the team's outside linebackers with 5.5 sacks last season.