The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter 2026 with the kind of pressure that can shape a franchise’s direction for years. After opening last season 6-3 and looking like a real Super Bowl contender, the Bucs unraveled, finished 8-9, and somehow watched a weak NFC South slip away without anyone in the division even posting a winning record.
That collapse raised the temperature around Todd Bowles, and it’s only going to get hotter if Tampa doesn’t take the South back in 2026. If the Bucs miss again, the questions about Bowles and whether he should be back in 2027 will get loud in a hurry.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan says the path back starts where it usually does: at quarterback. Baker Mayfield is going to have to manage the transition without Mike Evans, the greatest receiver in franchise history, and that’s no small task.
The good news for Mayfield is that Tampa still has plenty of pass-catching talent around him. Tez Johnson is coming off a surprising rookie year and trying to build on it.
Jalen McMillan is hoping for a full season to show more of what he can do. Chris Godwin remains in the mix, now entering Year 10 and serving as the elder statesman of the receiver room.
The Buccaneers also added Ted Hurst from Georgia State in the third round, but the biggest name in Sullivan’s best-case setup was Emeka Egbuka. Tampa’s 2025 first-round pick was already the team’s leading receiver as a rookie, finishing with 938 yards and six touchdowns on 63 catches while becoming a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
For the Bucs to hit their ceiling, Sullivan pointed to Egbuka “making a Year 2 leap for the ages.” What that looks like can be debated, but the basic idea is clear enough: if Egbuka takes another big step, Tampa’s offense has a much better chance to carry the load.
The same kind of boost is needed on defense, especially with Lavonte David retired after spending his entire 14-year career in Tampa Bay. The Bucs need a new identity on that side of the ball, and first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. is expected to help provide it.
Even if Bain delivers right away, the linebacker spot still needs a solution. Tampa tried to address that by taking Missouri’s Josiah Trotter in the second round, giving the defense two top draft picks who Sullivan believes could make an immediate impact.
Put it all together, and the formula is straightforward: Mayfield has to keep the offense moving without Evans, Egbuka has to level up, and the young defensive additions have to hit fast. If that happens, Sullivan sees Tampa Bay back on top of the NFC South and back in the playoffs.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Have One 2026 Uniform Decision Fans Wont Ignore
The Buccaneers already have three uniform looks lined up for 2026, giving fans the familiar home and road set along with the orange creamsicle alternate that always draws attention when it comes back into the rotation. Under the NFLs new rule allowing four uniforms per team, the missing piece has become the one that naturally invites speculation, especially for a franchise with one of the leagues more recognizable color identities.
One logical candidate is the pewter alternate set from 2020, which would give Tampa Bay a more modern fourth option without leaning on a look that was tied to a special one-year celebration. The white 76 throwbacks were part of the 2025 50th anniversary season, and the team had already made clear they were not intended to carry over, so the question now is which direction the Buccaneers choose when they finally round out the closet for next season. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Bigger Question About Al-Quadin Muhammad
Al-Quadin Muhammads spring attendance raised an eyebrow in Tampa Bay, but when mandatory minicamp arrived, the edge rusher showed up in excellent shape and quickly eased some of the early concern. The Buccaneers had been waiting to get a clearer read on where he stands physically, and his arrival gave them a better sense that he is ready to factor into the defensive front.
Muhammad said he followed the same offseason training plan he used a year ago, the one he believes helped set up one of his most productive seasons. That matters for a Tampa Bay defense looking for reliable depth and a player who can compete for a meaningful role, and the next step is seeing how that preparation translates once the pads come on and the roster battles sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Is Closing In On A Massive Bucs Milestone
Baker Mayfield has already carved out a notable place in Buccaneers history, and the next step in that climb is starting to feel real. He sits third on Tampa Bays all-time passing touchdown list with 95, trailing only Jameis Winston and Tom Brady, and his steady production has been one of the defining constants of his three seasons with the team.
Mayfield has thrown at least 26 touchdown passes in each year in Tampa Bay, which puts him on a path to keep moving through the franchise record book if he stays healthy. Beyond touchdowns, he is also chasing other team marks in wins and passing yards, all while trying to help the Buccaneers turn individual milestones into the kind of season that ends with a Super Bowl run. [Read more 🡒]