After a promising start to the 2025 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ campaign unraveled in dramatic fashion. What began with whispers of playoff potential ended in a full-blown collapse, revealing a roster that simply wasn’t built to contend over the long haul. Now, with the offseason underway, the Bucs find themselves staring at a critical crossroads - one that demands smart, aggressive moves if they want to rejoin the NFL’s upper tier.
The front office has made its first big decision: sticking with head coach Todd Bowles for another year. That’s a bold move, considering how strained the relationship seemed between Bowles and both the fan base and parts of the locker room by season’s end. But if the organization is going to double down on Bowles, they’ll need to give him the tools to succeed - starting with a serious overhaul of the defense, and more specifically, the pass rush.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Tampa’s pass rush was one of the league’s weakest units in 2025. It lacked bite, consistency, and - most importantly - a true game-changer off the edge.
In today’s NFL, where elite quarterbacks and high-octane offenses dominate, a defense without a disruptive pass rusher is playing from behind before the ball is even snapped. The Bucs didn’t just need help in that area - they were desperate for it.
The cap situation doesn’t make things easy. With around $15 million in available space, Tampa Bay has enough room to make one major splash in free agency - but only one.
That means the front office has to be surgical in its approach. Every dollar counts, and every move has to bring impact.
One name that could be on the Bucs’ radar is Jacksonville’s All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd, should he hit the open market. Lloyd is a coverage linebacker with rare versatility, and he’d instantly upgrade the middle of Tampa’s defense. But as tempting as that may be, the reality is clear: the Bucs need a pass rusher more than anything else.
And that’s where things get tricky. The pass rusher market is always expensive, always competitive, and often filled with more risk than reward. But if Tampa wants to give Bowles a real shot at turning things around, they’ll need to invest heavily in someone who can take over games from the edge - someone who can do what YaYa Diaby, as solid as he’s been, simply hasn’t shown he can do yet.
Diaby has flashed potential, no doubt. He’s a high-motor player with upside.
But right now, he’s not a No. 1 pass rusher. He’s a complementary piece.
The Bucs need a tone-setter - a player who forces offensive coordinators to game plan around him.
This year’s free agent class offers some intriguing options. Trey Hendrickson brings relentless energy and proven production.
Khalil Mack, though older, still has the ability to wreck a game. Jaelan Phillips, if healthy, offers elite athleticism and upside.
Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson haven’t fully broken out yet, but both have the tools to thrive in the right system.
Any of those names would represent a significant upgrade - and potentially the kind of anchor Tampa’s defense has been missing since its Super Bowl run. The Bucs don’t need to hit on a dozen moves this offseason. They need to hit on one big one - and that one has to be a pass rusher.
If Tampa can land a true difference-maker off the edge, it changes everything. It takes pressure off the secondary, opens up opportunities for blitz packages, and gives Bowles - a defensive-minded coach - a legitimate weapon to build around.
The margin for error is small, and the stakes are high. But if the Bucs want to get back to playing meaningful football in January, it starts with fixing the pass rush.
One move. One player.
One chance to change the trajectory of the franchise.