The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into the 2026 offseason with a clear mission: rebuild a defense that fell flat this past season. Despite a modest boost in league-wide cap space, Tampa Bay won’t be swimming in free-agent dollars. But they will have just enough financial flexibility to make one significant move on defense-and there’s one name that makes a whole lot of sense.
Enter Devin Lloyd.
The Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker is expected to hit the open market in March, and he won’t be short on suitors. A Second Team All-Pro in 2025, Lloyd is arguably the top coverage linebacker available in free agency-a position the Bucs desperately need to address. If Tampa’s going to make a splash with just one marquee defensive signing, Lloyd is the type of player who can instantly raise the floor of this unit.
Let’s be real: the Bucs’ defense hasn’t looked like a Todd Bowles-led group in quite some time. Once considered one of the league’s sharpest defensive minds, Bowles hasn’t been able to get the most out of his personnel lately.
Whether it’s development or game-day execution, the defense has lacked identity and consistency. That’s where a player like Lloyd can make a difference-not just with his talent, but with his ability to stabilize the second level of the defense.
Lloyd’s resume speaks for itself. He picked off five passes last season-yes, five-from the linebacker position, which is no small feat in today’s game.
That kind of ball production is rare, and it’s exactly what Tampa Bay’s been missing. He also racked up 81 tackles for a Jaguars team that punched its ticket to the postseason under Liam Coen.
And this wasn’t a one-year wonder situation either. Lloyd has posted over 110 tackles in each of his first three NFL seasons and has defended at least seven passes in three of his four years in the league.
That’s high-level, consistent production from a linebacker who can cover, tackle, and create turnovers. Tampa Bay doesn’t just need help at linebacker-they need someone who can do all of that.
Lavonte David remains the heart and soul of the Bucs’ defense, and there's a good chance he’s back for another season. But even David, as reliable as he’s been, is starting to show signs of wear after a decade-plus of elite play.
Beyond him, the linebacker room thins out quickly. There’s no one else on the roster who’s shown they can be a full-time NFL starter, let alone a difference-maker.
That’s why Lloyd is such an intriguing fit. He wouldn’t just be a complementary piece-he’d be a cornerstone.
And while Tampa may not have the cap space to go after multiple high-profile defenders, targeting Lloyd as the guy at inside linebacker makes a ton of sense. Pair him with a strong draft class-particularly at edge-and suddenly the Bucs’ defense starts to look a lot more competitive.
The road back to defensive respectability starts with smart, targeted moves. For Tampa Bay, Devin Lloyd might be the smartest one they can make this offseason.