The Buccaneers are staring at a tricky 2026 season, and the quarterback situation hangs over everything. Baker Mayfield could be in what amounts to his last year in Tampa Bay because of his contract standoff with the team, and that puts the pressure squarely on him and the organization to produce the deep playoff run they’ve been chasing.
With the preseason nearly finished, roster cuts are coming fast. Tampa has to sort through a crowded mix of veterans, rookies, and depth pieces to get down to 53. Here’s one way that final group could take shape.
At quarterback, the Buccaneers would go lean and keep only Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning. That leaves Jalon Daniels on the practice squad, with the team planning to take advantage of the NFL’s Emergency Third-Quarterback Rule on game days without spending a roster spot on a third passer.
Running back is another spot where Tampa trims the numbers. Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and Sean Tucker make the cut, even though keeping four backs would not be a shock.
Irving is set to open his third season as the starter, and the big question is health after an injury-heavy year. Gainwell steps into the Rachaad White role, while Tucker stays in his familiar spot.
If the team needs more help, it can pull someone up from the practice squad or look at a veteran free agent.
Receiver is one of the deepest parts of this roster. Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, Ted Hurst III, and Kameron Johnson all make the list.
Godwin and Egbuka give Mayfield top-end targets, while McMillan and Johnson have already shown flashes. Hurst has impressed in camp and fits into that mix, and Johnson keeps his place as the return specialist.
Tight end becomes a numbers game, and the Buccaneers choose not to carry extra bodies there. Cade Otton, Payne Durham, and Ko Kieft are in, while Bauer Sharp and Devin Culp are left out. Both still have a path back through the practice squad, but Tampa prefers to preserve roster space elsewhere.
Up front, the offensive line stays intact without much drama. Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, Luke Godeke, Benjamin Chukwuma, Justin Skule, Dan Feeney, and Billy Schrauth all make the 53. The group has strong starters and useful depth, and if Tampa were to carry a 10th lineman, Ben Scott would be the likeliest choice.
The defensive interior looks deep as well, with Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, A'Shawn Robinson, Elijah Roberts, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and DeMonte Capehart all included. Vea’s new contract makes that group feel even more settled, and the Buccaneers have enough inside muscle to rotate heavily and keep teams from gashing them between the tackles.
Edge rusher is another area where Tampa is building real strength. Rueben Bain Jr., Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Anthony Nelson, David Walker, and Mohamed Kamara all make the roster.
Bain is the headline here, with the potential to alter the whole defense if he adjusts quickly to the NFL. Diaby, Muhammad, and Nelson give the team flexibility, and Tampa can move Bain or Muhammad inside if it wants to get creative.
The biggest surprise on the outside is Chris Braswell being left off.
At linebacker, Tampa puts its chips behind newcomers Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter, who are projected as the Week 1 starters. SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom round out the group as depth and special teams help. None of the other linebackers were seriously in the mix in this scenario.
The secondary is where the roster gets especially interesting. Tampa keeps six cornerbacks: Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Keionte Scott, Damarion Williams, and Ayden Garnes.
Morrison’s hamstring injury makes his status a real question mark, so the extra insurance makes sense. McCollum and Parrish are the starting pair, Scott brings position versatility, and Garnes gets the nod over Josh Hayes, whose special teams value is acknowledged but not enough to survive the numbers crunch.
Safety might be the most eye-catching part of the projection, because the Buccaneers keep five. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith are set as the starters, while Ifeatu Melifonwu, Miles Killebrew, and Rashad Wisdom all make the team.
Wisdom can back up at free safety, Killebrew fits at strong safety, and Melifonwu can handle both spots while helping on special teams. That decision also helps explain why J.J.
Roberts is left out, with his injury history and Scott’s arrival making the call easier.
On special teams, Tampa sticks with the familiar trio: Chase McLaughlin at kicker, Riley Dixon at punter, and Evan Deckers at long snapper. The Buccaneers may eventually want to upgrade Dixon, but that can wait until the offseason.
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Godwin brings the most proven track record, while Egbuka and McMillan are expected to have bigger roles as the Bucs reshape the passing game around them. Health and experience will matter as camp and the season unfold, and Hurst adds another layer of intrigue as a rookie trying to earn his place in the mix. The challenge is obvious enough, but so is the opportunity, because this could be the group that determines how smoothly Tampa Bay moves into life after Evans. [Read more 🡒]