The Buccaneers’ season has already reached the kind of crossroads that usually doesn’t show up until much later. At 1-4, Tampa Bay is still hanging around the NFC South race, but The Athletic’s read is clear: the long view says the Bucs ought to be sellers before the trade deadline.
That puts Tampa in an awkward spot. On one hand, the division is wide open enough that the Bucs are only 1.5 games out of first place, with the Carolina Panthers sitting on top at 2-2.
On the other, the broader picture is ugly. Tampa Bay has dropped 11 of its last 14 games dating back to last season, and its first five games this year have been a slog, with four straight one-score losses before the team finally broke through with a Week 5 upset of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Bucs’ current record matters because of where they play. In the NFC South, a modest finish can still be enough to get into the postseason.
Last year, eight wins won the division, and that number could be enough again. That reality keeps Tampa alive, even after the rough start.
Still, the long-term argument is pushing in the other direction. The Athletic’s view is that the smarter move is to collect draft capital rather than chase a shaky playoff spot.
The piece also points out the tension inside the building, where head coach Todd Bowles may need wins to keep his job. Bowles is in his fifth season, and the article describes his tenure as “turning stale.”
He has won more than nine games only once, and even a division title might not be enough if Tampa Bay gets bounced in the first round.
Here’s how The Athletic framed it:
"Rookie backup quarterback Jalon Daniels has started two straight games for the Bucs while filling in for Baker Mayfield. Daniels earned his NFL win Thursday night as the Bucs upset the Cowboys on the road.
It was also the Bucs’ first win of the season. At 1-4, Tampa Bay should be sellers.
At the same time, coach Todd Bowles likely needs to win some games to keep his job. Bowles is in his fifth season, and his tenure is turning stale.
Bowles’ defense played well against the Cowboys, but he has only won more than nine games one time. The Bucs missed the playoffs last year at 8-9.
There could be some conflicting motivations in Tampa. The prudent long-term move is to sell and accrue draft capital.
Bowles does not appear to have a long shelf life, though. The Bucs will be an interesting team to monitor in the coming weeks, especially once Mayfield returns from his dislocated thumb.
The Bucs signed Mayfield to an extension averaging $55 million per year in September."
The financial side makes the decision even messier. Tampa Bay gave Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea major extensions this offseason, and the article argues that doesn’t look like the kind of spending a team makes while planning for a reset. The message is simple: those deals were made with winning now in mind.
That’s why the Bucs may not act like sellers if they stay within reach of the division. The next three to four weeks loom large, because a run could push them right back into the postseason conversation. If that happens, Tampa Bay is expected to keep pushing for a playoff spot rather than move pieces for future assets.
If the Bucs can’t build on the win over Dallas, though, the calculus could change fast. One name mentioned as a possible move is YaYa Diaby, who is set to be a free agency after the season.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfield's Thumb Suddenly Looms Over A Crucial Bucs Stretch
Baker Mayfields thumb has quickly become the hinge point of the Buccaneers next stretch, with Tampa Bay waiting to see how his recovery progresses after the injury sidelined him. The quarterback is due to test whether he can grip and throw the football soon, a key checkpoint for a team trying to stabilize its offense and get the season pointed in the right direction.
For now, the Bucs are preparing to move ahead without him against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Jalon Daniels in line to start again. The more meaningful date may be Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, when Mayfield could be back in the mix if the thumb responds well, giving Tampa Bay a chance to regain the kind of production it has been missing in his absence. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Familiar Problem Against Aaron Rodgers In Week 6
The Buccaneers head into their matchup with the Steelers looking to steady a season that still feels very much in progress, and the chess match up front could shape the afternoon as much as anything else. Tampa Bay has gotten encouraging signs on the ground from Bucky Irving, while Pittsburgh has leaned on a versatile offense built around Jaylin Warren, who has become the Steelers most productive weapon out of the backfield.
For Tampa Bay, the bigger concern is whether its defense can create enough disruption to make life uncomfortable for Aaron Rodgers. The Buccaneers have struggled to finish plays with their pass rush, and that is exactly the kind of issue Rodgers tends to expose. If the Bucs are going to leave with a result that helps their record, they will likely need more than just solid offense and a clean game script. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bain Jr. Is Giving The Bucs A Needed Defensive Hope
Rueben Bain Jr.s rookie season with the Buccaneers has been more about patience than splash plays so far, which is not what anyone envisioned when Tampa Bay added him to help the edge rush. The outside linebacker has been slowed by injuries, but the broader need is obvious: the Bucs have a strong secondary and are still looking for a pass rush that can make life easier on the back end and give the defense a more complete feel.
There are signs the picture may be turning. Larry Foote has liked what he has seen from Bain lately, and the rookie appears to be moving better after working through the shoulder and groin issues that interrupted his early progress. Tampa Bay can live with a developmental arc if the payoff comes later, but getting more from Bain would be especially important with the rest of the defense trying to build on that complementary structure. [Read more 🡒]