The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are two weeks into the 2026 NFL regular season, and the mood has already gone sour in a hurry. Baker Mayfield’s three fumbles in the Bucs’ 33-27 Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals set the tone, and the 23-19 home loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns only deepened the frustration. For a team that already suffered a historic collapse to end the 2025 season, blowing what looked like a guaranteed playoff spot, the early questions around Mayfield have come fast.
That has led some Buccaneers fans to look ahead to the draft and start daydreaming about the next quarterback. Names like Arch Manning and Dante Moore have already surfaced in that conversation, and Jason Licht and the Glazers only made the speculation louder when they agreed to open the pocket books just weeks before the season, after it seemed like the deadline to extend Mayfield had passed.
But walking away from Mayfield after two games would be a mistake. It is too early to treat him like a lost cause, and even if the Bucs were inclined to chase a quarterback prospect, that path comes with real danger. Rebuilding around a flawed young passer such as Manning could set the franchise back for years.
There is also the simple reality that a player like Manning may not even be within Tampa Bay’s reach. Even if Mayfield is not the franchise answer, he may still be good enough to keep the Buccaneers out of range for the kind of top draft position needed to land one of those premium quarterback prospects.
And the bigger point is psychological: the Bucs just saw how quickly a season can unravel, but that same swing can work the other way too. Mayfield was playing like an MVP candidate through the first six weeks of the 2025 campaign, and nothing about the first two games of this season means that version of him is gone for good.
A lot of the blame around Tampa Bay has landed on Todd Bowles, and not without reason in the eyes of many fans. He is viewed as a coach who somehow managed to produce a losing season with Tom Brady, something that had never happened in Brady’s career before. If Bowles can drag things down that far, it is easier to understand why Mayfield has looked out of sync.
For now, though, Mayfield is under contract and not going anywhere. The decision point was before the deal got done. At this stage, the Buccaneers’ best move is to back their quarterback and stop treating two weeks like a final verdict.
In Other News...
Bucs Usage After That Loss Raises One Big Offensive Concern
The snap counts from Tampa Bays loss to Cleveland offered a revealing look at how the Buccaneers tried to piece together their offense, and it started with the passing game. Jalen McMillan saw a limited workload, while Ted Hurst III was asked to carry more of the load and ended up with a costly drop that stood out in a game where the Bucs never quite found the right rhythm.
Bucky Irving again looked like the most important piece of the offense, out-snapping Kenny Gainwell and handling the bulk of the backfield work. On the other side of the ball, David Walker made the most of limited opportunities with his first career sack, but the bigger takeaway for Tampa Bay was how uneven the offensive usage looked in a loss that raised questions about where the production is supposed to come from next. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Fans Already Feel The Void Lavonte David Left
Through two games, Alex Anzalone has held the Buccaneers starting linebacker role and worn the helmet that comes with calling the defense, but the early returns have been rough. His work in coverage and as a tackler has left Tampa Bay without much stability in the middle, and the roster doesnt offer an obvious immediate upgrade as the team tries to settle that spot.
The bigger issue is the shadow left by Lavonte David, whose retirement this offseason ended a 14-year run in Tampa Bay and removed a player who had long been both a leader and a tone-setter. Rookie Josiah Trotter has already made more tackles than Anzalone, which only sharpens the contrast as the Buccaneers look for someone to replace not just the production, but the presence David brought to the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Draw A Much Tougher Vikings QB Test Than Expected
A week after the matchup started looking like it might come with a different quarterback story, the Buccaneers now have a clearer picture of what awaits in Week 3. Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell confirmed that Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol and will start against Tampa Bay, with Carson Wentz staying in the backup role. It gives the Bucs a far different challenge than they were preparing for, especially with Minnesota still carrying the edge in the betting line.
For Tampa Bay, the bigger wrinkle is not just the name under center, but the uncertainty hanging over what comes next. Murrays return gives Minnesota a more dynamic look right away, while the possibility that his status beyond this week is still unsettled only adds another layer to the matchup. However the Vikings handle their quarterback situation after Sunday, the Buccaneers are getting a sturdier test than they may have expected when the week began. [Read more 🡒]