The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a strange finish to the 2025 season: a three-way tie at the top of the NFC South, only to lose the division to the Carolina Panthers. On paper, that sounds like a team that was right there. In reality, all three clubs ended up at 8-9, which doesn’t exactly scream division dominance.
Tampa Bay’s hope is that 2026 looks a lot different. The Buccaneers were dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball last season, and their April draft was supposed to help patch holes while adding more punch on defense. That’s why plenty of people around the team would expect a push back toward the top of the division.
USA Today isn’t buying it.
The outlet has the Buccaneers stuck at 8-9 again in 2026, and that projection comes with an even bigger twist: Tampa Bay is picked to finish behind the New Orleans Saints. In USA Today’s forecast, the Saints jump all the way to 10-7, while the Falcons and Panthers both land at 6-11.
That Saints prediction is the part that really jumps off the page. A year ago, New Orleans was sitting at the bottom of the division, and not much has changed there on the surface. The projection appears to hinge on Tyler Shough having a huge season, because that kind of four-game swing is tough to swallow without a major breakthrough somewhere.
The rest of the division still looks like a mess waiting to sort itself out. The Falcons have brought in Tua Tagovailoa, a quarterback with talent but also a reputation for fading late in the year. He’d be stepping into a team with a strong running game, but if Atlanta gets to the playoffs, that would count as a surprise.
Carolina, meanwhile, is trying to build on last year’s ugly path to the division title. The Panthers could be in the mix again if they stay healthy, and they added some help in the offseason, including former Eagles and Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.
So while USA Today sees a very different order in the NFC South, there’s still a strong case that Tampa Bay has as good a shot as anyone to take the division. If the Buccaneers can stay healthy, the roster is there for a playoff run. The pieces are in place for a playoff team.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Receiver Battle Suddenly Has One Name Fans Cant Ignore
With several players sidelined for injuries or personal reasons on the Buccaneers eighth day of training camp, the receiver competition kept drawing attention, and Dean Patterson kept making a case for himself. He has been one of the most noticeable standouts in camp, stacking together strong practices and giving the staff another name to track as the wideout group continues to sort itself out.
Pattersons production has come at a time when the battle behind the established options feels wide open, especially with younger receivers still working through the usual camp growing pains. Emeka Egbuka, for one, has shown the kind of areas that still need sharpening, particularly against press and man coverage, which only adds to the intrigue around how this room will look once the Buccaneers get deeper into preseason work. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Camp Standouts Are Starting To Change The Roster Conversation
A padded training camp practice brought a little extra energy to the Buccaneers day, with former players Tony Mayberry and Donnie Abraham on hand while a handful of current players made their own impressions. Wide receiver Dean Patterson IV continued to show up in the mix, while cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Josh Hayes were active throughout the session. Linebacker Christian Rozeboom also drew attention, giving the defense some steady moments during a practice that had the feel of a roster evaluation in real time.
David Walker may have left the strongest mark, though, with multiple sacks that turned heads and added to the conversation around the edge group. In camp, plays like that matter because they can quickly shift how coaches view depth, competition, and who is making a case for a larger role. With the roster still taking shape, performances from players like Walker and the rest of the standouts are exactly the kind of details that can move them from background names into a much bigger part of the discussion. [Read more 🡒]