The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into the 2026 season with a clear mandate: whatever happened in 2025 can’t happen again.
After a promising 5-1 start, the wheels came off. Injuries certainly played a part, but even when the roster was relatively healthy, the Bucs just didn’t look like the same team that had folks talking playoffs early in the year. The offense showed flashes, but the defense couldn’t consistently hold up its end of the bargain - especially when it came to rushing the passer.
That’s where the conversation starts this offseason. Tampa Bay needs more juice off the edge.
The pass rush, or lack thereof, was a glaring issue down the stretch. And now, with the offseason underway, the Bucs have to figure out how to fix it.
Former Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden has an idea - and it’s a bold one. Speaking on local radio, Gruden floated the notion of the Bucs making a major splash by targeting Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
“I think the Buccaneers need to take a page out of the Green Bay Packers - they went out and got [Micah] Parsons,” Gruden said. “Perhaps Jason Licht can swing a deal to get a great rusher.
I'm sure he's looking at the guys that are available in this draft, as well. That's an area that the Buccaneers, I think we all realize they've got to improve upon.”
Now, let’s be clear: Maxx Crosby isn’t just any edge rusher. He’s one of the most relentless, high-motor defensive players in the game - a true tone-setter who brings it every snap.
Adding someone like Crosby would be a game-changer for Tampa Bay’s defense, not just in terms of production, but in identity. He’s the kind of player who can shift the mindset of an entire unit.
If the Bucs could somehow pull off a deal, it would immediately reshape the NFC South picture - and potentially the entire conference. A defense anchored by Crosby up front, paired with an offense that already has its pieces in place, could make Tampa Bay a serious contender again.
Of course, there's a massive hurdle here: the price tag. Crosby is set to earn a base salary of $30 million in 2026, and that’s before you even get to the draft picks it would likely take to pry him away from Las Vegas. The Raiders would have to be willing to part with their best player - and that’s not a decision any front office takes lightly.
But if you're the Buccaneers, you at least have to make the call. General manager Jason Licht has never been afraid to be aggressive when the moment calls for it. And with a roster that still has a solid core and a division that’s very much up for grabs, this could be one of those moments.
The Bucs don’t need to rebuild - they need to retool. And if they want to make a real push in 2026, finding a way to bring in a dominant edge rusher has to be at the top of the list. Whether that’s through the draft, free agency, or a blockbuster trade, the mission is the same: fix the pass rush, and the rest might just fall into place.