The Buccaneers have worked their way into a spot where the trade deadline suddenly matters a whole lot more.
Two weeks ago, the idea of Tampa Bay buying at the deadline would have sounded far-fetched. Now, after two straight wins over NFC South opponents, the Bucs are sitting just a half-game out of first place and their playoff odds have surged. With the deadline set for next Tuesday, they’ve become one of the league’s most intriguing teams.
That leaves the organization with a real decision: push in and try to strengthen a roster that has put itself back in the division race, or take a longer view and move veterans for draft capital. Sunday night’s road game against the 6-2 Chicago Bears could play a major role in which direction the team chooses.
Still, the expectation here is that general manager Jason Licht will lean toward buying. If Tampa Bay wins the division, it gets at least one home playoff game regardless of record, and the roster is good enough to make noise once it gets there.
If the Bucs do decide to go for it, these are the five names that make the most sense.
Trey McBride is the dream swing. The Arizona Cardinals tight end is the reigning First-Team All-Pro, he leads the NFL with 66 catches, and he would instantly solve a major need for Tampa Bay at the position.
McBride has put together 237 receptions, 2,385 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he’s already off to another strong start with 66-544-5 this year. He would cost plenty in both draft picks and salary, but he also has the kind of impact that could change the offense right away and for years to come.
If McBride proves too expensive, Dallas Goedert is the next-best fallback. The Eagles have dropped six in a row and look like a team in transition, which could put them in seller mode. Goedert has long been one of the league’s top tight ends, and he’d give Tampa Bay another real weapon in the passing game.
Khalil Mack is another name that fits the Bucs’ needs. The 35-year-old edge rusher is still producing at a high level, even while stuck on an 0-7 Chargers team that should be one of the busiest sellers at the deadline.
Tampa Bay’s pass rush has been inconsistent all season, with only six sacks through the first five games before back-to-back outings with five sacks each, followed by a shutout against Atlanta last week. With YaYa Diaby, the team’s sack leader in 2025, expected to miss a few weeks because of a knee injury, Mack would help stabilize a group that needs more pressure if the Bucs are going to keep winning.
Roy Lopez would be a different kind of addition, but a useful one. The Cardinals defensive tackle could deepen an already strong run defense, and a rotation of Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, A’Shawn Robinson, and Lopez would be a nightmare to deal with. It would also give Todd Bowles more flexibility and keep everyone fresher deep into the season and into the playoffs, while adding insurance if injuries hit.
Nahshon Wright rounds out the list as a depth move with upside. The Jets signed him after his five-interception, Pro Bowl 2025 season with the Bears, but he has not played a defensive snap for New York this year.
He has been active in only three games and has worked exclusively on special teams. Tampa Bay’s starting corners, Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish, have been excellent, but the depth behind them is thin.
Benjamin Morrison has obvious talent but has battled injuries in his first two seasons, while rookie fourth-rounder Keionte Scott has been used inside and undrafted Ayden Garnes has seen only one defensive snap and 11 on special teams.
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Calijah Kancey Just Reminded Bucs Fans What This Defense Needs
Calijah Kancey gave the Buccaneers another reminder of why his presence matters in the middle of the defense, even when the box score does not tell the whole story. Against Atlanta, he was part of a front that helped Tampa Bay stay organized at the point of attack, with Kancey chipping in three solo tackles and one assist while doing the dirty work that often gets overlooked on a stat sheet.
What stood out was the way he helped the Bucs hold their shape against the run, taking on blockers and helping close off lanes before they could develop. Tampa Bay has plenty of reasons to value disruptive plays from its front, but Kanceys value goes beyond splash moments, and games like this are a good example of why the defense looks different when he is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Rookie Ted Hurst Is Running Out Of Time To Earn Trust
Ted Hurst arrived in Tampa Bay with the kind of rookie buzz that usually comes from a strong college rsum and a promising camp, but the regular season has been a tougher proving ground. Through eight games, the Buccaneers wide receiver has flashed just enough to keep the conversation going, yet his production has been modest as he tries to carve out a bigger role in an offense that has leaned heavily on the run and sputtered at times through the air.
For a player whose calling card was supposed to be reliability on the boundary and the ability to finish contested throws, the margin for error is getting thinner. The Bucs still need answers in the passing game, and Hurst still has time to make himself part of them, but he is also running out of opportunities to show that his college promise can translate when the games count the most. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Vita Vea Decision That Could Shift Fast
The Buccaneers are in a familiar spot for this time of year, still hanging around the playoff race and not acting like a team ready to strip things down at the trade deadline. Even so, defensive tackle Vita Vea has emerged as a name worth watching, with ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reporting that New York is keeping tabs on him while Tampa Bay weighs its own path forward.
Veas recent extension makes any move feel unlikely, and the Buccaneers are not planning to deal him right now. But his recent dip in performance has added a layer of intrigue to a decision that could move quickly if the next stretch of games changes the teams outlook, leaving Tampa Bay to balance present contention against the kind of long-term roster call that can reshape a defense. [Read more 🡒]