Baker Mayfield didn’t waste much time making Friday’s practice feel different.
After his headline-grabbing Thursday press conference, Mayfield came back to the field and looked sharp on Day 3 of Bucs training camp, throwing with extra zip and staying in control. He was efficient, kept the ball moving, and didn’t force much.
When his first read wasn’t there, he leaned on the checkdown, with Kenny Gainwell serving as the main outlet. Then came the throw everyone remembered: a deep shot that Emeka Egbuka tracked down for a touchdown.
Egbuka was one of the morning’s biggest winners, and not just because of that play. The 2025 first-round pick added a couple more catches and continues to stack strong days in camp. With the question of who would benefit from a larger workload hanging over the offense, he’s making a clear case that he can handle it.
The ground game also had its best day so far, and Bucky Irving was the one driving it. He got the most carries Friday morning while Gainwell worked more as a receiver, and Irving’s top moment came out of the pony package.
On a delayed handoff, he hit the crease, accelerated through the middle, and broke into space for what would have been a game-changing run. The “Bucky, Bucky, Bucky” chants only added to the moment.
On defense, the door opened for some of the younger linemen with Vita Vea out and A’Shawn Robinson also sitting as Todd Bowles described it as a rest day. Elijah Roberts took advantage immediately, opening 11-on-11 work with a sack on the first play. No other defensive tackle really made a similar splash, but Roberts at least gave himself something real to build on before the pads come on and the intensity rises.
One of the more encouraging developments came from undrafted corner Ayden Garnes. With Benjamin Morrison back in practice but limited to individual work and not taking part in 11-on-11s, Garnes got a bigger chance to show what he can do.
He was involved in the Egbuka touchdown sequence along with Tykee Smith, but he also held up well in other snaps against tougher competition. Bowles made sure to note it after practice.
“Very good coverage skills,” Bowles said. “Very good cover guy.
For a corner that small, he’s got great feet and very good instincts. Want to see him in pads, as well.”
Garnes had already been a name to watch, and Friday only strengthened that.
Not everyone helped their case.
Devin Culp is trying to avoid being the odd man out in a tight end group that already has Cade Otton, Payne Durham, and Bauer Sharp getting more opportunities. Even Ko Kieft got on the stat sheet Friday.
Culp had a chance to answer when the ball came his way, but he dropped a catchable pass. With the room as crowded as it is, he needs every rep to count from here.
Josh Hayes had another rough day as he tries to fight for one of the final cornerback spots. Unless special teams is his path, his defensive role looks hard to carve out right now. He kept getting exposed in coverage, and the low point came when Tez Johnson beat him early, caught the ball, and made a move to create more separation downfield.
Demarion Williams also struggled to leave a positive mark despite getting work with the first, second, and third-team defenses. He lost track of Jalen McMillan on a route that ended with a deep Baker Mayfield throw down the left sideline. It’s still early, but at 28 years old, Williams may be running out of time to justify those practice reps when younger corners are waiting for theirs.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Already Be Eyeing Life After Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfields contract situation has already pushed the Buccaneers into an uncomfortable question about what comes next at quarterback. Even with Mayfield still in place for now, the team is in a spot where it has to keep one eye on the future, especially if his time in Tampa Bay does not extend beyond 2027.
That is where the 2027 NFL Draft starts to loom as a possible pivot point. Tampa Bay is being connected to a handful of college passers who could shape that conversation, including Drew Mestemaker, Darian Mensah, Jayden Maiava, LaNorris Sellers and Julian Sayin, a group that gives the Buccaneers options if they decide the eventual answer under center might not already be on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
National Take On Todd Bowles Echoes What Bucs Fans Fear Most
Bill Simmons took a hard line on Todd Bowles this week, saying he does not have much confidence in the Buccaneers coach and suggesting Bowles should be among the first names considered if teams start making changes. Even so, Simmons still picked Tampa Bay to win the NFC South, pointing to the talent on the roster and the general softness of the division as reasons the Bucs can still come out on top.
For Tampa Bay fans, that split view probably feels familiar. The roster has enough quality to keep the team in the conversation, but Bowles remains under a harsh spotlight after last season, and the doubts around his performance are not going away just because the division looks manageable. The Bucs may have the pieces to hang around, but the bigger question is whether the coaching can match them when it matters. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Made One Draft Choice That Will Fuel Debate For Years
The Buccaneers latest behind-the-scenes draft video added a little more context to one of the most debated decisions of their 2026 class. During the war room footage, Tampa Bay showed it had a chance to move back from No. 15 in a deal with the Lions, a reminder that the front office was weighing not just a player, but the value of staying put versus stacking more picks.
In the end, the Bucs passed on the extra draft capital and stayed at 15 to take Rueben Bain Jr., a choice that makes sense when viewed through how highly they had him graded. The video only deepens the debate because it confirms Tampa Bay had real options on the table, and it also shows the franchise was willing to trust its board and chase a player it clearly believed was worth more than the trade-down package. [Read more 🡒]