If the Bucs stumble badly over the next two weeks, the Nov. 10 trade deadline could force Jason Licht into territory he almost never visits: selling.
That’s not been his style. Tampa Bay’s general manager has usually stood pat, whether the move was meant to help a playoff push or clear the deck for later.
His trade history is thin - safety Mark Barron to the Rams in 2014, cornerback Johnthan Banks to the Lions in 2016 and cornerback Carlton Davis to Detroit before the 2024 season. On the other side of the ledger, the Bucs have only occasionally brought in help by trade, including defensive lineman Steve McLendon from the Jets in 2020 and edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul from the Giants in March 2018.
But if Tampa Bay doesn’t win at least one of its next two games - Sunday against the Falcons and Nov. 8 at the Bears - the idea of a fire sale stops sounding far-fetched. Sentiment runs deep at One Buc Place, but if the season keeps sliding, no one should be treated as untouchable.
A few names would make sense for rival teams to call about, starting with nose tackle Vita Vea. In August, Vea had $6 million added to his $18 million base earnings for 2026, pushing his 2026 total cash to $24 million, with another $24 million attached for 2027.
Before that agreement, the 31-year-old requested a trade and held in during training camp. He also just logged his first sack of the season last week against the Panthers.
Todd Bowles has said Vea is the only player he can’t replace in his defense, but the Bucs are not likely to sign him to another deal after 2027 anyway.
Chris Godwin belongs on the list too. He’s in the final year of a contract that pays him $22 million, and his role has faded for long stretches, in part because the Bucs played rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels for three games.
Through seven games, Godwin has 27 catches on 34 targets for 243 yards and no touchdowns. Even with Mike Evans in San Francisco and Emeka Egbuka missing his second straight game Sunday because of a foot injury, Godwin has been a forgotten piece of the offense.
A contender such as Buffalo could make sense if Tampa Bay decides to move him.
The backfield also has a name to watch in Kenneth Gainwell. The Bucs finally got him going last week at Carolina, when he ran for a season-high 88 yards on 14 carries and broke loose for a 29-yard gain.
Before that, he had never had more than five rushing attempts in a game this year. Tampa Bay gave him a two-year, $14 million contract, so the expectation was always that he’d be used more.
But Bucky Irving has been one of the league’s top backs, and Sean Tucker’s 46-yard touchdown run last week only reinforced how crowded the position is. The Giants and Chiefs could be looking for help there.
Then there’s edge rusher YaYa Diaby. He had gone without a sack until last week, when he suddenly exploded for three.
Still, he’s in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Bucs’ future on the edge appears to be built around rookie first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr., who got his first sack two weeks ago but has been limited by injury. David Walker, who leads the team with four sacks as a part-time player, is also part of that picture.
Tampa Bay has depth at the spot, which makes Diaby a possible trade chip.
Finally, there’s linebacker SirVocea Dennis Robinson, who may have been the MVP of the defense so far this season. His play has been sharp, and his leadership has mattered during the slow start.
He leads the Bucs with two interceptions and has been as disruptive as any defensive lineman. But he signed only a one-year, $10 million deal, which means he’d be set for free agency in March.
The Bucs do have younger players who could absorb his snaps if they decided to move him.
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