The Buccaneers’ offensive group is drawing some real skepticism heading into 2026, and the biggest reason is easy to spot: the Mike Evans era uncertainty has changed the look of Tampa Bay’s playmakers. Bill Barnwell of ESPN put the Bucs’ collection of running backs, receivers and tight ends at No. 22 in the NFL, a steep fall from seventh last season.
That ranking reflects both the talent Tampa Bay still has and the questions hanging over it. The Bucs can point to a young core, some established veterans and a backfield that looks more dynamic with Kenneth Gainwell in the mix. But the concerns are obvious too, especially when it comes to health and how quickly the newer pieces can settle in.
Barnwell said Tampa is one of the hardest teams to judge entering 2026. He noted that losing Mike Evans without making a major replacement would naturally hurt the offense, even with Evans dealing with injuries for much of last season. He also pointed to third-round pick Ted Hurst III as a player with upside, but one who may need time before he can make a real impact after coming from Georgia State.
“The Bucs are one of the tougher teams around the league to evaluate heading into 2026. Obviously, losing Mike Evans without making a significant addition in response is going to drop Tampa Bay a bit, even if Evans was compromised for most of last season by injuries. I'm excited about third-round pick Ted Hurst III's upside given his high-end athleticism, but the Georgia State product might need a year to adjust to stiffer competition in the NFL before making a larger impact in 2027.
"What can we count on from the Bucs' new 'Big Three' in 2026? Emeka Egbuka was awesome to start the season, averaging 2.3 yards per route run through Week 10.
He was down to 1.3 afterward, below guys such as Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Hutchinson. Chris Godwin Jr. came back from his gruesome ankle injury, dealt with fibula issues after initially returning, and wasn't back for good until Week 12.
He had solid games against the Cardinals and Dolphins, but at 30 and with multiple serious injuries in his past, I'm not sure it's realistic to project a peak-caliber season from Godwin, even after Evans' departure.
"Bucky Irving was also sidelined for two months by foot and shoulder injuries, and across his two stretches of active play, he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. Irving turned only 6.4% of his designed rush attempts into 10-plus-yard gains, down from 13% as a rookie. The Bucs swapped out Rachaad White for Kenneth Gainwell, who was wildly productive for the Steelers in a situational role, and there's a chance that he is Tampa's best back."
Barnwell’s concern is straightforward: there are plenty of players on this offense who can be good, maybe even very good, but too many of them are carrying risk. Godwin has missed a big chunk of the last two seasons and is now being asked to help lead the offense after Evans’ departure. Irving, meanwhile, was limited by injuries and never looked quite like the same runner once he got back on the field.
His 3.4 yards per carry last season was a major drop from his rookie year in 2024, when he was much more explosive. That leaves Tampa Bay waiting to find out which version of Irving shows up in 2026.
The Bucs still have a path to a strong offense if the answers break right. Emeka Egbuka, Godwin, Irving, Jalen McMillan and Cade Otton give them enough talent to be dangerous. But until that group proves it can stay on the field and deliver at the level Tampa Bay expects, the doubts around this offense aren’t going anywhere.
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