The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into this season with something they haven’t had in a while: lower expectations. After missing the playoffs in 2025 and finishing 8-9, the Bucs are trying to prove that last year was the exception, not the new normal.
That 8-9 mark left Tampa Bay in second place behind the Carolina Panthers, who won the division tiebreaker. Even so, the door to the postseason is still open. The division remains up for grabs, and all four teams have a shot, including the Buccaneers.
A lot of the hope around Tampa Bay starts with the idea that the core is still in place. The team is bringing back much of the same group in an effort to show that last season’s missed playoff run was just a one-year blip. Baker Mayfield has also made it clear he expects more from this group, saying the Buccaneers will surprise the NFL this year.
Training camp has offered a mixed but mostly encouraging early look. Mayfield, Chris Godwin, and Kenneth Gainwell stood out on the field, while the front seven had a rougher day and could have been sharper. Still, the balance tilted positive, which is exactly what teams want to see this time of year.
Elsewhere around the league, the Chiefs are starting to get healthier. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Drue Tranquill were among the players who returned to practice, though they likely still won’t play against the Bucks this weekend. Kansas City is more focused on being ready for the regular season.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Finally See A Path Through The Vita Vea Standoff
Vita Veas holdout has been one of the more notable tensions hanging over Buccaneers training camp, with the veteran defensive tackle seeking either a new contract or a trade while Tampa Bay tried to sort through its options. For a while, the situation carried plenty of uncertainty, especially with Vea still under contract and backed by a strong recent performance history, even as outside interest in a possible trade continued to circulate.
Adam Schefter recently suggested the mood around the standoff may be changing, saying the sides now appear closer to a potential resolution than they did before. Tampa Bay has also started engaging in extension talks after previously not getting into that conversation with Veas camp, which at least opens a path forward for a player the Buccaneers have not been willing to move despite the trade noise. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A QB Battle That Matters More Than Usual
Baker Mayfields contract situation has added a little more weight to a backup quarterback job that usually gets handled in the margins. Tampa Bay still views Mayfield as its franchise quarterback for now, but with his negotiations paused and free agency looming after the season, the Buccaneers have at least something to monitor behind him as camp and the preseason unfold.
Jake Browning and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels are in the mix for the No. 2 spot, and Daniels gave the Bucs a reason to keep watching after an encouraging preseason debut. Todd Bowles has made clear the job will be settled by competition this summer, which gives Tampa Bay an unusual bit of intrigue at a position that could become a lot more important than the label suggests. [Read more 🡒]