The Buccaneers have spent years leaning on linebacker play to hold their defense together, and when that group slips, the whole unit feels it. That was the problem in 2025, when Tampa Bay didn’t have enough depth or top-end production at the position and had to live with the consequences.
Now the Bucs are heading into 2026 with a different look. Lavonte David has retired, and Tampa Bay has already moved to reshape the room by signing Alex Anzalone in free agency and drafting Josiah Trotter. Those additions give the group a fresh start, but they also squeeze SirVocea Dennis out of the picture.
That’s why a trade has been floated as the cleanest next step.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently laid out one move each NFL team should consider, and for Tampa Bay, he pointed to Dennis as a player the team should move. Moton wrote, "Tampa Bay revamped its linebacker unit with the addition of Alex Anzalone, Christian Rozeboom and rookie second-rounder Josiah Trotter.
Although Dennis started in 16 games, logging 101 tackles (10 for loss), three sacks and an interception with the club in the previous season, he may be expendable because of the new acquisitions. It's also worth noting the three-year pro allowed a 122 passer rating last year.
Dennis' limitations on passing downs could cost him a roster spot."
Dennis may still have a place somewhere in 2026, but based on Tampa Bay’s current depth chart, that place probably isn’t with the Buccaneers.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Training Camp Depth Chart Will Spark Plenty Of Debate
The Buccaneers are still a few weeks away from reporting for training camp on July 28, but the first projected depth chart of the summer already gives the roster a familiar look in some spots and a messy feel in others. Baker Mayfield is entrenched at quarterback, and the offense has a handful of positions that seem stable enough to sketch in pencil, especially after the teams recent draft picks, free agent additions and other offseason moves.
Even so, there is plenty here to argue about once camp opens. The receiver group, the back end of the secondary and a few reserve spots on both lines all look like they could shift quickly, and the competition at cornerback is especially worth watching with a new arrival in the mix. For a team trying to sort out its best 53, the real intrigue is not at the top of the chart, but in the spots where one strong week in camp could change the conversation entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Young Pass Rushers Just Took A Step Fans Have Been Waiting On
The Buccaneers sent three young defensive linemen to the NFLs Sack Summit, a clear sign the team is still investing in the kind of pass-rushing development that can change the shape of a defense. Rueben Bain Jr., Calijah Kancey and David Walker were among the players taking part in the event, which is designed to sharpen technique and help edge and interior rushers turn traits into production.
For Tampa Bay, the appeal is obvious. Bain is getting ready for his first NFL season, Kancey has already shown disruptive ability, and Walker is working his way back into the mix as the Bucs try to build more pressure up front. The organization has made it clear that strengthening the defensive front is part of the long game, and this kind of offseason work is one more step in that direction. [Read more 🡒]