Inside linebacker has turned into one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ most interesting battles this offseason, and one national outlet thinks that fight could leave SirVocea Dennis as the odd man out in 2026.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton named Dennis as Tampa Bay’s most likely bust candidate for the 2026 season in a piece that picked a potential disappointment for every team. The selection wasn’t framed as a knock on Dennis’ ability. It was more about how much the Buccaneers have packed into the room around him.
Tampa Bay went into the offseason and added real competition. The Bucs signed veterans Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom in free agency, then used the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Josiah Trotter. Anzalone has 93 career starts on his résumé, Rozeboom has started 26 games over the last two seasons, and Trotter arrives after putting together one of the strongest linebacker resumes in his draft class with 176 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and an interception over his final two collegiate seasons.
Dennis did plenty to keep himself in the conversation last year. Moton pointed to his first season as a full-time starter in 2025, when he posted 101 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups, and one interception. The concern, though, came in coverage, where Dennis allowed a 122.0 passer rating.
That weakness matters now because the Buccaneers have more options than ever. The current depth chart has Anzalone projected to open as one starter, with Trotter sitting first at the other inside linebacker spot.
Dennis is listed behind Trotter, and Rozeboom is also in the mix for snaps. In other words, nothing is being handed out here.
Dennis has already shown he can help against the run and bring pressure as a blitzer. What he has to prove next is that he can hold up in coverage well enough to stay on the field for all three downs.
If that happens, Tampa Bay could end up with one of the deepest linebacker groups in the NFC. If it doesn’t, Moton’s view is that the newcomers could chip away at Dennis’ role before long.
In Other News...
Bucs Suddenly Face An Uncomfortable Linebacker Decision After Revamp
The Buccaneers spent the offseason reshaping the middle of their defense after Lavonte Davids retirement, bringing in Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter to help stabilize a linebacker room that suddenly looks very different. It is the kind of move that usually signals competition and depth, but it also changes the calculus for players who were already in the mix, especially after a season in which one of Tampa Bays younger linebackers logged a full workload and put together a strong statistical case to stay involved.
Now the question is whether the new look leaves enough room for everyone, or whether the Bucs will decide they can turn a recent starter into a trade chip while the market still has some value. The concern is not just about snaps, but about fit, and specifically how Tampa Bay views the players impact when the game tilts toward passing situations. With the depth chart being reworked around veteran help and a rookie addition, this is one of those uncomfortable roster calls that can tell you a lot about how a team sees its defense heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]