The Buccaneers have spent 2026 reshaping their defense, and the new look comes with a fresh round of stat-leader predictions. Todd Bowles is still running the show, but Tampa Bay has handed him a different mix of talent after a disappointing 2025, adding edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Josiah Trotter in the draft, then bringing in linebacker Alex Anzalone and defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson in free agency.
One of the biggest questions is who finishes first in sacks. Plenty of Bucs fans would love to see Bain take that crown, but his college profile points more toward pressure than pure sack production. That opens the door for YaYa Diaby, who should be the main beneficiary of the attention Bain draws on the opposite side.
Diaby has already shown he can get home even when offenses key on him. He posted seven sacks last season and 7.5 as a rookie, and with Bain likely soaking up chips and extra help, Diaby should have more room to work. Bain may end up being the more dangerous pass rusher overall, but Diaby looks like the better bet to pile up the sacks.
At linebacker, Anzalone is positioned to make a major impact in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers struggled there last year, and the veteran arrives from Detroit with a strong tackle total already on his resume. He finished with 95 tackles last season, and that number should climb with him stepping into the central role beside Trotter.
Anzalone will have to handle coverage responsibilities as Tampa Bay’s primary coverage linebacker, but he’ll also be busy against the run. With that workload, he looks like the most likely Buccaneer to lead the team in tackles by season’s end.
Interceptions bring a more aggressive prediction. Zyon McCollum tied for the team lead with just two picks last season, and Tampa Bay will be hoping for a bigger haul in 2026.
McCollum got those two interceptions while working limited snaps as the nickel corner, but his role is changing. He’s now being pushed toward the outside cornerback group, and if he earns a starting job there, the chances for more takeaways should follow.
Even if he ends up rotating instead of starting full-time, McCollum has already shown he can produce without playing every down. He’s a strong athlete with a high vertical and good coverage instincts, and after a productive rookie season and a full offseason, he has a real chance to turn into a ballhawk.
Tykee Smith is another name built for this kind of forecast. He nearly led the Buccaneers in tackles in 2025 and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles in 2024, which tells you how often he’s around the football. Last season, he piled up 100 total tackles and is set to line up next to Antoine Winfield Jr. for a third straight year.
Smith brings instincts, physicality and a real pop in the run game, but the hard hits are what make him a candidate to lead Tampa Bay in forced fumbles. He forced three in 2024, and with a lot expected of him in 2026, he’s also been singled out by Lavonte David as someone who can step into a leadership role for the Buccaneers this season. If Smith tops the team in forced fumbles, he’ll be moving in the direction of that standard fast.
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Lavonte David May Not Be Done Shaping The Bucs Yet
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David is not rushing into anything, preferring to enjoy retirement before taking on a new role. Still, the tone is unmistakable when he talks about what would come next: if he does step into coaching, it would not be a casual experiment. He also made clear that he is still in Devin Bains corner, a reminder that even away from the field, Davids influence around the Bucs may continue to matter. [Read more 🡒]