Todd Bowles didn’t point to the flashy new pass rushers or the beefed-up defensive line when asked which Buccaneers position group he feels best about heading into 2026. Instead, he went straight to inside linebacker.
That answer stands out because Tampa Bay poured plenty of offseason attention into the front seven. The Bucs added new edge rushers in Rueben Bain Jr. and Al-Quadin Muhammad, and they also bolstered the defensive line with names like A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches. On offense, they brought in wide receiver Ted Hurst out of Georgia State, running back Kenny Gainwell and sixth-round tight end Bauer Sharp, who earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
Still, Bowles said the linebacker room is the one that gives him the most confidence.
"We have more depth at that spot than we've had since I've been there, and I think that's really a plus for us," Bowles said. "We got bigger there, we got more athletic with [Alex] Anzalone... we got a guy with Trotter, plus we got [SirVocea Dennis] and [Christian] Rozeboom and [Caden] Fordham made the team, and all five of those guys can play."
The overhaul was necessary after Lavonte David’s retirement. Tampa Bay responded by bringing in Alex Anzalone from the Detroit Lions in free agency and using a second-round pick on Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, who has already turned heads. The group also picked up Christian Rozeboom from the Carolina Panthers for added depth.
Bowles’ reasoning tracks with what the Buccaneers were missing a year ago: speed and coverage at linebacker. Anzalone could help restore the coverage element, while Trotter, a true MIKE linebacker, gives Tampa Bay the sideline-to-sideline burst it has lacked.
The edge rushers and defensive line additions may end up driving the defense, but Bowles clearly believes the biggest transformation is happening in the middle. Tampa Bay is already moving on to Week 1, with a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals set for Sept. 13.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Already Regret Letting Jack Pyburn Get Away
Jack Pyburn did enough in August to make the Buccaneers take notice, even if it did not keep him in Tampa Bay for long. The undrafted rookie flashed all preseason and finished with four sacks, tying for the most among edge defenders, before the Bucs waived him during final roster cuts and watched Kansas City move quickly to claim him for its 53-man roster.
For a team always hunting for young pass-rush help, that kind of departure can linger. Todd Bowles had already singled out Pyburns work ethic and production, which only sharpens the question of whether Tampa Bay gave up on him a little too early, or whether the Chiefs simply got there first and saw enough to make the gamble worthwhile. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Real Path Back To The Top
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Baker Mayfields motivation in a contract year sits at the center of that optimism, but it is not the only reason Tampa Bay is drawing notice. The Buccaneers have added talent on offense and defense, and if the health picture improves, they should have a real chance to separate themselves from what is expected to be a weak division. The bigger question is whether all of those pieces come together quickly enough to make the path back to the top look as clear as it does on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Quarterback Battle Just Put New Pressure On Atlanta's Roster
Baker Mayfields situation in Tampa Bay remains one of the more interesting subplots of the offseason, especially with Todd Bowles noting the quarterbacks motivation even before a contract extension is finalized. For the Buccaneers, that kind of stability matters. Mayfield has already become the focal point of the offense, and Bowles comments only reinforce how central he is to what Tampa Bay wants to build heading into the next stretch of team planning.
Across the division, the Falcons are juggling a different kind of quarterback conversation, with general manager Ian Cunningham talking through the teams current situation and the roster moves that have come with it. The broader NFC South picture also includes Carolina, where Dan Morgan has been addressing roster commitments, injuries and practice squad decisions, a reminder that every team in the division is still sorting out the same basic question: who is ready now, and who still has more to prove before the picture settles? [Read more 🡒]