The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into 2026 with a look that can send people in two very different directions. Some see a team in the middle of a rebuild.
Others see a roster capable of pushing all the way to the Super Bowl. That split alone tells you how much intrigue surrounds this group as opening week gets underway.
One of the biggest questions is how Tampa Bay replaces Mike Evans’ red-zone production. The answer could come from rookie Ted Hurst.
At 6’3 with elite ball-adjustment skills, Hurst has the kind of frame and feel that make him a natural end-zone target. Even if his role stays situational, he should get chances in high-leverage spots and has a real path to finishing the season with the most touchdown receptions on the team.
The receiving pecking order is also set to change in another way. Jalen McMillan is positioned to lead the Buccaneers in receiving yards, thanks to the separation ability and reliability that make him such a strong fit in the slot. With Evans gone, Tampa Bay needs someone who can consistently move the chains, and McMillan looks like the best bet to become Baker Mayfield’s most trusted option.
There’s plenty of reason to think the offense won’t be the only side of the ball producing breakout names. Calijah Kancey is already one of the league’s premier interior disruptors and could push toward All-Pro status.
Luke Goedeke keeps getting recognized as one of the better right tackles in the league. Emeka Egbuka has the talent to become a breakout weapon.
And rookie edge rusher Reuben Bain looks ready to explode.
Bain may also be the leading candidate in the defensive rookie conversation, but he is not alone. Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott are both in position to make an immediate impact, and both could end up drawing serious attention in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Trotter brings toughness and instincts in the middle, while Scott’s versatility fits Todd Bowles’ scheme. Tampa Bay’s rookie class has a chance to reshape the defense right away.
That front should also put the Buccaneers back near the top of the league in sacks. Bowles’ defenses have a track record of thriving in that area, and the additions of Bain, Al‑Quadin Muhammad, and David Walker give the edge group more juice. With Kancey healthy and Vita Vea drawing attention inside, Tampa Bay has the pieces to climb back into the top five in sacks.
The run defense could be even more imposing. Vita Vea anchors a deep, physical line that also includes A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez‑Roches, while Trotter and Alex Anzalone provide tackling help behind them. Put it together, and there’s a real chance Tampa Bay ends up with the No. 1 rush defense again.
If that kind of balance shows up on both sides of the ball, the wins should follow. The NFC South looks competitive, but it does not appear to have a true challenger outside Tampa Bay. An 11- or 12-win season is on the table, and a three-game edge over the rest of the division is a realistic outcome.
And if everything breaks the right way, the Buccaneers could keep going. Outside of the Los Angeles Rams, no NFC team looks clearly stronger on paper. With depth, star power, and balance, Tampa Bay has a path to the NFC Championship Game if health and momentum line up.
In Other News...
Bucs Fans Have A Rookie Worth Watching In This Award Race
The rookie award race is already taking shape, and Tampa Bay fans have a name worth tracking before the season even gets rolling. Kalshis updated odds put Jets edge rusher David Bailey out front, but the broader conversation around the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year picture is still open enough to keep several contenders in play, especially with preseason buzz often fading once the games count for real.
For Buccaneers supporters, the appeal is obvious: this is the kind of early-season watch list that makes every splash play by a young defender feel a little more meaningful. The race also carries a familiar wrinkle for anyone following the league closely, since safeties rarely take home this award and early success does not always translate once the regular season begins, leaving plenty of room for a fast start to matter even if the finish remains uncertain. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Have A Real Week 1 Linebacker Decision
Josiah Trotter has spent his first Buccaneers camp making the kind of impression that turns a routine rookie year into something much more interesting. The second-round pick is in the mix for a starting inside linebacker job, and both Todd Bowles and Jason Licht have already made it clear that his practice work has stood out enough to merit real attention on the defensive side.
SirVocea Dennis is still part of the picture, which is why this has become one of the more notable early decisions on Tampa Bays board. The job is not settled yet, and with Week 1 approaching, the Bucs are weighing whether Trotters strong start is enough to push him into the opening lineup right away. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Is Pushing A Bucs Defensive Reset Fans Will Notice
Todd Bowles is trying to steer Tampa Bays defense toward a different kind of edge heading into the 2026 season, one built less on talk and more on how the room carries itself every day. The Buccaneers coach has made it clear he wants a stronger sense of accountability and a sharper collective attitude, and he sees veteran defensive tackles AShawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches as two of the players setting that tone.
Robinson, entering his 11th NFL season, fits that mission as much for the way he leads as for anything that shows up in a box score. In Bowles view, the reset is about changing the standard from the inside out, with the defensive front helping define what this next version of the Bucs is supposed to look and feel like. [Read more 🡒]