Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 NFL Season Preview

Offense

Mayfield is heading into the final year of his contract hoping to recapture the level of production that led the Bucs to their strong start last season. Staying healthy will be key to that endeavor; Mayfield pushed through multiple injuries as Tampa Bay floundered down the stretch in 2025. He’ll be breaking in yet another new offensive coordinator, but Zac Robinson’s system comes from the same Sean McVay tree that produced Liam Coen, under whom Mayfield thrived in 2024.

Things won’t be the same on offense for Tampa Bay, as future Hall of Famer Evans opted to leave in free agency instead of finishing his career where it started as a top-10 pick in 2014. The Bucs’ passing game will be counting on receiver Chris Godwin Jr. to return to form after a couple of injury-plagued seasons, as well as a stellar sophomore campaign from first-round receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was the early front-runner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year until a hamstring injury derailed his impressive rookie campaign. Fellow wideout Jalen McMillan is primed for a bounce-back after a scary neck injury last preseason cost him most of 2025, while 2025 seventh-rounder Tez Johnson and rookie third-round pick Ted Hurst will bring plenty of upside to the passing game.

No unit was hit harder by injuries in Tampa Bay than the offensive line last year, which saw All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs miss the start of the season, while right tackle Luke Goedeke and guards Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson both missed significant chunks of the year. The Bucs are planning to have their starting five back at full strength for Week 1 this year, which should allow their talented playmakers to live up to their full potential after a disappointing 2025 season.

Running back Bucky Irving returns as the presumed starter in the backfield after missing a long stretch of the 2025 season himself with multiple injuries, but he’ll have a new running mate in Gainwell, who replaces departed free agent Rachaad White as the team’s likely presence on third downs. Restricted free agent Sean Tucker returns and will once again bring short-yardage value and much-needed muscle to a group that relies on the undersized but explosive talents of Irving and Gainwell otherwise.

Defense

Despite having many players who have performed in Bowles’ scheme for most of his tenure, Tampa Bay’s defense continued to struggle with consistency, communication and execution throughout the entire 2025 season. Crucial failures in clutch moments cost the Bucs multiple games and, ultimately, a fifth straight division title.

David retired after 14 seasons, leaving the group with a massive void, both on the field and in the locker room. Anzalone was signed in free agency to help replace some of that veteran experience, and Tampa Bay spent its second-round pick in the draft on Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, who should push to be a Week 1 starter.

The defensive front will once again be anchored by nose tackle Vita Vea, who dominates against the run while bringing surprising pass-rushing ability for his size. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has been productive and impactful when healthy, but has to prove he can stay healthy for a full season, while veteran A’Shawn Robinson adds more size, toughness and experience in the trenches.

Many of Tampa Bay’s defensive issues over the past few seasons started with the lack of a consistently effective pass rush, but the arrival of Rueben Bain Jr., the Bucs’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, should help remedy that. Bain was a dominant all-around defender at Miami (Fla.), and his violent and high-effort style of play is exactly what this defense needs to generate more pressure and create more big plays while setting a more punishing tone across the board. Bain will line up alongside outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, while free-agent addition Al-Quadin Muhammad brings pass-rushing upside after a productive 2025 campaign with the Detroit Lions.

The secondary lost cornerback Jamel Dean to free agency and will count on young players to step up in his absence. Zyon McCollum’s performance took a step back at corner last season after he inked a lucrative contract extension, while 2025 second-round pick Benjamin Morrison hopes to make a bigger impact now that he’s fully healthy. Slot/nickel Jacob Parrish made an immediate splash as a rookie last season and is primed for even bigger things in his second year. The back end will once again be anchored by former All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith, both of whom will be counted on to provide leadership following David’s departure. Look for fourth-round draft pick Keionte Scott to make an instant impact as a rotational player who can line up all over the defense.

Specialists

The Bucs have all three of their starting specialists back from last season, but placekicker Chase McLaughlin will be hoping to return to his previous form after nearly a 10-percentage-point drop in his field-goal accuracy last year compared to the two seasons prior. Riley Dixon will once again handle the punting duties, while Evan Deckers takes care of the long-snapping.

Final analysis

Even with the massive losses of Evans and David, and the overhaul of the offensive coaching staff, the Bucs still believe they have everything they need to get back to the top of the NFC South and earn the chance to make a deep postseason run in 2026. Much will depend on their ability to avoid the injuries that scuttled the season last year, but new leaders will have to step up and fill the void in the locker room and on the sideline as much as what No. 13 and No. 54 brought on the field. Bowles’ defense will have to generate more pass rush and splash plays, while Mayfield will have to straddle that fine line between the daring playing style that makes him special and sound decision-making that will allow the team to win close games and deliver in clutch moments.