When discussing expectations for the Buccaneers in 2026, two words keep coming up:
Hope And If
Those two words perfectly capture the uncertainty surrounding this year’s team.
The first is hope—the kind of hope that comes with asking rookies to play major roles on a team with playoff aspirations. The Buccaneers are counting on significant contributions from Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter, and to a lesser extent, Ted Hurst.
Everyone knows Tampa Bay has struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks without blitzing five or six defenders. They hope Bain can help change that.
Filling A Void
Lavonte David’s retirement leaves an enormous void at linebacker. While I’m confident Alex Anzalone can be productive, I hope Trotter can learn Todd Bowles’ defensive system quickly enough to make an immediate impact.
If both of those things happen, the Buccaneers’ defense has a chance to be significantly better than last year’s disappointing unit.
Health Matters
On offense, the Bucs hope Bucky Irving can build on the exciting rookie season that made him a fan favorite.
The other big if isn’t entirely fair, but it’s the reality of life in the NFL. Tampa Bay’s starting offensive line is among the league’s best—if it stays healthy. Should that happen, Baker Mayfield has every opportunity to return to the form that made him one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in 2024.
Concerning Corners
The cornerback position remains the biggest concern, and that’s putting it kindly. The Bucs hope Benjamin Morrison can stay healthy and take a step forward after an inconsistent first season. They also hope Zyon McCollum can put last year’s distractions behind him and that Jacob Parrish can successfully transition into a full-time starting cornerback role.
Not So Special
Last season, the Buccaneers were anything but special on special teams. It cost them games. Too often, they seemed content to surrender field position by allowing opponents to start around the 35-yard line rather than aggressively covering kickoffs. Hopefully, a new special teams coach can inject energy and accountability into a unit that desperately needs both.
When you look at the NFL’s truly elite teams, you see far more proven commodities than question marks. The 2021 Buccaneers entered the season believing they could beat anyone because they had already proven it.
Not Quite Ready For Primetime Players
The 2026 Buccaneers aren’t there yet.
Right now, they’re a team built on hope and if.
And until those “ifs” become certainties, they’re probably best viewed as an average team with the potential to be much more.
Here’s hoping those questions are answered—and answered quickly.
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