With training camp just around the corner, the Buccaneers are embarking on a new journey. They went through a lot of changes this offseason from the coaching staff to the roster. With a lot of change comes a lot of questions. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest questions the Bucs have to find their answer for in 2026.
Which version of Baker Mayfield are the Bucs getting?
This is possibly the most crucial question needing to be answered. Through the first six weeks of the 2025 season, Baker Mayfield looked like an MVP candidate, and he was backing
it up. Tampa Bay was 5-1 and Mayfield was dominating even without some of the Bucs top weapons available to him. However, as good as those first six games were, the second half came and Mayfield’s played dipped.
Was he the sole reason the Bucs collapsed late in the year? No, but he was a leading cause in some of those losses. Mayfield’s play in 2026 also has long term implications as it could determine his fate with the team beyond this season. He is scheduled to be a free agent after this year so it is safe to say this could really swing two drastically different ways. If Mayfield bounces back, Tampa Bay likely turns back into a playoff team who could be dangerous in January. If he doesn’t, the Bucs could look to hit the reset button on this entire thing.
So which version of Baker will they get this fall? Soon enough they will have their answer and depending on what it is, the future of the franchise could look a lot different.
How do the Bucs replace Mike Evans?
Wide receiver Mike Evans left Tampa Bay in free agency for the San Francisco 49ers in a move that left Bucs fan’s hearts broken. It is understandable, Evans has been a Tampa staple since he was drafted in 2014. He is the best offensive player in franchise history and arguably the best player in franchise history. So with him no longer in the picture, how do the Bucs replace that production?
They did add to the room this offseason, drafting Ted Hurst who they hope can be a X receiver for them but the expectations for the third-round pick are obviously not to replace Evans, but it may signal that the Bucs are looking to do this by committee.
Tampa Bay’s receiver room is still pretty deep despite such a talented player leaving. Chris Godwin is another year removed from a major injury and hopefully has knocked the rust off. Emeka Egbuka is entering year two after a rookie season with lots of highs but also some lows. Perhaps a big x factor for them is the return of Jalen McMillan, who missed most of the 2025 season with a neck injury is back healthy and looking to build on the flashes he has shown. So can the Bucs replace Evans one for one? Probably not and that’s okay, they have plenty of depth and plenty of ways to attack defenses this fall.
Did they do enough to fix the defense?
Let me state the obvious… the Buccaneers defense in 2025 was not good and at times was downright embarrassing. The coaching staff knew it. The front office knew it. This offseason they decided to try and do something about it. Now I did mention the coaching staff and make no mistake, Todd Bowles and his staff have to do a better job of getting this defense better prepared to play but they also needed more talent.
This offseason the Bucs said goodbye to another legend as Lavonte David retired. They looked to replace David by signing veteran and former Detroit Lion Alex Anzalone as well as depth player Christian Rozeboom and to top it all off they drafted Jeremiah Trotter Jr out of Missouri in the second round of the NFL draft. The reworked linebacker room should hopefully be improved but it was the overall front seven that needed improvement, not just one unit.
To address the trenches, they added another veteran in A’Shawn Robinson to add some size up front, and they signed Al Quadin Muhammad from Detroit and drafted Rueben Bain Jr after he fell into their laps in the first round of the draft. With these additions as well as continued development from players like Yaya Diaby, Calijah Kancey, Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum as well as others, they hope to form a much better defense in 2026. Was it enough though? The defense needed a lot of work, and the Bucs solution was to throw a few darts as well as address their top needs early in the draft.
We’ll see if it works, Todd Bowles’ job may depend on it.
What questions do you have about the 2026 Buccaneers? Let us know in the comment section below!
