The Buccaneers will be looking to bounce back in 2026 after a disappointing end to their season in 2025. After a 6-2 start they went 2-7 in the second half of the season to finish 8-9 and miss the playoffs. With a disappointing end, changes were bound to come and some of those changes will be relying on younger players to step up. Let’s take a look at some players who could be primed for a breakout season in 2026.
Wide Receiver Jalen McMillan
McMillan very well could have already broken out had it not been for a neck injury suffered
in the first preseason game. He would miss 13 games and after having eight receiving touchdowns in his rookie season, his sophomore season was essentially a wash. However now McMillan finds himself in a favorable spot. Mike Evans is no longer in that receiver room which means targets will now be heading elsewhere and while the Bucs still do have Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, McMillan should get a lot of good matchups against defenses.
In 2024 McMillan stepped up after Godwin went down with injury and then the Bucs drafted Egbuka which many thought would really diminish McMillan’s role and it may have but we will never truly know because of that injury. Now McMillan is back and healthy and with a clearly defined role as this team’s number three receiver, he is a prime position to make a name for himself this season and be a serious weapon for the Bucs offense.
Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts
The difference between Roberts and McMillan is that McMillan will likely receiver a slightly bigger and more consistent role, but that doesn’t mean that Roberts can’t still make an impact on that defensive line. Tampa Bay added A’Shawn Robinson into the mix along the defensive line and he will have a big role, but Roberts is likely to be that next man up.
As a rookie in 2025, Roberts ended up starting nine games for Tampa Bay and had 14 combined tackles as well as two sacks. He has shown the ability to get after the quarterback and from the interior that is a valuable thing to bring to a defense. With more experience under his belt and being in a rotation with guys like Robinson and Calijah Kancey, Roberts has a chance to develop into a legit piece for Todd Bowles.
Cornerback Jacob Parrish
Some people may wonder why Parrish is on this list. At times last season he was the Bucs best corner and for a rookie, that is an impressive accomplishment. However, the reason he is on here is that I believe there is another level he can get to. With Jamel Dean out of the picture, the Bucs will be looking for someone to step up at outside corner. Parrish will likely get the chance to compete with fellow second year player Benjamin Morrison. Parrish played mostly inside for the Bucs this past season and did quite well. Obviously, there were some bumps along the way but that is to be expected for a rookie getting his first taste of NFL action.
I think Parrish is in for a much bigger role on this defense in 2026. He showed explosiveness and the ability to be versatile as he not only had two interceptions, but he also had two sacks. We know that a Todd Bowles’ defense is going to want to blitz their corners at time and Parrish has shown that ability. Given the bigger role, it wouldn’t shock me if we are talking about Parrish being one of Tampa Bay’s better defenders at the end of this season.
Do you have any breakout candidates for 2026? Let us know in the comment section below!
