The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to have a different look when they open up the 2026 season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While holdovers such as Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, and Vita Vea are back in the fold, the two longest-tenured veterans, Lavonte David and Mike Evans, are both gone. David called it a career after 14 seasons in the NFL, while Evans departed for the San Francisco 49ers after 12 seasons in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield, who was named one of six team captains for the 2026 season, is entering his fourth season in Tampa Bay. While the 31-year-old quarterback has been a vocal leader since his arrival in Tampa Bay, he mentions how other veterans have stepped up to fill the void left over by the Buccaneers' biggest mainstays over the past
decade.
"Absolutely, I think Chris Godwin’s kind of just an elevation in that he’s always been a vocal leader," said Mayfield on Bucs players stepping up as leaders without Evans and David in the fold. "Mike (Evans) wasn’t necessarily a vocal guy, but Chris always has led by example. But he’s definitely stepped up vocally. Cade Otton has stepped up big time."
It makes sense that Chris Godwin has stepped up, given that he's now the team's longest-tenured receiver and a holdover from the Super Bowl team in 2020. Godwin is entering his 10th season with the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Otton has been a fixture of the Buccaneers' offense since the 2022 season, Tom Brady's last in the NFL.
Mayfield didn't just mention the offensive guys stepping up; he also highlighted the defensive leaders stepping up in David's place. David played the third-most games in Bucs franchise history.
He mentions multiple names, including long-term fixtures such as Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, and A'Shawn Robinson.
"And then on the defensive side of the ball, a lot of new faces -- Alex Anzalone, for instance, I think has come in just with his history and just his demeanor and his play on the field," said Mayfield. "Physical, kind of always has that last shove, so he’s been a vocal guy that has stepped up. Tykee Smith, Antoine Winfield (Jr.), and then bringing in guys like A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who we call “Nacho.” Just a lot of guys over there on the defensive side of the ball that are consistently talking, talking trash, and so it’s just a good feel. It’s competitive out there at practice, and it feels like the right fit everywhere."
Anzalone, Godwin and Winfield Jr. were all named team captains for the 2026 season.
The Buccaneers have a lot of veterans on the team, but it's clear they're going to have a different look this season compared to years past. They'll rely on Mayfield and the names that he mentioned to lead the team as they look to return to the playoffs this season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Baker Mayfield on Bucs players who have stepped up as leaders in 2026
