After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2025-26 season collapsed beneath them, 2026 looms as a year they must put all the pieces together. Quarterback Baker Mayfield took a step back after throwing for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2024. He finished 2025-26 throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Entering this season, the Buccaneers will have to fill the void of the former two-time All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans, who left for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Although second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka will be expected to step up, they’ll need to find a way to replace his production. The Bucs also missed running back Bucky Irving for an extended period, which affected the offense as a whole.
Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht heads to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft to retool the team in pursuit of reclaiming the NFC South. The Bucs will have seven draft selections to play with.
Buccaneers Draft Picks:
- Round 1: Pick 15
- Round 2: Pick 46
- Round 3: Pick 77
- Round 4: No. 116
- Round 5: No. 155
- Round 6: No. 195
- Round 7: No. 229
Buccaneers Key Additions:
S/ST Miles Killebrew
Buccaneers Key Losses:
CB Jamel Dean
WR Mike Evans
Buccaneers Positions of Need:
- LB
- Edge
- S
- CB
- OG
- DT
- WR
Buccaneers Draft Targets:
Sonny Styles – LB – Ohio State
Sonny Styles, in all likelihood, won’t make it to pick No. 15, meaning Tampa Bay would have to trade up to get him. But he would be the perfect Lavonte David replacement for the Buccaneers.
Since David announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NFL, the Bucs will have to fill a major gap at the inside linebacker position. The highly athletic and talented Sonny Styles, who stands 6-foot-5 and runs a 4.46 40-yard dash, was integral for an Ohio State defense that made an appearance in this year’s College Football Playoff before falling short against the Miami Hurricanes.
Styles is disciplined in pre- and post-snap identification and makes quick changes while leading a defensive front. Finding a leader for the Buccaneers’ defense will be key to replacing the production of David, and Styles would be worth the price of moving up.
Chandler Rivers – CB – Duke
After Jamel Dean took his talents to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Buccaneers will look to add quality depth at the cornerback position. Duke’s Chandler Rivers would be the perfect option to replace Dean due to his ability to create turnovers and make throwing lanes close quickly.
In his collegiate career, Rivers finished with 29 pass deflections and seven interceptions. Although he’s a corner with short arms, Rivers is not afraid to punch back and play with physicality. Physicality in the secondary is a trait that can allow corners to affect the game and make a quarterback’s day tough. He should be available for the Bucs in the third round.
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