NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
AI Summary
The Buccaneers enter 2026 looking to bounce back from a stunning 2025 collapse, opening 6-2 before fading to an 8-9 finish that cost them the NFC South on a tiebreaker to Carolina and ended a six-year playoff streak. Tampa Bay overhauled its roster this offseason, losing WR Mike Evans, LB Haason Reddick, CB Jamel Dean, DL Logan Hall and RB Rachaad White in free agency while longtime LB Lavonte David retired after 14 seasons, leaving QB Baker Mayfield to work with a retooled supporting cast. Camp has been shadowed by a Vita Vea contract standoff and a hamstring injury that sidelined All-Pro LT Tristan Wirfs for most of camp before he began ramping back up in mid-August. Most preseason power rankings have Tampa Bay in the low-to-mid 20s, reflecting skepticism about whether the issues behind last year's second-half fade have actually been fixed.
Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026
Real Efficiency KPIs
Offensive EPA/play
-0.009
#20 of 32
Defensive EPA/play allowed
+0.013
#17 of 32
2025 regular season, 1065 offensive / 990 defensive plays. Source: nflverse play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season. This is a prior-season baseline — this team's 2026 numbers will replace it once real Week 1 plays exist.
Key Players (2025 production)
Leading Passer
Baker Mayfield · QB
343/543, 26 TD, 11 INT
+0.7 passing EPA
Leading Rusher
Bucky Irving · RB
173 car, 588 yds, 1 TD
-35.6 rushing EPA
Leading Receiver
Emeka Egbuka · WR
63/127, 938 yds, 24% target share
+7.1 receiving EPA
Leading Pass Rusher
Yaya Diaby · LB
7 sacks, 19 QB hits
Leading Tackler
Lavonte David · OLB
59 solo, 53 assist
Leading Interceptor
Jamel Dean · CB
3 INT
Source: nflverse player stats (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season; team attribution updated for documented 2026 offseason trades. Prior-season baseline, not 2026 in-season stats.
Key Storylines
- Bucs blew a 6-2 start to finish 8-9 and miss the playoffs, losing the NFC South to Carolina on a three-way tiebreaker
- Significant roster turnover: WR Mike Evans, LB Haason Reddick, CB Jamel Dean, DL Logan Hall and RB Rachaad White departed; LB Lavonte David retired
- GM Jason Licht says he's engaged with DT Vita Vea's agent working toward a contract resolution to keep him in Tampa
- Rookie OLB Rueben Bain Jr. drawing praise for explosive pass-rush reps against LT Luke Goedeke in camp
- Second-round rookie LB Josiah Trotter pushing for a starting job since the team began practicing in pads
Injury Report
Tristan Wirfs · LT
Limited
All-Pro left tackle suffered a hamstring injury during conditioning testing at the start of camp; returned to practice Aug. 17 but limited to individual drills as the team ramps him up.
Zyon McCollum · CB
Limited
Dealing with a groin issue during camp, working on a side field under trainer supervision after standout early practices.