Bucs Nation
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.
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.
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?...
