Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

After a breakout rookie season in which he totaled over 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving recorded an underwhelming follow-up campaign in 2025. The 23-year-old recorded 865 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 203 touches, and missed seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries. In the offseason, Tampa Bay signed veteran back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract. Gainwell recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards on 85 targets as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, so he figures to take some work away from Irving in the Buccaneers' passing game at the very least. After Irving's injury-plagued 2025, Tampa Bay could be prioritizing keeping him healthy throughout the season by limiting his touches on a game-to-game basis. Irving still carries significant fantasy upside in dynasty formats, but he profiles more as an RB2 than a sure-fire RB1 heading into 2026.

The No. 19 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka recorded 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets across 17 games. The 23-year-old stepped into a larger role in the Tampa Bay offense than might have been expected immediately after he was drafted, as Buccaneers wideouts Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan all missed significant time due to injury. Heading into 2026, Evans has departed the Buccaneers for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, and Egbuka looks like the clear WR1 in Tampa Bay. Egbuka's overall stat line from 2025 was weighed down by a quiet close to the year, as he averaged just 4.25 targets per game over his final four games played when the Bucs' wide receiver room was at its healthiest. Now that he's in a clear leading role, Egbuka could easily emerge as a fantasy WR1 as soon as 2026. He profiles as a top-12 wide receiver in dynasty formats.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker showed flashes of high-level production upside in 2025, recording 354 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 94 touches across 17 games played. However, most of Tucker's chances came with fellow Bucs running back Bucky Irving sidelined by injury. When Irving was healthy, Tucker was largely limited to RB3 work behind both Irving and Rachaad White. White departed Tampa Bay in free agency for the Washington Commanders, but the Bucs brought in even stiffer competition for Tucker in the form of former Pittsburgh Steelers back Kenneth Gainwell. As long as Irving and Gainwell are healthy, Tucker's pathway to regular playing time in Tampa Bay is hard to see. The 24-year-old remains a slightly intriguing depth option for fantasy managers, but his dynasty value is fading as he enters his fourth NFL season and remains without a clear role in his team's offense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans walk in free agency to the San Francisco 49ers, but second-year wideout Tez Johnson might still have an uphill battle for regular playing time in 2026. The Bucs took Johnson in the seventh round last year out of Oregon, and he ended up playing more snaps on offense than most people expected in his rookie campaign, thanks to injuries to Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. The 23-year-old showed flashes of upside in 16 games played (eight starts), catching 28 of his 44 targets for 322 yards and five touchdowns. He also added seven rushing attempts for 22 yards. Johnson's workload dropped late in the 2025 season once Evans, Godwin, and McMillan all returned from their injuries. The experience was valuable, but Johnson won't be guaranteed a bigger role in 2026, even with Evans gone. Johnson is still worth stashing in dynasty/keeper leagues, but right now, he profiles as the team's WR4 behind Godwin, McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers new running back Kenneth Gainwell broke out in 2025 in his fifth year in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns. But where he made his mark was in the short passing game for the Steelers, catching 73 passes (fourth-most among RBs) on 85 targets for 486 yards (fifth-most among RBs) and three additional touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in free agency and will essentially replace Rachaad White, who is now in Washington, as the No. 2 back in Tampa behind early-down RB Bucky Irving. He's an ideal complement to Irving in the backfield, but Irving should continue to catch his fair share of passes, too, if he remains healthy. Gainwell should have a solid PPR floor in his new home as the team's pass-catching back, but fantasy managers should prepare for regression from what could very easily end up being his career year in 2025.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton hasn't been a very popular name in dynasty fantasy football leagues this offseason, but managers should consider acquiring the 26-year-old given the Bucs' moves so far. Most notably, the Buccaneers allowed wide receiver Mike Evans to depart in free agency. He leaves behind a modest 61 targets from 2025, but he's just a few years removed from his 136-target campaign in 2023. Historically, Otton has thrived when Evans isn't on the field. In the 11 games where Evans was sidelined due to injury last year, Otton averaged 5.4 targets, 3.9 catches, and 36.8 yards per contest. The biggest red flag for Otton was that he didn't score a touchdown while Evans was sidelined; in fact, he didn't get into the end zone until Week 18. We expect him to have some positive touchdown regression, though, and he has legitimate top-15 upside with Evans out of town. Dynasty managers in need of a potential low-end TE1 or high-end TE2 should send out trade offers for Otton, because he can be acquired at a reasonable price this offseason.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to discuss a contract extension with quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason, league sources told Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Mayfield's three-year, $100 million deal expires in March of 2027. Howe adds that Mayfield's next contract won't necessarily be team-friendly after he has proven his worth as the team's franchise QB. He is currently the 16th-highest-paid signal-caller at $33.3 million per year. Mayfield and the Bucs have both publicly stated their desire to stay together beyond his current contract. It remains to be seen if Tampa is willing to give him at least $50 million annually after he regressed in 2025 with totals of 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. Still, Lowe thinks he'd be justified in asking for four years and $224 milion or five years and $280 million, with at least half fully guaranteed. In fantasy football, Mayfield will be considered a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 option, with his upside limited now that he doesn't have future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans to throw to.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced on Tuesday that outside linebacker Lavonte David is retiring from professional football after 14 years in the NFL. David said earlier this offseason that he would either re-sign with the Buccaneers for a 15th season or retire. The 36-year-old veteran will finish an illustrious career that featured 1,716 tackles (1,172 solo), 42.5 sacks, 177 tackles for loss, 79 QB hits, 14 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 73 pass breakups, 33 forced fumbles, and 21 fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD) in 215 regular-season starts, all with the Buccaneers. Tampa drafted David in the second round (58th overall) in 2012 out of Nebraska. He was named to one Pro Bowl (2015) and was a first-team All-Pro once (2013) while also winning a Super Bowl ring. David amazingly had over 100 combined tackles in his 14 NFL seasons and only missed 14 games in his career. There's an argument to be made that he belongs in the Hall of Fame for his consistency over a long period of time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield already delivered subpar results during the 2025 season, and moving forward, he'll also be without one of his favorite targets. Mike Evans departed for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, causing Mayfield to lose a perennial 1,000-yard threat with major touchdown upside. The veteran quarterback was the overall QB10 in 2023 and QB4 in 2024, but he fell to QB12 with 27 total touchdowns, 14 turnovers, and 36 sacks last year. We could still see Mayfield rank as a top-12 quarterback in 2026, especially with Zac Robinson replacing Josh Grizzard as the Bucs' offensive coordinator. However, it's going to be tougher for him to routinely carve up defenses without Evans at his disposal. Fortunately for Mayfield, the Bucs have other key pass-catching weapons. Chris Godwin Jr. remains a productive veteran, and Emeka Egbuka flashed glimpses of being a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2025. If Godwin can stay healthy for a full season and Egbuka can take a substantial second-year leap, Tampa Bay may be able to counteract the effect of Evans' departure, vaulting Mayfield back into the top-10 range. There's a wide range of possible outcomes for the former first-round pick, and depending on the asking price, he could be an appealing buy-low target in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Playing in parts of only nine games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. put up the worst statistical campaign of his nine-year career, recording personal lows in receptions and yards, while his two receiving touchdowns were the lowest since his rookie year in 2017. Entering 2026, the Buccaneers will be without future Hall of Famer Mike Evans for the first time in over a decade, opening a target vacuum that Godwin could be first in line to fill. Godwin missed the first three games of 2025, opening a window for first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to form an early rapport with Baker Mayfield, but the chemistry faded down the stretch, and it was Godwin who received the second-most looks behind Evans over the final month of the season. One more year removed from the brutal ankle injury that ended his 2024 season, Godwin should see his target share and raw opportunities spike to the pre-injury count that saw him top 1,000 yards for five straight seasons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan had his 2025 season largely derailed after he suffered a neck injury in preseason action that caused him to miss 13 games. Upon his return, the 24-year-old recorded 12 catches for 178 yards on 15 targets across Tampa Bay's final four contests of the regular season. However, McMillan could be well-positioned for a bounce-back year in 2026. Longtime stalwart Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, opening the door for McMillan to carve out a regular role alongside Tampa Bay wideouts Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. McMillan flashed significant upside as a rookie in 2024, hauling in 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 targets across 13 games. With Godwin Jr. battling injuries and age-related decline in recent years, McMillan could emerge as the WR2 in Tampa Bay as soon as next season. His dynasty value should be trending upwards following the departure of Evans from Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht announced on Friday that the team agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to bring tight end Ko Kieft (leg) back for the 2026 season. Kieft suffered a leg injury in Week 3 of last season and never played again. The 28-year-old former sixth-round selection by the Bucs out of Minnesota in 2022 has played for the team the last four years, catching only eight passes on 15 targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his scores came in his first two years in the league. Kieft will return to Tampa for a fifth season, but he won't be anywhere on the fantasy football radar. He will most likely enter the 2026 regular season this fall as the TE3 behind both Cade Otton and Payne Durham. Kieft's best year was his rookie campaign in 2022, when he had seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. He hasn't caught a pass since 2023.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, a source told the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal carries a maximum value of $6 million via incentives. Muhammad leaves the Lions after a career year in 2025 in which he had 25 tackles (15 solo), a career-high 11 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 20 QB hits in 17 games played. The 30-year-old veteran played just 41 percent of Detroit's defensive snaps, though, so unless the Bucs plan to give him a more regular role, it's going to be difficult for the former sixth-rounder to duplicate his breakout campaign. Muhammad was taken by the Saints in the 2017 draft out of the University of Miami. He has 193 tackles (126 solo), 26 sacks, 36 tackles for loss, 58 QB hits, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in his eight years in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) has been an electric player when healthy through his first two NFL seasons, collecting nearly 2,400 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns across 27 games played. However, Irving recently underwent offseason shoulder surgery after missing seven games in 2025 due to shoulder and ankle ailments. While Irving is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026, the 23-year-old is an undersized back, and Tampa Bay may have questions about his ability to hold up while shouldering a true RB1 workload. The Buccaneers made a big splash at the running back position early in free agency, signing veteran back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year deal with an eight-figure guarantee. Gainwell is coming off a breakout season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and could emerge as Tampa Bay's primary receiving and short-yardage back. The Buccaneers also have a solid third-string option in Sean Tucker, who racked up eight touchdowns in 2025. Irving's fantasy value in dynasty formats looks a bit less clear after the addition of Gainwell to the Tampa Bay backfield.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has climbed up the depth chart and could open next season as Baker Mayfield's No. 1 target in the passing game. Legendary wide receiver Mike Evans recently signed with the 49ers after 12 years in Tampa Bay, leaving Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. atop the wide receiver depth chart. Both Egbuka and Godwin had their ups and downs last season, but the former has significantly greater upside and offers more of a threat to make big plays in contested one-on-one scenarios downfield. In other words, he edges out Godwin in terms of the superstar potential needed to fill the void of someone like Evans. The former Ohio State first-round pick finished his rookie campaign with 63 catches, 938 yards, and six touchdowns. He was the overall WR23 in PPR leagues, and that was after he came back down to earth during the second half of the season. Through the first five weeks of his rookie season, he had ranked as the WR3 in PPR leagues. Egbuka has already shown that he can be a top-five fantasy receiver, so we wouldn't be totally surprised if he returns to that form as the post-Evans era gets underway in 2026.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson to a one-year deal worth $10 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The deal is fully guaranteed and represents a raise from the $8.5 million he was projected to earn in 2026 before he was released by the Carolina Panthers. Not only will the veteran lineman get a salary bump, but he'll also remain in an NFC South division that has served him well to this point. Through 33 games (32 starts) with the Panthers over two seasons, he amassed one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 145 tackles. In Tampa Bay, he projects to earn a starting spot along a Bucs defensive line that already features Calijah Kancey.

Free-agent quarterback Jake Browning plans to sign an undisclosed one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Browning will go from backing up Joe Burrow in Cincinnati to backing up Baker Mayfield in Tampa. The 29-year-old signal-caller from Washington has three years of NFL experience with the Bengals, appearing in 17 games (10 starts). In those games, Browning completed 68.5% of his 368 pass attempts for 2,707 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He led the league with a 70.4% completion percentage in his rookie year in 2023, when he was forced to make seven starts with Burrow injured. In Tampa, Browning will serve as a solid backup option for Mayfield, whose aggressive style of play opens him up to plenty of injuries. If Browning is forced into starts for the Bucs in 2026, he definitely won't have the top-notch receiving corps he worked with in Cincy.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tendered an undisclosed one-year deal to restricted free-agent running back Sean Tucker on Wednesday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Tucker will most likely return to Tampa for a fourth season and will provide valuable RB depth behind starter Bucky Irving and newcomer Kenneth Gainwell. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Syracuse saw a career-high 86 rushing attempts last year for 320 yards and a career-best seven rushing touchdowns in 17 games played. Tucker added eight receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown through the air as he saw increased playing time due to Irving missing extended time in 2025 with an injury. Because he'll be the RB3 to open the 2026 season if he sticks in Tampa, Tucker won't be on the fantasy radar in most single-year fantasy leagues, but he'll be a high-priority waiver addition if Irving were to miss time with an injury again.

Free-agent linebacker Lavonte David (knee) has expressed a desire to continue playing in Tampa Bay. In fact, he said that he will retire if he does not re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This isn't a very surprising verdict from the veteran defender, who has spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Bucs. He continued to play at a high level during his age-35 campaign last year, starting all 17 games with one interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 3.5 sacks, and 114 tackles. David, who recently underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up his knee, indicated that he'll make a decision on his future sooner rather than later. If he does return to the Bucs for another season, he'll presumably compete for a starting linebacker role alongside recent free agent addition Alex Anzalone.

Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans has agreed to terms on an undisclosed three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Evans' 13th year in the NFL will be his first away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 32-year-old veteran opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons before suffering hamstring and collarbone injuries in 2025 that limited him to a career-low eight starts. Evans caught 30 of his 62 targets last year for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler will now be seeking a second Super Bowl ring in the Bay Area as the Niners' clear No. 1 target for quarterback Blake Purdy. Injuries are a bigger issue for the aging wideout, but if healthy, Evans could have a WR1 ceiling again in fantasy football in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. UPDATE: Evans' deal is worth up to $60.4 million.