Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has been a model of consistency over the past two seasons, making exactly 59 catches in both 2024 and 2025 and finishing right around 600 receiving yards in each year. Unfortunately, a lack of red zone usage has prevented him from ever finishing as a top-12 fantasy tight end, having never topped four scores in a season and finishing his most recent campaign with only one touchdown catch. While the Buccaneers' most prolific touchdown-scorer of all time, Mike Evans, was allowed to depart in free agency, Tampa still boasts a deep receiver room, topped by Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. Even if Otton should find more involvement near the end zone, his floor could be significantly lowered if the team's top pass catchers are all able to stay healthy, something they were unable to accomplish a season ago. Still a worthwhile depth piece in dynasty leagues, Otton is RotoBaller's TE29 for 2026 and figures to factor as little more than a streaming option to help navigate through injuries and bye weeks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson popped up on the fantasy radar by taking advantage of an injury-depleted receiver room as a rookie in 2025. With the overlapping absences of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan thrusting him into a featured role, Johnson made 22 catches for 274 yards and five touchdowns over a seven-game mid-season stretch in which he became a regular part of the fantasy discussion for the Buccaneers. While Evans' departure in free agency means Tampa will be without its all-time receiving leader for the first time since 2013, the depth in the room is as strong as it's been in the Baker Mayfield era, with both Godwin and McMillan expected to be back at full health and 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka looking to take another step forward after showing flashes of dominance as a rookie. The team also spent a third-round pick on 6'3" boundary receiver Ted Hurst, leaving Johnson to fight for the fourth or fifth spot on the depth chart and potentially limiting him to a handful of gadget packages. At RotoBaller's WR116, he does not figure to factor into 2026 drafts, but having already demonstrated the ability to contribute in a pinch, Johnson could again be targeted on waiver wires should in-season injuries thin the Buccaneers' receiver room.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is heading into the final year of his contract in 2026, are "not close" to reaching a contract extension, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. "It's about finding that middle ground," Mayfield said. There is a lot of work to be done here, and Garafolo adds that the Bucs are in no rush to work something out with the 31-year-old signal-caller. The pressure to get something done before the start of the 2026 season could start to pick up at the start of training camp at the end of this month, but right now, nothing is close to being worked out. In the end, the two sides are expected to find that middle ground and get Mayfield locked up. Mayfield was a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons in Tampa, throwing for over 4,000 yards both years, but he took a step back in 2025, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. Injuries are a concern, as well as the fact that he lost his No. 1 target in receiver Mike Evans in free agency in the offseason. The hope is that new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can get Mayfield going in the right direction again, but he'll be a low-end QB2 with a lower floor heading into 2026 fantasy drafts.

Across 17 games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Mayfield's production represented a stark decline from his peak year in 2024, when he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 scores. However, Tampa Bay dealt with myriad injuries to its wide receiver corps in 2025. While the Bucs lost veteran wideout Mike Evans in free agency, the team still has a strong group of now-healthy pass-catchers in wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. Mayfield also brings some ability to provide fantasy production with his legs, as he's rushed for 760 yards and four scores over the past two seasons. Mayfield might not have high-end upside, but he could easily get back into the fringe QB1 range and is currently valued as the QB19 by redraft ADP entering 2026.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has become one of the most divisive players in 2026 drafts. After a breakout rookie season in 2024 saw him rack up almost 1,600 yards on his way to an RB14 finish, foot and shoulder injuries, as well as reported off-field struggles, limited him to only 10 games in 2025. Returning to action in Week 13 after an eight-week absence, Irving looked like a shell of himself, unable to top four yards per carry in any of his final six games. On the season, his 3.4-yard-per-carry average was down a full two yards from his rookie season, and while he was able to provide 6.1 half-PPR points per game strictly through the passing game, more than 67% of that production came in the first four weeks of the season. Following offseason shoulder surgery, the bull case for Irving is that he can return to the efficiency of his rookie season and the start of 2025, when he was the RB10 through the first four weeks. His detractors will point to the two-year, $14 million deal given to Kenneth Gainwell as evidence that Irving's fantasy-friendly usage in the passing game is set to take a meaningful hit. Those conflicting opinions have him coming off the board around RB24 by current ADP, providing his believers the opportunity to snag him at a discount in hopes of what could be a league-winning bounceback season.

The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud doesn't think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to give running back Bucky Irving 15-plus carries again in 2026 due to injury concerns. When discussing newcomer Kenneth Gainwell, who was the MVP of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense last year, Stroud said, "That's not backup money. I think they will go with the hot hand." The Bucs signed Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract in free agency in March after the 27-year-old had a career year in 2025 in the Steel City, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and five touchdowns while catching 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets as a pass-catcher in 17 regular-season games (two starts). Tampa's offense is switching to more outside zone as well, which could favor Gainwell in his new digs. It's obviously bad news for Irving and his fantasy stock going into 2026 after he played in just 10 games due to injuries in Year 2. Fantasy managers should target the 23-year-old as more of an RB3/flex than a legitimate RB2, with Gainwell gaining steam as an RB3/flex with more appeal in PPR leagues.

After recording 71 catches for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns across 12 games at Georgia State in 2025, wide receiver Ted Hurst was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Hurst may not be expected to contribute right away in a Tampa Bay passing game that already features a deep group of wide receivers in Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson. Still, Hurst profiles as a true outside X receiver, which may make him the most logical long-term replacement for former Bucs wideout Mike Evans, who departed the team in free agency. Godwin Jr. and McMillan both battled significant injury issues in 2025, which could be another route for Hurst to find his way onto the field. Dynasty managers should not expect immediate production from Hurst, but he profiles as a worthy stash candidate for rebuilding teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was the first player in NFL history to record 25-plus receptions, 400-plus receiving yards, and five-plus touchdowns in his first five career games, pacing as the WR3 over that stretch. While his torrid opening pace fell off dramatically over the back half of the year, there's still plenty to be excited about if he can reestablish a more consistent connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield in his second season. Even while disappointing fantasy managers, Egbuka finished the year with 938 yards on 63 receptions, and with six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans no longer part of the team, the 2025 first-round pick should see an uptick in first-read targets. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR12, opinions are likely split on the 23-year-old wideout, making him an intriguing trade target who could be viewed as a foundational piece to a rebuilding roster or a usable weekly contributor for contending managers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. could be the odds-on favorite to take over the team's WR1 job in 2026 now that Mike Evans is in San Francisco, according to River Wells of Sports Illustrated. Godwin signed a big deal worth $22 million per year before the start of last season, but he was hurt for most of 2025 and finished with 33 receptions on 55 targets for a career-low 360 yards and two touchdowns in nine games (six starts) in his ninth year in the NFL (all with Tampa). The 30-year-old has spoken at length about how good he feels about where his health is. Godwin got a lot of looks in the slot during organized team activities and minicamp and looked crisp with the ball in his hands. Second-year wideout Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan should also have bigger roles in 2026 in Tampa's passing game, but Godwin has plenty of trust from veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield and could return excellent value in PPR leagues if he can stay healthy. Godwin has played in only 16 games the last two years due to injuries, but before that, he had three straight 1,000-yard campaigns. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 48 fantasy WR going into the 2026 season.

After a red-hot finish to his 2024 rookie season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan suffered a frightening neck injury in the 2025 preseason and was limited to only four games in his sophomore campaign. Topping 100 yards in a Week 17 loss to the Dolphins, he reminded fantasy managers of his league-winning finish from the previous season, and now heading into his third season, a healthy McMillan could be primed for an expanded role and a more consistent outlook. With six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans not on the roster for the first time since 2013, the Buccaneers are left with massive shoes to fill on the outside, and McMillan has both the size and versatility to handle some of that responsibility. Multiple reports out of Buccaneers OTAs and minicamp listed McMillan as an early standout, and with his dynasty cost yet to truly reflect the opportunity before him, he remains a low-stakes trade target with proven upside. McMillan is currently RotoBaller's dynasty WR63, though that ranking is certain to rise if the buzz around him continues to grow when the team reconvenes for training camp.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has an "opportunity to take on a larger role" in the team's offense in 2026 following Mike Evans' departure to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency this offseason, according to Bucs Report. McMillan was limited to just four games (two starts) in 2025 in his second year in the league after he fractured three vertebrae and suffered two herniated discs in his neck in a preseason game. In his four games played, the 24-year-old made a difference, catching 12 of his 15 targets for 178 yards, although he didn't find the end zone. McMillan caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 targets in 13 regular-season games as a rookie in 2024 after being taken in the third round out of the University of Washington. Seven of his TDs came in his final five games of the year. With Evans now out of the picture, the Bucs are looking for stability on the outside, and head coach Todd Bowles has praised McMillan's work ethic and resilience. Because of the nose for the end zone that he showed as a rookie, and with increased opportunity in Year 3, McMillan is worth a late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts in 2026.

When given an opportunity to see the field, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has flashed upside. The 24-year-old recorded 354 scrimmage yards on 94 touches and led Tampa Bay running backs with eight touchdowns in 2025. However, Tucker enters 2026 as the Buccaneers RB3 behind Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell. As long as at least one of Irving and/or Gainwell is healthy, Tucker is likely blocked off from consistently fantasy-relevant production in Tampa Bay. Still, he will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season, so the Bucs may be incentivized to move him to a team in need of backfield help at some point this year. Between that possibility and Tucker's existing handcuff appeal, he could be worth stashing for deeper-league dynasty managers who are building for the future.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea has been present at mandatory minicamp practices this week, but he has been observing on the sidelines and is holding in as he seeks a new contract, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. "It's not concerning. We've been through it before. It's part of the business," head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday. However, Bowles couldn't say if he's confident that a resolution would be reached by the start of training camp at the end of July. The 31-year-old interior defensive tackle is entering the final year of a four-year, $71 million contract, and he's set to make $17 million in 2026, but none of it is guaranteed. Vea has a history of injuries, including during offseason workouts, so he's trying to protect himself heading into the 2026 campaign. He broke his right leg and suffered an ankle fracture in 2020 and also missed most of training camp and the first three games of his rookie season in 2018 with a strained calf. Vea missed part of camp and the entire preseason in 2019 with an LCL sprain in his left knee. And in 2025, Vea had a foot injury late in the summer that forced him to miss practices before Week 1. When healthy, the veteran D-lineman remains one of the best run-stoppers in football.

Across 16 games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton recorded 59 catches for 572 yards and a touchdown on 81 targets. The 27-year-old's production was a bit disappointing considering that Tampa Bay spent significant portions of the season without top wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. However, Otton may have a second chance to establish a more consistent role in the Bucs' passing game in 2026. Evans departed Tampa Bay in free agency, and the Buccaneers did not bring in any significant competition for Otton at the tight end position outside of sixth-round rookie Bauer Sharp. Otton may not offer significant upside for dynasty managers, but he's averaged a little over 8.0 PPR points per game over the past two seasons. As a depth option, Otton is worth rostering in deeper dynasty leagues.

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dealt with wide receiver injuries throughout much of the year, 2025 rookie Tez Johnson had some noteworthy moments, namely a five-game mid-season stretch that saw him average nearly 50 receiving yards per game while scoring four touchdowns. Unfortunately, heading into year two, the undersized seventh-round pick could be hard-pressed to sustain fantasy viability in Tampa's new-look offense. Even without six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans, the team still boasts plenty of depth, with both Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan expected to be closer to full health a year after missing a combined 21 games. 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka should develop further chemistry with Baker Mayfield in their second season together, and the team spent a third-round pick on receiver Ted Hurst after signing Kenneth Gainwell to pair another legitimate pass-catching running back with Bucky Irving. In a Zac Robinson offense that is expected to see far fewer sets with three receivers on the field, Johnson's path to playing time appears sufficiently blocked, and at RotoBaller's dynasty WR105, he is not a player who needs to be rostered in shallower leagues.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell has been a standout in his team's offense during OTAs, per Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. Gainwell is entering his first season in Tampa after signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the team in free agency. The 27-year-old put together a breakout season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, recording 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Gainwell recorded 73 catches on 85 targets last season, and Reynolds reports that he has "excelled as a receiver out of the backfield" early on with the Bucs. Entering 2026, Gainwell appears to be carving out a 1B role alongside the 1A in the Tampa Bay backfield, Bucky Irving.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Thursday that there is "absolutely no question" he wants veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield around long term, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Mayfield said just last week that he and the team are "not anywhere close to what we were thinking" as he seeks a new deal going into the final year of his three-year, $100 million deal. The 31-year-old wants a new deal done before the start of training camp at the end of July. If a deal isn't reached by then, Mayfield and his agent, Tom Mills, plan to shut down negotiations and focus on the 2026 season. If no deal is struck during or after the season, Mayfield would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Mayfield led Tampa to back-to-back NFC South titles in 2023 and 2024 immediately after Tom Brady retired. The team has gone 27-24 with Mayfield as their starter, and he was a Pro Bowler in both 2023 and 2024 while throwing for over 4,000 yards in both seasons. He took a step back last year, though, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 picks in 17 starts. Mayfield's fantasy stock is down entering his ninth NFL season due to durability concerns and the fact that he lost his top wideout, future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, in free agency. RotoBaller currently has Mayfield ranked as the No. 20 QB for the 2026 campaign.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) was seen working out at organized team activities on Thursday. Irving is being worked back in slowly this offseason after having shoulder surgery, but he looked good on Thursday while catching passes at OTAs while doing other work as well. Although he might not be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of next month, all signs point to the 23-year-old back being ready at some point this summer and for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The former fourth-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Oregon impressed with a 1,000-yard season and eight touchdowns on 207 carries while adding 47 receptions for 392 yards as a pass-catcher in 17 games as a rookie, but he played in only 10 games in 2025 due to injury and finished with 588 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Bucs. Irving's fantasy stock has fallen a bit going into his third year in the league because of durability concerns as he learns a new offense. Newcomer Kenneth Gainwell is also likely to steal valuable pass-catching reps from him. He still has clear RB2 upside if he can stay healthy, but Irving has fallen to No. 26 in RotoBaller's RB rankings for the 2026 season.

With Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) sidelined during OTAs this offseason, newcomer Kenneth Gainwell is standing out and "making the most of his extra reps," according to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. Gainwell is serving as Tampa's RB1 with Irving sidelined, and not Sean Tucker. The 27-year-old has proven to be "reliable and instinctive" in all phases of the game after having a career year in 2025 in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per tote) and five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (two starts). Gainwell added a career-best 73 receptions on 85 targets for 486 receiving yards and three receiving TDs in 2025. The former fifth-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 out of the University of Memphis has made a strong first impression with the Bucs, but with Irving expected to be fine for the start of the 2026 regular season, it's going to be tough for Gainwell to be as productive as he was a year ago. As long as both Irving and Tucker are healthy, Gainwell will be part of a crowded backfield with a new offensive coordinator at the helm in Tampa. Gainwell still carries plenty of value in PPR leagues, but fantasy managers shouldn't overspend for an RB who should be considered more of an RB3/flex every week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said that current contract talks "are not anywhere close to what we were thinking," but he's "gonna do everything he can to help his team win a Super Bowl," according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Mayfield wants to stay in Tampa long term, but he doesn't want to focus on negotiations once training camp hits at the end of July. The 31-year-old veteran is entering the final year of a three-year, $100 million deal he signed in 2024, and his fantasy stock is on the decline due to mounting nagging injuries and the fact that he lost future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans to free agency this offseason. Mayfield finished as the QB12 in fantasy in 2025, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts in his third year with the Bucs. It was a big dropoff after Mayfield threw for a career-high 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and a league-leading 16 picks in 17 starts in 2024 to earn his second Pro Bowl berth. The Bucs still have weapons around him, but fantasy managers should be pegging Mayfield as more of a high-end QB2 than a surefire QB1 as he enters what could be his final season in Tampa.