Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Haggai Ndubuisi

DT

Now that he's on the IR, Ndubuisi will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Buccaneers. He joined the NFL in April of 2022 through the International Player Pathway program and made his pro debut as a member of the Texans in Week 14 of the 2025 campaign against the Chiefs, which is his lone appearance in a regular-season game.

Kenny Gainwell

RB

Irving is likely to get the majority of rushing opportunities in the regular season, and the Buccaneers also have Sean Tucker, who was used prominently in the red zone in 2025. Gainwell's niche is expected to be passing situations, so it's good to see him building early rapport with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Gainwell led the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season, while Tampa Bay's running backs combined for 78 receptions last season.

Ko Kieft

TE

Kieft injured his leg in Week 3 of the 2025 season and was unable to finish out the last year of his contract with the Buccaneers. He signed another one-year deal with the team in March and is ready to pick up where he left off as a blocking tight end and special-teams asset.

Baker Mayfield

QB

Mayfield wanted to get a deal done before training camp but apparently never came close. He did suggest his agent could remain in contact with the team while Mayfield turns his attention to the practice field and his teammates. "If you've waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, that's too bad," said Mayfield. "Because it's only going to get worse from here. I'm going to have a really big year."

Tristan Wirfs

OT

Wirfs got hurt during a conditioning test and is currently considered day-to-day. Once healthy again, the 27-year-old will resume his role as the team's starting left tackle.

Ifeatu Melifonwu

S

Melifonwu had a career-high in tackles (53) over 16 regular-season games as a Dolphin in 2025. The safety will now stand ready behind Tykee Smith at strong safety. The 25-year-old could see some action in Cover 3, but will likely be the team's primary depth option in 2026.

Benjamin Morrison

CB

Morrison worked off to the side with the training staff Wednesday after he initially suffered the strained hamstring during spring work. Morrison was a second-round pick last year and appeared in just 10 regular-season games as a rookie, making three starts. With Jamel Dean now in Pittsburgh, Morrison is expected to compete for a starting job at cornerback this summer.

Vita Vea

DT

Vea is "holding in" at training camp after he requested a trade out of Tampa Bay earlier in the week. He's looking for a new contract as he heads into the final year of a four-year, $71 million extension that was signed in 2022. Vea started all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and recorded 34 tackles (16 solo), including 4.5 sacks. He's certainly on the downslope of his career and is looking to cash in one more time.

Bucky Irving

RB

Irving won't require a ramp-up period to begin camp, per Bowles, which is highly encouraging after offseason shoulder surgery limited the 2024 fourth-round pick during spring activities. After injuries forced Irving to miss Weeks 5-12 last season and hampered him after his return, the third-year pro is now looking to reestablish himself as the clear top option in a Tampa Bay backfield that also includes Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker.

Chase Lucas

CB

The exact nature of Lucas' injury is unclear at this point, and there's no timetable for his return to practice. As long as he remains unavailable, it could mean extra chances for Kemon Hall to try to make an impression as a depth option in the secondary.

Chase McLaughlin

PK

McLaughlin suited up for all 17 regular-season games for Tampa Bay last season and set a new career high in made field goals (32), though he also logged a career-low conversion rate on attempts (84.2 percent). After going 11-for-12 on FG tries from 50-plus yards last season, McLaughlin is a solid candidate to bounce back in terms of accuracy in 2026. If he does, he'll be primed to hit the open market in 2027 as one of the league's top available kickers.

Chris Godwin Jr.

WR

During the 2025 regular season, Godwin -- who was limited to seven contests in 2024 -- put up a 33-360-2 line on 51 targets in nine games. The 30-year-old reportedly was a standout during OTAs and heads into training camp with no lingering injury concerns, which sets him up to maintain a key role in a Tampa Bay WR corps that no longer includes Mike Evans, who is now a member of the 49ers. In his continued role out of the slot, Godwin should provide fantasy lineup utility in 2026, particularly in PPR formats, while Egbuka -- a 2025 first-rounder who can line up all along the formation -- brings intriguing upside to the table in his second pro season, which is reflected in his current average draft position. Meanwhile, Jalen McMillan -- who will look to rebound from a 2025 campaign that was abbreviated by a neck injury -- is a candidate to see his share of targets on the outside, with Ted Hurst and Tez Johnson also in the mix to carve out roles in the passing game.

Anthony Nelson

LB

The linebacker missed the last two regular-season games of 2025 with a knee injury, but he appears to be past the issue. Nelson recorded 38 tackles (21 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two pass breakups, including an interception, and two forced fumbles last year.

Zyon McCollum

CB

The cornerback was placed on IR in December of last season after suffering a hip injury. Now that he's back, he should be able to resume his role as a starter. McCollum started all 30 regular-season games he was available for over the last two campaigns.

B.T. Potter

PK

Potter initially signed with the Steelers after going undrafted in 2023, but he was later dropped and has never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Across his final two seasons at Clemson, the 26-year-old converted all 97 of his point-after tries and 41 of 52 field-goal attempts.

Ben Bredeson

G

Bredeson is healthy again after having recovered from a knee injury that held him out of the final four games of the 2025 campaign. The 28-year-old is expected to serve as the Buccaneers' starting left guard once again during the upcoming season.

Cody Mauch

G

Mauch appeared in just two games in 2025 due to a knee injury, but it now appears he's moved past the issue. The 27-year-old is expected to operate the Buccaneers' top right guard during the 2026 season.

Ted Hurst III

WR

Hurst has the size at 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds and the long-range speed (4.42-second forty) to run the downfield routes vacated by Mike Evans, who is one of this generation's prototypical X receivers. The Bucs used the 84th overall pick on Hurst, who likely would've gone sooner if he'd faced stiffer college competition instead of playing at Georgia State. Hurst drew some Nico Collins comparisons in the pre-draft process. His main competition for playing time in three-wide sets figures to be Jalen McMillan.

Emeka Egbuka

WR

With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missing a combined 17 regular-season games to injuries last season, Egbuka was forced into multiple roles as a rookie. Godwin split time between the slot and out wide on his 428 offensive snaps, but he figures to play mostly a slot role in three-wide sets under Robinson, who talked up third-round rookie Ted Hurst (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) as a prototypical X receiver Tuesday. After Egbuka got off to a hot start last season, he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6 and dealt with the issue for multiple weeks despite not missing a contest. Full health and a dedicated position should help him return to form in his second campaign.

Jalon Daniels

QB

A six-year player at Kansas, Daniels finished the 2025 season by completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 404 yards (3.5 YPC) and four touchdowns on the ground. He has decent mobility with a 4.65 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but he needs to tidy up his work as a passer to have a shot in the NFL. Daniels will battle against Connor Bazelak for the No. 3 QB job behind Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning.

Calijah Kancey

DT

Kancey was sidelined for most of the 2025 season due to a pectoral injury he suffered in Week 2, but the defensive tackle's output has been more than satisfactory for the Buccaneers to justify spending the $14.475 million required to retain him through 2027. The 2023 first-round pick has accumulated 54 tackles (41 solo), including 11.5 sacks, through 29 career regular-season games thus far. With the team selecting linebacker Rueben Bain in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bucs will be acquiring an influx of talent on the defensive line that should only increase Kancey's potential for production this season.

Jalen McMillan

WR

The Bucs continued to shake up their wide receiver room by selecting Hurst with the 84th overall pick last Friday. Over the offseason, the team has subtracted Mike Evans, who signed with the 49ers in free agency, and added Hurst to a group that still includes Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, McMillan and Tez Johnson. McMillan missed most of last season with a neck injury before making his debut in Week 15. In four regular-season games, McMillan produced a respectable 12-178-0 line on 15 targets. Egbuka faded fast after a big first half of the campaign, and Godwin didn't look anything like his old self after breaking his ankle in 2024. How this depth chart shakes out during training camp and the preseason will be something to watch for an offense that likes to throw the football.

Bauer Sharp

TE

Sharp made three different stops during his college career, starting out at a lower level at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to Oklahoma in 2024 and on to LSU in 2025. In his final college campaign with LSU, Bauer compiled 24 grabs for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sharp lacks some of the athleticism to make plays downfield, but he works well underneath and is a solid blocker. Cade Otton remains entrenched atop the Bucs' depth chart at tight end and Payne Durham is likely aligned behind him, but Sharp could compete with Devin Culp for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, and the former also figures to be a special-teams candidate.

Billy Schrauth

G

Schrauth boasts solid size (6-5, 310 pounds) and athletic ability, and he started 19 games over his last two seasons at Notre Dame. However, he also missed a significant chunk of contests during his college career, so there is some reason to question his ability to stay healthy. Schrauth does a good job staying in front of defenders but can struggle on occasion getting to quicker rushers and linebackers, and his arm length isn't deal for his position, which can cause some issues. Schrauth will slot into a depth role on the Buccaneers' offensive line, perhaps developing into a contributing role.

DeMonte Capehart

DT

Capehart boasts an ample frame (6-foot-5, 313 pounds) and played 1-technique at Clemson, so there is some potential here for Capehart to develop, but he wasn't a full-time starter in college. The Bucs are taking a lottery ticket on a guy with plenty of potential. However, after racking up 21 tackles and 3.0 sacks as a senior, Capehart will likely require some development.