Their Future Is Now
December 19th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
There’s a lot on the line Sunday in Charlotte — beyond trying to keep Derrick Brown out of the Buc backfield.
The Bucs and Panthers meet twice in the final three weeks to determine the top dog in the NFC South, where you can’t find a team barking with a winning record.
Tampa Bay fans are hopeful the season extends beyond Jan. 4 and these upcoming matchups will go a long way in shaping the offseason plans at One Buc Place.
There’s a long list of potential unrestricted free agents, including some who have played key roles in pewter for quite a while. Should the Bucs fail to win the division for a fifth consecutive season, they will find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time since the arrival of Bruce Arians in 2019.
Rachaad White
That’s a crushing scenario for Buc Nation and a jarring wake-up call for Jason Licht and Todd Bowles … if both return to run a creaky pirate ship.
The list of potential UFAs is led by long-time stalwarts Mike Evans and Lavonte David. Other Bucs who could test the free-agent market include Jamel Dean, Haason Reddick, Rachaad White, Cade Otton, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, Sterling Shepard, Kindle Vildor, Deion Jones, Teddy Bridgewater, Ko Kieft and Charlie Heck.
Let’s start at the top.
Even if the Bucs sit out the postseason, it’s going to be up to Evans and Evans alone whether he returns in 2026. Although he’ll turn 33 next summer, Evans has the credentials to earn a bust in Canton and the Glazers aren’t going to jettison a Hall of Fame player who remains productive. This is not 2009, when Jon Gruden was sacked and ownership decided a veteran purge that included Derrick Brooks was necessary as a first step in a major rebuild.
David, who turns 36 next month, could decide to hang up his cleats after 14 distinguished seasons.
It’s been a Ring of Honor career, if not a Hall of Fame career, and he’s still a solid player, but David’s not the same sideline-to-sideline force. It’s apparent this front 7 needs an injection of youth and juice.
If David wants to keep playing, that could be a sticky situation for Licht and the Glazers. Nobody wants to see No. 54 in another uniform, but the franchise might decide to move on from a defensive captain who has been so good for so long.
The next few weeks will go a long way in determining David’s future.
Dean has enjoyed a solid season, but the Bucs voided his 2026 contract and Licht drafted fellow cornerback Benjamin Morrison in the second round to play opposite Zyon McCollum. The stage appeared set for Dean to move on, but McCollum regressed this season before being placed on injured reserve heading into the most important matchup of the year.
Could Dean return in a Buc uniform next fall? Absolutely, especially if he comes up big in the stretch run.
Reddick could have been one of the stars of the game against Atlanta had the Bucs recovered his forced fumble in the fourth quarter. But let’s be honest — that’s one of the few times this season Reddick has proven to be disruptive.
You have to think Reddick will be moving on in 2026 as Licht continues his annual pursuit of an elite edge rusher.
Although White and Otton have contributed to Tampa Bay’s offense for several years, the Bucs will be on the lookout for upgrades.
Otton caught four TD passes in each of the past two seasons, but he has yet to reach the end zone in 2025 and that’s been a major factor in Tampa Bay’s struggling red-zone attack.
White’s role has diminished since the middle of the 2024 season, when Bucky Irving emerged as the No. 1 back. Sean Tucker is a younger and cheaper replacement as Irving’s primary backup.
NFL free agency doesn’t come around until March, but many of these 14 potential UFAs could be facing their final games as a Buccaneer. As a group, their future is now.
A family-owned Tampa icon since 1960, one mile north of the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.
December 19th, 2025 at 8:59 am
Great piece Ira. Licht’s annual pursuit of an edge rusher? Did I miss something? I love Jason. We haven’t had an edge rush since 2020. Management hasn’t ever seemed all that interested in it. Unfortunately.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Keep Lavonte but in a diminished role. He still has a lot of value. That is if he wants to come back which I doubt.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:09 am
There is no future if Bowles is still our head coach. I can’t see Evans coming back if Bowles is still here. It seems as if that “3rd and 28” shout was aimed directly at the head coach!
December 19th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Well done, Ira. I agree with Oscar too. Keep Lavonte in another role.
Reddick has been a disappointment.
March isn’t very far away.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Time to flush the toilet.
7-10 is coming
December 19th, 2025 at 9:21 am
Derrick Brown is going to run through those practice squad guards like they aren’t even there. Baker is going to have pressure in his face rapidly and frequently. The Bucs are going to lose out. The defense stinks. Bryce Young will probably have around 645 yards and 4+ TD’s against the Bucs combined over the two games.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:32 am
White plays an important role for this team if not for this OC. He can block, he can catch, and he’s 210+. We can like Tucker but he’s smaller and less flexible in the passing game.
Likely to come down to money with some pride thrown in. White has been dissed and thrown to the side. That said, the Bucs likely can make the best offer, though someone else might go crazy or Licht might lowball the negotiations. The next contract will be his best so he doesn’t want a one year prove-it deal.
But will next year’s front office and coaching staff want him back, and will they put him in a role that plays to his strengths? That’s the ~$5,000,000+ question.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Let them all go including Licht, Bowles and the entire coaching staff. Keep Evans. Fill with free agents.
We will be better next year by taking out the trash.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:37 am
In the past, White showed he was great when catching passes out of the backfield. Maybe not as good as Bucky, but still, one of the best in the NFL. It’s a mystery to me why he hasn’t been used more in that way. That IS what he was best at.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:49 am
David will retire, we can hopefully keep Evans for one more year, the only other player on that this who will really hurt us if gone is Dean, who hopefully we can franchise and trade for some picks. In Licht we trust! build through the draft. If someone wants to overpay Cade Otton and Rachaad White then we will be happy to take those compensatory picks.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Mike Evans is the only UFA we should be resigning. Lavonte’s had a great career but it’s over. Fans keep crying the team has no talent but begging to bring back mediocre players lol what the hell is going on. There futures should already be decided. Honestly we don’t need another 3 games, that’s how these guys get big contracts they don’t live up to. If Licht is the guru everybody claims he is then he needs to rebuild this roster.
December 19th, 2025 at 9:57 am
trash man is coming for bowles/ hes proved who he is every year
December 19th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Yes Ira agree if David wants to play keep him in a dimished role. In my opinion he has been forced into a leading role , because even as he is slowing down he is still better than anyone else, forcing him into a role he should have been relieved of last year, much less this year. Shame on the Bucs, Lich, Bowles, both for not getting a better MLB, who could have allowed David to be in a complimentary role!!.
Second, Yes White is a lot more valuable than people realize. Keep in mind who has better numbers right now running the ball, hint, it is not Ivrin. The problem with White, yes he has not been utilized properly by the OC. Remeber, yes besides being 210, he blocks probably better than any of the backs. He is deadly out of hr backfield when used correctly and currently, I will take him in the red zone any day over Ivrin. Ira I beg to differ this offense needs White, I would keep him for sure. Is he your primary number 1 back , probably not, but he definately needs to be getting a fair share of touches in any offense. Yes a lot more than he is getting now. Yes Ira you know this who is getting more yards per carry this season. Hopefully the Bucs utilize him correctly over the next 3 games. It will be a travesty if they don’t
December 19th, 2025 at 10:05 am
Now is 7-10. The future is 2026 after We Know Who is doing an emeritus gig at Temple University.
December 19th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Not really sure how you can judge Whites value when he gets one or two carries a game.
But please, keep running mighty might into the ground.
December 19th, 2025 at 10:21 am
I’m of two minds when thinking about the rest of the season. I’m not quite where the Doom and gloomers are above. Obviously Sunday is a very winnable game if we play our cards right. Dolphins too. That means the division in a playoff game and who knows? Obviously we all think we know how that’s going to go. But the games are played for a reason. If we do indeed lose out which is certainly possible, then anything is on the table. I think the Brain trust above and like-minded posters would prefer to lose out, which is a terrible way to look at it if you ask me. But that is the path that ensures the most change, which is what it seems the majority would prefer. That does in discount a playoff appearance and significant change afterwards if the predictable failure occurs. Lots of balls in the air.
December 19th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Heard a promising rumor that Seattle’s Kubiak will be the next head coach here.
December 19th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Lovie Smith, Mike Smith, Todd Bowles
It’s not hard to see Todd Bowles failures are simply a repetitive cycle. The game catches up with talented DC-turned-HC.
December 19th, 2025 at 10:44 am
I hate to say this out loud but I hope Lavonte hangs
Up his cleats. Great career but it’s time. He would be fine if we had a pass rush tho. Otton has been a huge disappointment this year. I hope Culp gets a chance these last few games