State Of The Roster
February 12th, 2026
Aging roster.
Unless a team has arguably the best coach in NFL history and finds ways to keep salaries down and squeeze the most out of everyone on the field, sooner or later a team will tumble from its former championship ways.
Joe’s good friend and longtime NFL writer and humorist Mike Tanier seems to get whiff that the Bucs are about to pay the piper. The men who were the backbone of the Bucs’ Super Bowl season in 2020 are either gone, retired or looking at condos in The Villages.
The Bucs simply are not your Bucco Bruce Arians’ Bucs and what they showed last year could be the norm around these parts until the roster is fully restocked, Tanier typed on his Substack, “Too Deep Zone.”
You could see the Bucs veterans aging in real time as the season wore on. Lavonte David is crispy. Mike Evans’ fuel light is blinking. Chris Godwin can’t stay healthy. Not everyone is ready for retirement, but the Bucs nucleus as a whole has passed its peak.
Emeka Egbuka and Bucky Irving are outstanding young players. The Bucs could use at least a half dozen more of them.
Joe would argue the Bucs need four of that half-dozen on the defense.
And if the Bucs are going to let Jamel Dean out the door, that’s another hole to fill. Unless Bucs coach Todd Bowles wants to move Jacob Parrish to full-time corner to replace Dean (which would be a solid move), Joe doesn’t see Dean’s replacement on the roster.
At least, not a viable replacement.
February 12th, 2026 at 9:15 am
So many holes to fill on defense. Makes signing Evans really difficult. Time for LVD to say goodbye and draft all defense.
February 12th, 2026 at 9:18 am
We are probably in for a reboot. We already hit the Bowles ceiling at 10-7 with Liam Coen in charge of one side of the ball. I hate to say it but the window closed bc of the staff, but hey, let fire everyone except the HC and see what happens and remember we had to hire an in game coach for things like clock management and timeouts because our HC wasn’t capable of that, meanwhile we had a 5 year run of having the luxury of playing in the worst division in the NFL and that won’t last much longer.
February 12th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Vita has hung on remarkably well, but at 31 he’s past his prime. Kancey can’t stay on the field while Hall is a weak pass rusher. Bowles loves to stop the run, but the NFL is a passing league and the Bucs need interior pass rushers that scare the opposition. Time to pick up some DT talent beginning in rd 3. Edge and ILB in rds 1-2.
February 12th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Always shifting blame away from Todd Bowles
February 12th, 2026 at 9:33 am
The Bucs have a lot of question marks
They have major issues with the roster, staff, front office
But, EVERY team in the NFC South has the same issues
We have time to completely rebuild this team
While winning the division at the same time
February 12th, 2026 at 9:36 am
This has all the makings of a draft where Tampa trades back to get extra picks.
When you are 4-6 players away, you shouldn’t be talking about winning Championships.
This team shouldn’t trade for Crosby either, I wish it was different.
Look at what happens when you try to plug key players into a coaching cycle window. Atlanta is the prime example of Trading up for a player to become “Good” now and that player is James Pearce!! Now the next coach is strapped with no 1st round pick and you lose that player.
Tampa can’t afford to go backwards like that.
We need to draft well and hope David Walker is That Guy!!
Maybe we are better than we think, but the true SB window won’t happen until Todd is gone I think!!
February 12th, 2026 at 9:43 am
What happened to the “Super Bowl ready” roster? Pretty clear as the season wore on that was simply not the case. Could be called gross negligence by journalists who brought that up. A championship team would have 6-7 different starters on defense and probably a couple of new starters on offense. Simple as that.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:02 am
With coaching this questionable, how can you tell if the players are any good?
The persistent coaching issues – overly complex scheme, bad game management, lack of player development – undermine roster evaluation. Maybe the roster is terrible, maybe it is good, but how can you tell?
February 12th, 2026 at 10:07 am
You move Parrish and it works until there’s ONE injury in the secondary and then the entire scheme is suddenly ineffective. That’s the “genius” behind Bowles, his entire defense is designed so that it’s only effective as long as every single starter remains healthy. The moment a backup is forced to play, the scheme must be dumbed down to zone coverage due to it’s complexity being to overwhelming for the inexperienced backup.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Mike Tanier is one million percent correct. Time to move one
February 12th, 2026 at 10:18 am
I think we’d make things easier for ourselves this offseason by keeping Dean & Otton.
2024 we were one of the younger teams in the league with an average age at about 25yrs old. Which was a drop 2 years after having one of the older teams in the league in 2022. 2025 we were somewhere around the league avg at about 26yrs old.
Considering guys like LVD, Sterling Shepard, Reddick and a few others may not be back, we could very well get younger depending on how we go about filling the holes left by their respective departures. We’ll see how the picture start coming together that first week or so of the new league year.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:26 am
BillyBucco … ‘This has all the makings of a draft where Tampa trades back to get extra picks.’
Our biggest problem for the past several years (and right now) in terms of getting high quality draft beasts is that we’re drafting too far down during BA/Bowles years.
o 2025 (pick #19): WR Egbuka (3rd WR taken).
o 2024 (pick #26): OL Barton (8th OL taken).
o 2023 (pick #19): DT Kancey (4th DL taken).
o 2022 (pick #33): DE Logan Hall (7th DL taken).
o 2021 (pick #32): DE JTS (1st OLB taken).
o 2020 (pick #13): OL Wirfs (4th Tackle taken).
o 2019 (pick #5): LB Devin White (1st LB taken).
Of those 7 draft picks, I’d say that Egbuka, Barton & Wirfs will be long-term Bucs (almost 50%). Starting in 2020, Bucs were picking well down the draft order, and many of the high quality draft beasts are gone by that point. Moving down further in the draft only exacerbates that problem. Moving up is very costly and I think that’s why JL doesn’t do it (except for 1 or 2 places to grab a player he really wants as the draft progresses).
February 12th, 2026 at 10:27 am
Egbuka is wildly overrated.. in 2 years, everyone will consider him a bust.. another Vernon Hargreaves
February 12th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Warren Brooks Lynch … ‘I think we’d make things easier for ourselves this offseason by keeping Dean & Otton.’
I’d gladly second that one, providing the costs are reasonable. Neither is really the long-term answer at their positions, but as 2-3 year ‘bandaids’ both are perfectly functional.
Of course, what are our chances of drafting a Revis or a Gronk to replace them? An optimist would say ‘less than 1%’.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Bobby M … ‘That’s the “genius” behind Bowles, his entire defense is designed so that it’s only effective as long as every single starter remains healthy.’
We all know what the Bucs’ salary CAP situation has been since Bowles became HC in 2022. We have real NO DEPTH. We’ve also had the situation that Licht has been overpaying a number of veterans who haven’t been producing at anywhere near what they cost us.
When our starters are healthy, we can compete with just about anyone. For instance, we stayed fairly healthy during 2020, and most of the players we did lose to injury weren’t starters. Last year in comparison was a disaster in terms of losing starters to injury.
But the reality of the NFL is that you MUST have quality DEPTH to make it through a 17-game season PLUS the playoffs. I agree that Todd’s defense is too ‘complicated’ and I for one wish that we’d go back to the 4-3 and limit all this blitzing. But hey, that’s who he is. Licht needs to find the players to make it work, and thus far he’s had issues in that area.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:46 am
You can tell the roster is bad because not one player takes over a game with pure athleticism, will and determination…consistently. Who’s the best player on the team? Evans? Wirfs? Vea?
Smh…tank year loading. There’s too many holes to fill with no leadership on offense or defense to get the best out of players. But it’s not all doom and gloom, the Bucs will have a new HC and QB in 18 months.
Hang in there!
February 12th, 2026 at 10:48 am
I agree wholeheartedly that this is the year that if Sonny Styles is not there when we pick we must trade down!
At that point there will be no more first inside linebackers worth picking at 15. The inside linebackers that I would like for us to draft can easily be had late in the first or in the second round or later. This includes Anthony Hill Jr from Texas, Allen from Georgia, Deonte Walker, Rodriguez.
Hill could likely be gotten late first, and Rodriguez in the 2nd (my preferences after styles)
The only edge rusher that might make sense at that point would be Howell. But TJ Parker, Derrick Moore, Gabe Jacas, Mesidor, Johnson from Tennessee Zion Young are still there. So trading back would still allow us to get one of these guys and perhaps get an additional second third or at worst and early fourth round pick.
There are a few very good corners in this draft and there is a good possibility one of them may fall to us at 15 if all the good inside linebackers go before we pick. All that to be said I feel we have invested a lot at the corner position in the last several drafts and would only take one if it meant trading down to get an additional pick in the second day.
If trading down to the 20s can let us an extra second round pick that allows us to get a good interior defensive lineman and still get Rodriguez at linebacker and say Parker at edge I am very happy with that.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:55 am
DR
Sir, you cant compare this Bucs roster to the 2020 roster that had how many HoFers on that team? Cmon man. Plus the 2025 team was mostly healthy during the 2-7 slide. Health wasn’t the problem late last season, it’s talent, ability and coaching.
The HC isnt good and is months too slow at making adjustments and many players on this team don’t have the talent to get the job done. As you so succinctly pointed out in another thread, the defense and offense got 4 points worse after the bye.
And I dont care about the cap situation because Bowles knew that before he took the job. So I’m assuming he thought he’d be successful anyway, despite the cap. Not an excuse. The drafting and personnel choices have been terrible. If you can’t build quality depth in 4 seasons thats tell me the GM and HC are bad or not on the same page.
February 12th, 2026 at 10:55 am
You’ve got a great franchise QB that plays with heart! Now build the god damn team! Jason!
February 12th, 2026 at 10:56 am
Paying for past memories in the NFL is a good way to find yourself picking in the top 10. We all love Evans. We all love LVD. Every team that has had great players around for a long time understands the conundrum, but romanticizing them and paying them top dollar well past their prime is a roster construction killer.
We have players on the roster to replace Evans and/or Godwin. You don’t draft a WR in the 1st round only to extend an old player at the same position the very next year. Im sorry, byt thats the basic economics of that situation. Evans can still play, obviously, but youre essentially paying for half a season from here on out with his soft tissue injury history. Can’t keep sending a 6’5 30+ year old reciever on 9-routes and expect him not to pull a hammy.
David doesnt have a replacement on the roster, but given the performance of the defense when he’s on the field anyway, whats the upside other than trying to keep an icon on the roster?
Our contract construction on some of these guys has the franchise completely upside down on the value of those players. It was understandable when Brady was here and they were legit chasing a Super Bowl. This roster isnt winning a Super Bowl until some of these contracts are off the books and the anchors on the roster are replaced.
February 12th, 2026 at 11:03 am
“Of course, what are our chances of drafting a Revis or a Gronk to replace them? An optimist would say ‘less than 1%’.”
Eh, I think those odds would go for all 32 teams IF the criteria were to be the “next” of either of those players.
My thinking says, you bring Otten back we don’t have to worry about committing resources to the TE position. We’d move forward with the young guys we drafted, which makes the most sense in my opinion.
As far as Dean goes, I’m seeing it projected that he could command 3yr/$45M for a deal which I wouldn’t be mad at because it’s cheap in comparison to the top earners at the position. I think with/without Dean we’d be on the market for a Vildor replacement anyway. So, imo letting Dean walk we’d just have to spend more $/draft capital just to replace him.
One thing to consider, and I’d have to look it up Deans’ vet status pertaining to the rule would be putting a transition on him. If I’m not mistaken it’d fully guarantee Deans’ pay for a year, but the math is worked out as the average of the top 10 contracts at the position opposed to the “franchise” tag figure being used off the average of top 5 CB contracts. Cheaper alternative, but something to keep an eye on.
We’d get first right of refusal, but would allow teams to bid on Dean to lure him away, while also allowing us to match. Only thing that stinks, is if Dean did take a deal elsewhere we wouldn’t get draft comp like we would if he were an RFA.
February 12th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Dean is always needing to be replaced because of injury anyway, like last years DB draft anyway, if he will stay cheap great, if not… BYE
February 12th, 2026 at 11:06 am
Joe’s good friend Mike Tanier needs to get a call from Joe. Tell him that Mike Evans and Chris aren’t chopped beef just yet, and that you wouldn’t be surprised if they were our top receivers this season. And remind him that JMac looked possessed when coming back last year, and, yeah, we have a rookie who may be an all pro in Egbuka. And for good measure, an acrobatic rookie, Tez, who scored 5 TDS in his virgin year. Tell him that we may keep the famous defensive playmaker Lavonte one more year to oversee the overhaul of our linebackers corps, with driven youngsters covering the flats and and the savage sounds of shoulder pads and helmets popping will be wafting in our wake. Let Mike Tanier know that we were as injured as any team in the league last season and that when our team takes the field next year they will be expecting to win. Mike Tanier seems like a nice guy, Joe. Tell him what we’ve got going on down here in Tampa, him saying Mike and Chris are washed means he doesn’t know as much as you know.
February 12th, 2026 at 11:11 am
All teams must deal with injuries during a season, the top tier coaches find ways to adapt and utilize the strengths of the players available. Bowles conveniently can’t sign or trade for anyone mid season because his scheme is too complex for existing veterans to decipher much less practice squad players, rookies or FAs. It’s simply to convenient that every year we face a meltdown mid season and it’s because we had to adjust aka dumb down the defense due to back ups having to play. Sorry but McCollum and Winfield declining in their play isn’t a “depth” issue. It’s Bowles….his scheme is conveniently built with complexity so he can always point to a break down by a player or a back up that’s inexperienced….it’s genius job preservation for him but ultimately ineffective when measured with results. His ceiling is 10 wins and nearly everyone would give credit to Coen for that feat. Reality is he’s a .500 HC with 1-3 record in the playoffs in the absolute weakest division in football. His scheme will never work unless he’s got 11 hall of famers on the defense, which at that point you could run any scheme and win convincingly.
February 12th, 2026 at 11:26 am
If I’m not mistaken, both Seattle and NE loaded up on FAs last year. Where were our FAs…Riddick and vapor. The wonderful, talented and much praised by posters here GM needs to get off his azz and find decent plug and play guys. SF went to the playoffs with more injuries than we did. Watch what they do this year. Their papers are full of possible FA additions.
Look at years ’21, ’22, and ’23. Our picks were JTS (bad pick but constantly on the field), Hall (ugh), and the never seen Kancy. that is 100% on JL.
With that performance it means the other than the draft, they need to utilize the FA market more. So far……
February 12th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Dean staying relatively healthy for a season is the outlier for his career. The odds are he’s not going to do that next season.
Dean is soft.
February 12th, 2026 at 11:56 am
A player personnel reboot merely gives Bowles yet another excuse for mediocre or worse results.
A good coach can ‘coach up’ those depth players as well as adjusting the game plan to put them in position to at least do well if they can’t excel.
These are not strong suits of coach “MY Way” Bowles who continuously insists that a square peg will fit in a round hole.
I know it’s been asked here before but… What’s the term for doing the same thing over and over and over again expecting different results?
February 12th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
LVD should retire and ME13 should seek a contract with a SB contender next season. I would unload GW and reallocate the money to other FAs. I love all these guys, but this is the honest state of things now. We had our chances and Bowles blew it. I see the Glazers holding on to Bowles one more year to avoid paying two HCs right now. JL is going to start building the roster again with youth, unless they decide to go all in with FAs. FA is going to determine a lot going forward for this franchise, but we’ve seen this cycle before many times.
February 12th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Excuses, excuses. Good teams led by good coaches and a wise front office restock on the fly. Do we really need examples. Okay … Ravens, Steelers, Patriots for 20 years, Chiefs, 49ers, Eagles (who even changed coaches), Packers. A weak coach and mediocre “Wrong of Honor” GM will cause the Bucs to reset.
February 12th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
If Morrison isn’t Deans repalcement, he was a wasted pick. I’m sure Licht will waste another pick on a corner, can’t have too many of them, instead of loading up at DT. Ask Seattle what wins championships corners, or beastly DTs, and a fearsome pass rush that puts the QB on the ground? Licht won’t pick what we really need, and Bowles will make them worse with his pathedic scheme.
February 12th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Over the hill
and
Underperforming
Fan base in denial
Ownership like the 4 year old at a 7 year old birthday party playing musical chairs.
Jason Lite the mother of the 4 year old
Todd Bowels somehow able to keep a straight face each week when he checks his direct deposit
Me singing the same old tune to a fan base left holding the bag and that keeps looking into it not believing that it is actually empty…. Still