The Return Of “Nacho”
April 3rd, 2026
He’s ba’ack.
Former Bucs defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches, known affectionately by his former teammates and fans as “Nacho,” is coming home.
A member of the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl team, Nacho left after the 2022 season to chase coin and signed with the Giants. Joe can’t blame him. Only so many years in a man’s body to make bank in the NFL as a player.
Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, the Bucs re-signed Nacho.
In the 2020 season, Nacho played a critical role for the Bucs. When Vita Vea broke his ankle in Week 5 at Chicago on a Thursday night game, Nacho stepped in as the starter and held the fort down until Vea could return, which he did for the NFC Championship game in Green Bay.
Joe has to figure Nacho is no longer the player he used to be. At worst, he will be a valuable depth piece who already knows Todd Bowles’ defense.
If Joe didn’t know any better, with the signings of A’Shawn Robinson and Nacho, it’s like the Bucs are preparing for Calijah Kancey to get hurt again.
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:44 pm
He’s ok to take to camp, but he’s not the player he was in 2022
I would still draft a DT
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:54 pm
JL, is a waste of a GM!
The GM, QB & HC are Ruining this team and the franchise…:..
April 3rd, 2026 at 9:58 pm
Jason Licht has a lot of decisions to make
Baker, Yaya, Kancey, Mauch, Vita are the main decisions
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:01 pm
That’s why Jason Licht is signing a lot of 30 + players to one year deals
He can’t commit to long term deals with free agents
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Actually I wouldn’t worry about those signings. The cap went up a lot this year and will do likewise next year. It may even have a separate cap for QBs as they skew the whole thing. Either way there will be money. I don’t believe JL’s line that the Bucs are near the cap for 2026.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Lakeland that’s because he knows Bowles will be fired next year and Bucs will be starting all over. We will undoubtedly be picking top 5 next year. He knows it and thise that don’t will soon enough. This team is built to lose.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:07 pm
I like this with what we have at DT already, especially for a guy like Elijah Simmons, hell Roberts too. This is the Greg Gaines replacement. Lose a vet, gain a vet and Nacho was pretty solid as a rotational player last year for the Giants. Few
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:13 pm
I like Nacho but can we please sign some 20 year olds !
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:27 pm
Good signing. Nacho is better than Greg Gaines
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:35 pm
Jason is fortifying the locker room and depth which was weak af. It’s kind of delusional that our fans think rookies will to come in here and take over this team but every offseason here we are looking at these insane comments. You were complaining about depth and he signs depth guys but you then complain about their age as if any of you were watching the Giants play and it’s weird. I bet he’s better than useless Greg Gaines.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:39 pm
Criminy, the whining by clueless people is so disheartening. So many people here seem like their only form of exercise is complaining. It’s like listening to a wife here most of the time. What a bunch of chronic losers!
Good job, Bucs. Cheap, solid signing for someone who knows the system. The people calling for young 20-year-olds don’t realize that they are few and far between and in most cases, worthless if they are available as free agents.
Sorry whiners, you can’t sign draftees at this point. Sit tight and wait to see what happens in the draft. Then, you can start your bitching all over again – an occurrence that is 100% guaranteed.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:48 pm
I like A’Shawn Robinson and Nacho signings
If Kancey go down again, we will be better in the trenches
Now they need to draft that stud DT, ILB, CB
Those are the 3 positions on this defense I’m mostly concerned about
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:50 pm
I dont see us drafting a dt early.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:52 pm
Nacho brings juice and attitude. Rotation solid singing.
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:52 pm
I got on the Kancy train after Baldingers video. Since then … sorry nope can’t stay on the field
April 3rd, 2026 at 10:58 pm
Good idea bringing him back
April 3rd, 2026 at 11:03 pm
Idk why all the Hate on Nacho dude is a Good Player you got good Vets am Good young guys they mix well Nacho knows Bowles system an he is a good Run Stuffer Bucs needed to get better Depth every where Bucs Lost Hall an Gaines an brought in Robinson an Nacho they both play with Attitude I really like Nacho it’s not like there signing him to Start but he is Someone who can compete an push guys in camp but Vita needs a Guy who can come in for him Nacho is that guy you got a nice DLine room now Vita Kancey Robinson will Start with Yaya an Muhammad then you Have Walker Nelson an Braswell who . not counting out yet everyone is different It took Trey Hendrickson 3-4 years to figure it out as well it takes guys some time longer then other guys so he has to have a great Camp an Preseason an I think he will with Walker an the Rookie Pushing him along with Nelson Then Roberts year 2 has me really excited dude just learned how to play DT an was getting really good pressure an Nacho who is a Gritty Vet someone you can trust I mean he did win a Super Bowl with the Bucs I love it guys who know what it takes guys who want to win he played his best ball in Tampa glad he’s back also it’s not the big names signings that matter the depth on this Roster is Getting better an Jason is Creating Competition in Camp Ppl will have to earn there spots no more Gifting guys there Jobs last year Braswell has no competition in camp no one to push an have him play on fire Same with Dennis know Dean had 2 rookies under him hungry an he had his best year ever Jason is doing the right thing love how he’s building the roster now we can cover the rest of the needs on Offense an defense in the Draft Need a safety but I think they Want Wisdom to take over Izien an I think he will do fine he looked good at safety but I remember in one of the preseason games the Nickel got hurt an Wisdom told Bowles to throw him in an he did a good job I think we need Rookie Incase of injury to go with Wisdom an Miles. Killbrew who I believe is mostly a ST guy but the Bucs will get another TE WR CB Edge an LB an Guard but maybe not with Freeney an Haggard with Ben being our new Swing Tackle he is going to be Good I can see the Bucs Drafting a Guard who can play center Bucs have Alot better depth with Dennis an Rozeboom at LB this year then last year Bucs need to Draft a Rookie to play next to Anzalone I like what Jason is Building
April 3rd, 2026 at 11:12 pm
We just gotta bring Suh Barrett & JPP back now, too!