“Seems Like An Indictment On The Direction in Tampa”
May 4th, 2026
“Todd, you going to have these rookies ready for Week 1?”
Hopeful the Bucs return to the playoffs, Joe despises leaning on “hope.”
Joe watched how the Bucs lost a Hall of Fame receiver, a Hall of Fame linebacker and their best corner and cannot see how the team didn’t take a step back as a result.
Yes, the Bucs had really nice signings and the draft seems like a home run — in May. Still, banking on three rookies, one on each level of the defense, to turn around the defense right away seems like an uphill climb.
Oh, it could happen. But banking on rookies is a dicey proposition.
Well, it seems Joe isn’t alone. Mike Sando of The Athletic, right before the draft had one of his famous columns where he shares input from NFL suits on every NFL team. Two NFL executives were convinced the Bucs not just took a step back losing Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Jamel Dean, but Evans’ exit left an unknown stench.
The general feeling among execs was that the Buccaneers slipped this offseason after receiver Mike Evans and cornerback Jamel Dean signed elsewhere.
“They have definitely taken a step back,” one exec said. “I don’t know how they are better.”
[Said another suit], “Losing Mike Evans is huge, and the fact that he left for what he perceived to be a closer contender, and for less money, seems like an indictment on the direction in Tampa.”
Right before the free agency dinner bell rang, monster sackmeister Trey Hendrickson, through his proxy Adam Schefter, let it be known he craved playing for the Bucs as he could return home to Florida.
When the Bucs reached out to Hendrickson, he seemingly turned a cold shoulder. Maybe it was their offer, maybe something else. No one has told Joe the following, but Joe is convinced Evans bolting Tampa Bay spooked Hendrickson, who made it known he wanted to play for a contender.
While Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs are better without David, Dean and Evans, if defensive rookies Rueben Bain, Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott ball out, the Bucs could return to the playoffs.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Relying on rookies to make the post season screamed hope. I think more than anything this season comes down to injuries and Bowles coaching. If the trends keep up with Bowles like it has been the last 3 years this team will be cooked by November
May 4th, 2026 at 9:18 am
“” “Losing Mike Evans is huge, and the fact that he left for what he perceived to be a closer contender, and for less money, seems like an indictment on the direction in Tampa.””
What’s done is done. But there will be NO EXCUSES this year. Bowles either sinks or swims. I believe 9 or less wins gets him fired. It’ll be a year too late but his free passes are OVER. For somebody that uses the word “accountability” all the time he’s yet to be held accountable for any of his failures.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Yeah and big fat clueless Todd is trying to coordinate the defense while captaining the Ship. How many competent coaches double as coordinators? Not too many and unfortunately Buccaneers fails to recognizethat we have an incompetent one trying to do that. Insanity.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Yeah and big fat clueless Todd is trying to coordinate the defense while captaining the Ship. How many competent coaches double as coordinators? Not too many and unfortunately Buccaneers fails to recognize that we have an incompetent one trying to do that. Insanity.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:23 am
How much production did we get from those 3 players last season??
That’s what we will miss
And l really didn’t see them produce last season
We should be a much better squad without them
This is my opinion
May 4th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Enough about Evans, David, and Dean. Evans and David are at the end of the careers and we’re no longer superstars. You will see that coming up this year with Evans if he plays a full year. Dean was a good player but always injured no problem moving on from him. Jason light has signed quite a few players to fill the depth and the needs of the team then had a great draft. Can’t take the whining anymore.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Yes Joe I stated pretty much the same yesterday on a post saying expererts like Eisen and others saying the Bucs are again favorites to win the division. Yes the Bucs appear, big word, to have had a good draft. However, yes all those rookies must really deliver this year for the Bucs to be a winning team, a tall order!.
Presently you have 2 corners, McColiumn and Morrison, who are not starting material. Presently in my opinion they both need to be replaced so they need another corner they don’t have. Trotter may be good but take a few years to develop, big question? Do the Bucs need another sstarting ILB, I think so. Then Bain has to really produce lights out year one. That often does not happen year one and with the Bucs it never happens since 1976. So a lot of big ifs on this team right now. Right now I see 6 wins if lucky and the offense plays lights out every game. I think we won’t know about this team until the start of the season.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:27 am
The defense will probably be good enough for Todd Bowles to win. His seat is hot.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Last season wasn’t an aberration. Thats how every single season under Todd Bowles goes and how it will likely continue to go. Its a carbon copy every season, only last season they couldn’t stop the skid until it was too late.
I dont know how they’ve managed to get out to fast starts on the season and rattle off 3 or 4 wins early, but its the only thing thats saved Bowles job.
He’s a bad head coach. He will continue to be a bad head coach. At 60+ years old they dont just roll out of bed one day and figure it out. He’s assembled another defensive staff that wont question him and apparently have no ambition to be more then a lap dog, because nobody is leaving this organization and advancing their careers on the defensive side of the ball. Shouldn’t that be a major tell to team management?
I dont want to see.our team lose, but I also dont want to see years of players careers wasted either stuck in the mud with this guy.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Lavonte lost a step though I love the guy.
Mike was hurt for a lot of the season, so we were playing without him for the most part.
Dean missed a few games like usual but was probably was better than he’d been in a few years but depending on the swing back of the pendulum, he will miss a chunk of games this season, mark my words.
This isn’t the same three guys that played in the super bowl.
We signed a few helpful guys in free agency to replace what we lost and we drafted well. Let’s see what happens.
Would love to see us pick up a veteran CB between now and camp.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:33 am
How many older WRs switch teams and end up doing well for their new teams, Julio n AJ Green come to mind as recent failures, LVD was 36, Dean is hurt more often than not and average at best
May 4th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Keeping Todd guarantees us a fruitless effort and no SB appearance.
It’s one big sh@t burger and we all have to take a bite.
Smell it, does it smell like sh@t? Taste is, does it taste like sh@t? Yep!
Unfortunately we also stepped in it with the retention of Bowles.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:38 am
Both new linebackers are a huge upgrade from last year, we were NEVER gonna re-sign Dean, Evans only had a single 100 yard game last year. Our D-line/pass rush is a thousand% better. We have a better team than the one who squeaked by Carolina to finish 8-9
May 4th, 2026 at 9:46 am
If the offense cooks and the defense falls flat again. I just don’t have any faith left in Bowles. Keep Robinson as you HC and bring in Jason Taylor as DC.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Maybe Mike heard the plan for the offseason and said, nope!
Not maybe, it’s what happened, period.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:01 am
IF Bowles uses the new defensive players correctly, the Bucs have a chance at winning some games. Nobody wants to see Bain in coverage. Nobody wants to see Trotter trying to cover Bijan out of the backfield.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:01 am
Dean and Evans taking less $ to play elsewhere says all you need to know! They didn’t want to play for Bowles anymore! He should have been the one to leave. IMHO! It’s a new team now hopefully it’s a new Bowles too. We’ll see come September.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:05 am
There’s talk about this and that but no talk yet about the elephant in the room and that is Baker Mayfield. It’s ALL about the QB on every NFL team. Just think about all the scenarios that come into play with the looming contract extension and whether or not Baker gets one. You just know that Baker is thinking about those scenarios. I don’t think Dean would have been resigned but feel quite certain Evans would have been resigned and the way of his departure must have some effect on Baker. The owners must be planning for all contingencies OR they are planning for Bowles to complete his contract. Baker either fits the long term plan or not. Baker has been treated poorly by team owners, coaches, financial advisors and family and media. The smile on his face may not reflect the thoughts in his mind.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:06 am
BucsFan81 Says:
“Relying on rookies to make the post season screamed hope.”
Yep…by the fans. No one really knows what the Bucs plan.
Just like fans assumed Todd would be fired, but the Bucs had a different plan.
– – –
BucU Says:
“…there will be NO EXCUSES this year. Bowles either sinks or swims.”
Empty threat backed by a fan with no power…because none of us have power over what the Bucs do. We can assume all we want, but that doesn’t mean we’re correct.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:07 am
BucsFan81 Says:
“Relying on rookies to make the post season screamed hope.”
Yep…by the fans. No one really knows what the Bucs plan.
Just like fans assumed Todd would be fired, but the Bucs had a different plan.
.
BucU Says:
“…there will be NO EXCUSES this year. Bowles either sinks or swims.”
Empty threat backed by a fan with no power…because none of us have power over what the Bucs do. We can assume all we want, but that doesn’t mean we’re correct.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:09 am
We also have two corners who are graduating from rookie to vet this year. Dean was always injured. We aren’t taking such a big step back there. Anzalone is as good of an LVD replacement as you could even draw up – and he’s signed for a couple years. We also added a young guy in Trotter who has top tier pedigree and will be surrounded by Anzalone and who has access to Derrick Brooks and LVD if he wants it I’m sure.
Oh, and the pass rush “lost” a nobody, and added a 10+ sack backup and drafted a top five talent at 15.
And we got an X WR to groom to follow Evans. He’s in maybe the most talented receiving room in the NFL. LOADS of upside with this situation. Doesn’t have to start right away and has a killer support system and sky is the limit talent.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:09 am
How many games were lost due to special teams, blocked punts, kicks, etc? It would be nice for special teams to win us a game or two, and I am not talking about our kicker; he has done his job. How about the return team putting points on the board? That would be different.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:11 am
Baker isn’t quite Top 10 but fine for winning a SB.
Gotta have a good defense and be able to run though, to overcome Baker not really putting a Team on his shoulders.
I can tell you one thing, going into this season without a True Veteran #1 corner is scary to me. That is where most of the HOPE lies currently IMO.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:11 am
Elite Vita Says:
“The defense will probably be good enough for Todd Bowles to win. His seat is hot.”
According to who? We all thought he’d be fired after last season. The fact that he wasn’t proves what we think doesn’t matter.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:12 am
😂stop. Man telling you with some people. Yep losing evans hurts but there’s more than enough talent at wideout to be productive.
Glassman Dean not a big loss either
May 4th, 2026 at 10:13 am
The NFL expects see what even Stevie Wonder can see.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:20 am
I don’t believe Todd Bowles is on the hot seat
I think this fanbase want to believe that, his seat is hot
But the Glazers are not showing any signs that his seat is hot
He probably has to show Joel, that the team is heading in a positive direction
But that don’t mean he have to win now, or get fired
I’m sure the Glazers are interested in progress
But we’re no where near a Super Bowl contending team
May 4th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Magic just fired their HC after another disappointing season. How many will the Glazers tolerate?
May 4th, 2026 at 10:29 am
“”BucU Says:
“…there will be NO EXCUSES this year. Bowles either sinks or swims.”
“Empty threat backed by a fan with no power…because none of us have power over what the Bucs do. We can assume all we want, but that doesn’t mean we’re correct.”
There SHOULD be no excuses this year. There fixed it for ya.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:33 am
HC/DC,just won it all last season ,Lefty….”In Bowles We Trust”…Go Bucs!
May 4th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Mike left because of Licht, Bowles and Baker. He has no faith in their abilities and judging by past 3 seasons it makes sense. This team continues to get worse. It doesn’t matter if Bowles is on the hot seat or not. If the Bucs have another losing season, and they probably will, he’ll more than likely get fired. There are no long-term contracts for any of the main decision makers on the team, coaches and players.
Everything about this season screams, wait and see. When Mike has an accurate QB he turns into a pro-bowler. He’ll have a good season while Baker on the other hand has struggled without Mike. 4-8 I believe? Baker will miss that wingspan especially in the redzone where he tends to throw high.
Prepare to be underwhelmed.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Not a step backwards. Mike and Dean missed significant time last year and LVD
Played 2 seasons too many. WR group is highly talented and diverse. JMac and EE
will be even better this year. The LB group is a significant upgrade from last year along with the pass rush. The OC and staff, Special Teams and defensive Staff have been upgrades as well. If o line can stay healthy we should be better than last year. You cannot just look at 3 players (like national media does) and say the team is worse without those 3, two who can’t stay healthy and one who was over the hill.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Bowles couldn’t win with Brady after losing Gronk, Suh, Marpet, etc….to think rookies are magically going to fix this team after losing Evans and Dean is the absolute definition of offseason hype. This team has looked mediocre and lifeless since Bowles was handed the job which is exactly the energy Bowles displays. Cohen brought the juice to the team via actual offensive brilliance….that masked the mediocrity of Bowles. We keep thinking something is going to drastically change and it’s simply not. We have six or seven seasons to judge Bowles coaching capabilities….hes a .500 coach that can’t get past the first rd of the playoffs. He’s a poor mans Mike Tomlin….a lot of “ok” but never a legit contender.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:39 am
“Joe watched how the Bucs lost a Hall of Fame receiver, a Hall of Fame linebacker and their best corner and cannot see how the team didn’t take a step back as a result”
Joe, yes, they took three steps back. But they took at least five steps forward as well.
As to Mike Evans leaving, that was painful for this fan…but that was on him, not the Bucs. He decided to leave. He decided he wanted to play for at least one other team to see how it was. It’ll be his final stop.
The truth is nostalgia wasn’t a good enough reason to keep him anyway, but the Bucs still tried.
It was painful seeing him leave, but he really wasn’t worth keeping because $25m is too much to pay for a WR who had become injury prone. He doesn’t have a full season left in him.
If he had to leave, now was the time. We had strong WR Room, and even though “Young” Hurst isn’t going to sniff being a HoFer early on, he could be better for us than “Old” Mike.
Baine and Scott will probably come out balling the first game. Yaya will feed off 9f them.
At DT we’re covered.
Godwin and EE will do great at WR..and that’s our strongest depth.
At RB we’re good.
At guard, we’re healthy and the added depth.
And Special Teams he been addressed.
Frankly, I do not understand how more people are not excited.
David retiring could have happened at any point the last 3 years. We all knew that was coming eventually.
And as to Dean…half the fans here wanted him gone for years…and he was also prone to injury.
Our CBs drafted last year are entering their 2nd season. They’ll be improved this year. They won’t be vastly improved, but they’ll play better than 2025.
With 3 edge rushers and Scott added, they’ll have an easier time of it, certainly. QBs who fear getting sacked make a lot of mistakes, and the secondary benefits from it.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:40 am
Bowles jad them playing at 6-2, cant stop injuries…Not his fault
May 4th, 2026 at 10:42 am
It’s up to the locker room, there is a vacuum in leadership, this team will have to prove itself to themselves and the rest of the league.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Bobby M. Says:
“Bowles couldn’t win with Brady after losing Gronk, Suh, Marpet, etc…”
So, loosing 5 future Hall of Famers, immediately when he became head coach…you don’t think that created vast holes? Seriously…what else did anyone expect? Then he lost Brady…and immediately had 2 winning seasons.
Last year was a fluke. All those injuries rarely happen…and we were domination before they happened.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:48 am
I’m not totally sure we’ve seen the last of David.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:49 am
Sean McDermott is taking this season off to recharge and he says he would like to return to coaching in 2027. So if you really believe Bowles seat is not Red Hot you are in a pipe dream. Should Todd fail the Glazers again , McDermott will be ready to step in and right the ship. Whether Licht is retained or thrown over the gunnels will reveal whether Licht endorsed Bowles and encouraged the Glazers’ not to make a change after last season.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Bee Says:
“Mike left because of Licht, Bowles and Baker. He has no faith in their abilities and judging by past 3 seasons it makes sense. This team continues to get worse.”
Fake news.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:52 am
Realistically Joe, relying on Evans, David, and Dean is worse (at their ages) I have hope for the online with ZR running the show. GRIZZ had no chance after week 1 we rolled out with Barton at left tackle
May 4th, 2026 at 10:55 am
Not having Levonte David wearing the green dot and communicating plays on defense will be our biggest loss. If we actually have a pass rush this year, we won’t even notice Dean is gone. Not meant to be a slight on Dean. Just reality of how important a pass rush is to coverage.
Evans and White should be easily replaced as well. Love Mike, but he’s always been very drop prone and not known for getting separation or YAC.
Of course, subpar QB play doesn’t help… too many times when Baker throws him the perfect ball he drops it, and when Mike runs the perfect route and is open, Baker whiffs it or throws it in the opposite direction.
But I think not having Mike will improve our offense by miles. No pressure to get him his targets, no pressure to get him his 1k yards, and we still have a myriad of WR talent to work with. Especially if this Hurst dude is any good.
For as great as Bucky looked in 2024, he was absolute buns in 2025. I really hope we have running backs by committee and production. Always ride the hot hand. We did not do that in 2025.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:59 am
Do not like to compare apple and oranges, but in 1975, Dallas drafted a group of 12 with all making the team which pushed them into the playoffs! It’s the 4th of May and who’s to say that Tampa’s draft of 2026 will not produce the same! Time will expose the negative or positive impact but May is way to early.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:59 am
They would have been a worse team if they kept some older players that have been outside their prime for a couple years now, how are they not better replacing older players? Will the team miss their leadership? what did that leadership get them last season? They are maybe hall of fame players with their resume but they damn sure weren’t playing at a hall of fame level anymore Evans barely made 1000 yards the previous season probably would t have made it to 1000 this last season what exactly are they missing besides your feelings cuz he decided to leave.
May 4th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Jason Licht don’t influence the Glazers
Bruce Arians has all of the influence with Joel Glazer
What Bruce says goes, not Jason Licht
Joel hired Bruce Arians to be his Senior advisor
Last season when l saw Bruce on Pat McAfee show
And Bruce said Bowles seat wasn’t hot, l knew then Bowles wasn’t in trouble
I’m sure every move Jason Licht and Bowles make, Bruce is behind it
May 4th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Joe … ‘Banking on three rookies, one on each level of the defense, to turn around the defense right away seems like an uphill climb.’
Back in 2019 when Bowles took over as DC the Bucs drafted quite a few on defense. A couple became starters (Devin White & SMB) and 3 others got a lot of def snaps as key rotational players (Dean, Nelson & Edwards). The 5 of them together logges 3019 def snaps that year, roughly equivalent to 3 starters logging 100% def snaps that season.
Point being: Todd’s been through this same situation before, and we did reasonably well. Hiccups? No question, but that’s to be expected. What should help the most is that we have quite a few very capable veterans on defense to help keep the rookies focused.
May 4th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Todd,McDermott won more games during the season then Bowles but still couldn’t get over the hump…What’s the difference?
May 4th, 2026 at 11:36 am
Sean McDermott recently bought a new home in Charlotte
He was DC for years there under Ron Rivera
His family love the city, and couldn’t wait to leave Buffalo
Dave Canales should be looking over his shoulder
May 4th, 2026 at 11:46 am
“If 3 rookies play at a pro bowl level Bucs will return to the playoffs”
If wishes were horses dreamers would ride.
May 4th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Didn’t Hendrickson sign for 4 years? Maybe it was 3 but I’m pretty sure the Bucs weren’t offering what he wanted. Simple as that.
If Bucs offered Trey the same as Baltimore, he would be a Buc, no doubt in my mind. Evans had little to nothing to do with it.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
You know when Bowles lost the team last year? When Bridge stepped in for a half and everyone saw that he was a clown. That told everyone what was needed to be known – Bowles put himself before the team’s interests by pulling a washed up has been off the couch to replace KT – just because he didn’t like the criticism about the fake QB competition.
How do you fix that? You don’t, but the Glazers already extended him and that contract became a sunk cost. That’s why Evans left. I hope KT wins the Job in Atlanta and comes in here and humiliates Bowles. He deserves it and so do the Glazers for writing off however many seasons they choose to ride this sinking ship before they want to spend on the next coach.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Losing Evans and Dean, who both missed extensive time last year, is not going to make them worse this year. The remaining feckless players and coaches will make them worse.
At some point, the players that actually can play have to be put in the game and in schemes that allow them to play well.
Guys who can only play 5-10 games a year are not going to make this a playoff team.
Love Evans. But he was like Bowles with the 3 game losing streaks: he missed 2-3 games a year.
Dean was a good guy. But he was hurt when he was drafted and hurt throughout his time here.
Kancey is still here. Will he survive a 17 game schedule?
The Bucs began turning the page last year. Getting rid of guys who were not good. Assistant Coaches who were ineffective were let go.
The usual early season optimism has stung me in the past.
Not this year. The glaring lack of fire in the on-field coaching is well documented. The schemes that do not fit players’ skills.
So. There likely will be a few more pages to turn after this season. Bowles probably the most obvious.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Evan’s had the worst year of his career. David had the worst year of his career. Dean was okay. If it wasn’t for the and sentimentality involved, we would think that it’s a good thing that we no longer have a high-priced aging injury, prone veteran wide receiver and a clearly past this prime aging linebacker. Roster wise the biggest loss was Dean and we’ll do okay without him. So this is mostly down to feelings and sentimentality and some comments players made on their exit. The tale will be in the tape after this season. Until then, it’s just rhetoric. But those three positions have been replaced with much younger, hungrier talent. Hopefully it won’t take long for the young guys to get going.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
MostlyPeacefulTraskMob. You oughta try living in reality. It’s not so bad. Seriously, give it a try.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
I would bet the numbers for the wide receiver group, the linebacker group, and the defensive backs group all improve this season over last.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
All I know is nothing is going to change between now and the start of the season. Bowles is our HC and I do hope he is successful. He knows if he fails he is out and JL starts looking for the next guy.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Here’s the thing… we didn’t lose the production of Mike Evans or Lavonte David, we lost the players. We lost their production and impact last year. What we are replacing is the players they were the last time they were on roster. Replacing their production isn’t very difficult. Replacing Jamel Dean’s production is another story. He was very good last year… he usually is when he’s healthy. But Parrish was also very good last year in the slot… if our 4th rounder can come in and be a little bit better, and Parrish can be as good or better than Dean, we’re in good shape. If whomever that replaces Evans in the lineup (Ebuku, Godwin, McMillan, Hurst), can come in and be more productive, then pair that with Trotter being as good or better than David might have been this year…. not only have we not taken a step down but we’re in even better shape considering how much better the new players will get and how much cheaper they already are.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
As much love as I have for both Mike Evans and Lavonte David, they were (are) both getting a little long in the tooth, you could see a definite drop in their play, #13 is/was great at what he does as a receiver, but his injuries were costing this team as was the play and injuries of #54, I am hopeful that the team can find productive alternatives for their respective positions. In my eyes, how good or bad a team is can be evaluated by the play of both sides of the line of scrimmage, are both lines dominating/ being dominated, is it a stalemate (which is a negative in most cases). If the team doesn’t win the line of scrimmage, they’re going to be a bad team. The line of scrimmage first, then the skill positions, if a team doesn’t win at the point of attack, it doesn’t matter what type of skilled players it has. Go Bucs
May 4th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
We lost three old players that missed way too much time. How did they contribute last year that we didn’t make the playoffs? Go Bucs
May 4th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Mike who?
May 4th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Want the Bucs to win always, that said, new OC, both starting corners suspect, and placing hope in the rookie class (which I love) to make the difference with our schedule is optimistic.
Mike taking less money is all about 3 and 28.
Go Bucs!
May 4th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Never ever will ME13 be replaced deff not by one player but by a committee JOE. Godwin was turning into he normal self at the end of the season. EE came on strong but did fall off quite a bit but honestly so did the whole offense and team. Jalen came back nice too. We added a weapon in a RB to replace the one we lost in white and we drafted another WR and we have a decent TE. While I agree Joe you never get better when you lose a hall of fame guy like ME13 it be a whole lot diff if we didn’t have a really WR room. Not concerned about the offense. Most underrated signing of the offseason is the OC. He gets this offense to coen like then we are in great shape. Baker has a lot of weapons to choose from. He just has to be a really good point guard and distribute the rock properly
May 4th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
5-12.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Two big upgrades:
Grizz to Robinson as OC with scheme similar to Coen.
Attitude adjustment with new acquisitions.
But we’ll see if Todd finds a way to sink the boat!
May 4th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Defense with new attitude^
May 4th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Bowles + Baker = 28-26 including 1-2 in the playoffs.
If the Glazers are happy with that then we are in for a long painful ride.
Firing every coach except Bowles was a catastrophic error in judgement.
I truly hope Mayfield is not extended until the 2026 season results are in.
If he falls flat again, it’s time to move on. He plays tough, but just isn’t a clutch QB.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
The outside media are a joke. They know very little about the team. The facts are that LVD retired because he could no longer play football at a high level and it showed last year. Evans leaving sucks from a fans perspective because he was so well liked as a football player and person. But the last 2 years he battled injuries and left the field almost everytime he hit the ground. Thankfully the Bucs have a deep WR room and it’s time the young guys get to play.
The media outside of Tampa only see bug names that left or retired and are too lazy to dive deep into what the offense looks like without Evans or what the defense looks like without LVD.
Dean was a solid player when healthy. I seriously doubt he plays more than 12 games in Pittsburgh.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Those of you that think we don’t lose anything no longer having Mike didn’t pay attention to him all that well in the 12 years he was with the Bucs because WHAT!?
You don’t think losing a guy teams had forged a reputation for in terms of dedicating 2 defenders in efforts to contain him isn’t losing much? Yikes, you’re all confusing a dip in production(our pass game went to crap after the Lions game when Mike got hurt) and never bounced back.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Lefty Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 9:18 am
“Yeah and big fat clueless Todd is trying to coordinate the defense while captaining the Ship. How many competent coaches double as coordinators? Not too many and unfortunately Buccaneers fails to recognizethat we have an incompetent one trying to do that. Insanity.”
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How many competent coaches double as coordinators?
Well, there’s the SB winning coach. And the troll favorite Jag Coen, and then theres Shanahan in SF, Johnson in Chicago…. I could go on but you get my point – there are plenty.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Lakeland Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 9:23 am
How much production did we get from those 3 players last season??
That’s what we will miss
And l really didn’t see them produce last season
We should be a much better squad without them.
EXACTLY, LIKE YOU ARE IN MY HEAD! Joe, those 3 guys were old and or busted LOVE THEM (Mike not as much as I did) but it is obvious they were not at peak performance. Bucs will be better, bot sure how you can’t see it.
May 4th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Mike Evans probably still has a little gas left in the tank but he is not 2020-2024 vintage Evans. Neither would Lavonte be of that vintage had he decided to return. As for Dean, he’s probably the biggest loss of the three but availability has been an issue with him for years. We have drafted higher round guys at defensive back, receiver and even at linebacker to replace the departed. If they do their jobs as intended and commensurate with their draft pedigree , we should be fine. Sooner or later, great players eventually move on or retire.That’s the GM’s job, to keep things going forward.
May 4th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
I’m surprised how many people missed the real reason Evans left. It wasn’t to chase another ring. It was for post-career investment reasons. I can’t quote the article, but making ‘behind the scenes’ business connections near silicon valley was Evans main driver and rightfully so. He can go out there and still make some waves, and therefore get investment opportunities a “has-been” would never get. Evans did right by the Bucs. This move was strictly long game business. He’s simply planning his retirement while he still has the attention of the people who can build a brand overnight. This was not a football decision. Granted, his loss will surely affect the Bucs.
May 4th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
“No one has told Joe the following, but Joe is convinced Evans bolting Tampa Bay spooked Hendrickson, who made it known he wanted to play for a contender.”
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So what exactly convinces you that Hendrickson was “spooked” if nobody told you that was the case ?
May 4th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Meh!
We all know lavonte as great a player as he was had lost a step. Dean had a good year but always injured. Mike- i love everything he had done for Tampa but he left ,which is his right to do but he is no longer a buc and I wont be cheering for him. I will cheer for him once he has retired and becomes a buc legend as he should be, however lets not kid ourselves- all 3 were past their prime and the team is better off without them.
All these executives and gurus are basing their opinions on past accolades on those 3. I believe the best teas always mske the hard decisions to move on early and I for one am excited with the direction we are headed. Todd does need to improve though so lets hope he does, at least he made the changes and he is sm experienced coach so hope for the best.
Team is good enough to win 10 plus games and get in the playoff dancd
May 4th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
I’ll say it, the Bucs are better without David, Dean & Evans. Father time caught LVD last year, it was obvious watching him play. Evans missed a month with a bad hammy, then another seven weeks with a collarbone. And Dean missed three games last year, which was great for him. Don’t forget he didn’t lace it up for the finale in a must win game against Carolina. So we replaced the aging mash unit with Anzalone, Trotter, Scott, and Hurst. Losing Evans also paves the way for rising WRs Ebuka, McMillan and Godwin who should be much improved year two removed from surgery. And Hurst can learn & develop without the pressure of having to be thrust into the lineup. David in his prime? Evans in his prime? Dean who stays healthy? Well folks, that’s not the comparison.
May 4th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
It doesn’t appear to me that much has changed on the D coaching staff. Aside from the new DL coach and Bowles’ son it was promote from within. S.O.S. different day.
May 4th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
I am going to also say – I think the leadership of the 3 players were also lacking last year , as in I mean they are all quiet leadership who are definitely respected but not the type tk get in yiur face and I think their message wasnt resonating anymore. New leaders were definitely needed amd it wasnt going to happen if they were still around.
Everyone reaches their ceiling, tbh lavonte is not a loss based on our linebacker play last year, dean was never healthy and alwsys gave up a big play at the wrong time.. evans was alos getting injured too often. Im actually sad evans is gone but he quit on believing in this team that’s the hard fact so he might as well leave. Im not buying his ” i need another opportunity elsewhere” statement. That was disrespectful to the franchise and the fans some he shoukd have stayed a buc but I guess he is going to find out the hard way and I belive if he has a bad season it will hurt his legacy slightly but he still a hof in my books.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
The Pom Pom Pollies have caused all the barf bags to fill up. The apologist mafia is beyond nauseating, ignorant and blind.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Well if Bowles doesn’t make it this year we got Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott waiting in the wings – I feel good either way. Hoping Bowles can make good though, but McDermott will also be a good hire.
May 4th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Lakeland Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 9:23 am
How much production did we get from those 3 players last season?
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As you point out there wasn’t much production from David or Evans last year. Dean is soft and a poor tackler. He will be exposed in Pittsburgh for the marginal DB he is. ME wanted to see the ball more and he saw from the sidelines a new WR order in Tampa. ME made a good decision to move on.
May 4th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
It all comes down to BAKER. The Defense (if mostly healthy) will be fine. I expect them to be better than they were in 2025. And, they were good enough to win then… Especially, during those last 6-games. So, it ALL ‘starts and ends’ with BAKER. Period. End of Story. They will go as far as HE can take them. There are no excuses. It’s as simple as that.
May 4th, 2026 at 6:19 pm
some bizarre comments about mike’s injury last year. he worked his @ss off to come back from a broken collarbone in 52 days to do what he could to help the team make the playoffs. then the ungrateful team, instead of just signing him, played the “oh mike deserves to go check things out” card after what he did to support the team, after so many years?
anyone with any self respect would walk the he LL out the door like mike did.
idiot team idiot fans.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Mike Evans left because Bozo wasn’t fired, as he should have been.
Not because a few posters on this site have an opposite opinion from the Polly Positives that infest the message boards.
Fact is if you keep doing the same things and expecting different results, you are by definition insane.
Keeping Todd around and firing everyone else, then hiring his son, was clinically insane.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
Who thinks Dean is going to play more than 12 games playing in that tough division in Pittsburgh, in the cold?
Evans coming off the field after every catch was getting old. Lavonte is old. These aren’t guys in their prime. New young blood – let’s roll!
May 4th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
I’m pretty much a skeptic and I think the Bucs have improved everywhere but CB. Dean will be missed but Evans was out for most of the year last season and Davis was a shadow of himself with poor coverage and weak tackling. The pass rush should be better thus helping the average CB’s Licht keeps drafting. I still worry about the iLB we drafter but out current one is nothing to write home about either as a tackler, blitzer or in coverage. One big plus, if he can stay healthy, will be the return of Calajah Kancy. The one player the Bucs missed the most last season was Kancy. The defense just wasn’t the same without him.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
LynchMob50 and 3.28.Evans/aqua turd are kissing cousins
May 4th, 2026 at 9:23 pm
Evans and Dean are actually the easiest to replace. Evans, especially, was a non-factor last season. David wasn’t great, wasn’t horrible, but has already been essentially replaced by Anzalone, who should be at least as good as the latest version of LaVonte.
Dean is the hardest to replace. Hopefully, the huge emphasis placed on pass rush this offseason mitigates his loss.
May 4th, 2026 at 9:29 pm
BillyBucco said – “Baker isn’t quite Top 10 but fine for winning a SB.”
Okay, you said it, name the 10 QBs who are better than Baker …
(I’ll never see a thing)
May 4th, 2026 at 9:34 pm
The Bucs need a Defensive Cordinator to work extensively with the players & call plays on game day. The Glaziers didn’t want to fess up the big buyout after only 1 yr . Now they hired new more experienced coaches, more aggressive FA players, got a draft class thats a solid B class. Again i was hoping they would force Bowles into a DC so he could put his whole attention into the entire team.but he’s not gonna give up.his blitzing Defense. Everything the Bucs have done so far reaks of middle of the field so thats about how I see the 26 season 8 or maybe 9 wins, in the NFC South that will probably be good enough. Come on Bucs play 1 game over 500
May 4th, 2026 at 9:35 pm
The Bucs need a Defensive Cordinator to work extensively with the players & call plays on game day. The Glaziers didn’t want to fess up the big buyout after only 1 yr . Now they hired new more experienced coaches, more aggressive FA players, got a draft class thats a solid B class. Again i was hoping they would force Bowles into a DC so he could put his whole attention into the entire team.but he’s not gonna give up.his blitzing Defense. Everything the Bucs have done so far reaks of middle of the field so thats about how I see the 26 season 8 or maybe 9 wins, in the NFC South that will probably be good enough. Come on Bucs play 1 game over 500
May 4th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
MelvinJunior said – “The Defense (if mostly healthy) will be fine. I expect them to be better than they were in 2025. And, they were good enough to win then… Especially, during those last 6-games.”
As I have pointed out before, the teams that the Bucs played in those final 6-7 games were the absolute worst offenses in the NFL last season. All were bottom ten in points scored.
You are looking at a mirage, my friend, if you think the defense finished strong last year.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Oh, the “execs” are saying the Bucs “…..definitely took a step back.”
Those two guys are going to be thinking, “boy, did I whiff on that one!”
The Bucs are sporting a new look in defensive personnel, and a hungry (HC candidate) in Zac.
If our O-line can stay healthy, if ZR comes out swinging, and the new D-blood re-energizes, this season is going to be a surprise to many.
I’m not relying on hope. My gut tells me that this one might be a real winner.
Some of you posters will tell me that I’ve put on the rose-colored glasses. Fine. See you guys in Santa Clara (now I’m dreaming!)
And — make no mistake — both Bowles and Baker are “on the hot seat”.
May 5th, 2026 at 5:45 am
Evans left for one word: targets. He has way too much competition for them here. As wr1 in San Fran, he will see many more. Here he is WR1a, 1b or 1c depending on the day.
May 5th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I read some rcpett who evaluated drafts between 2019 and 2025 and rated Jason as 2 behind the rams.
So he is not the issue.
Todd is at the andy reud point. Get there or you are out.
I like Todd but I didnt like the Hassan debacle. Too similar to genes jaw getting broke for mr
May 5th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
The Bucs are betting the house on a career sub .500 win head coach, a career sub.500 career win journeyman quarterback and three rookies to take the place of three starters that chose to abandon ship is foolish , so, betting that the race doesn’t always go to the fastest nor the fight to the strongest is foolish, I believe if you’re betting , that’s where to put your money, therefore I will have to pass on that foolish bet.