Bucs Talent Scrutinized As Short On Everywhere Starters
October 16th, 2026
A side-eye from Bucs GM Jason Licht seems warranted.
Joe wonders how this will go over at One Buc Palace — from a guy who hangs out at One Buc Palace.
Buccaneers legend Rondé Barber fires away to the masses weekly on a show that bears his name via the WFLA-TV streaming platforms.
Last week, Barber was talking about the Buccaneers roster. Is there enough talent to win? Barber said every team has enough talent to win, but, of course, there are varying levels of talent across the league.
Barber seems to think the Bucs don’t have a hearty handful of stud players that could start across the NFL.
“Do we have five or six or seven guys on the roster that could leave Tampa and go start somewhere else? I don’t know, ” Barber said. “If that’s what you’re describing as ‘talented enough,’ I don’t think so.
“There’s probably two or three [Bucs players]. But good teams have like, ‘Oh, yeah, that dude can start on my team. Yeah, that dude can start on my team. Yeah, that guy can start on my team.’ I don’t think we have that yet. We have a bunch of young guys.
“We were a team that was probably not talented enough to win the Super Bowl last year that then got younger this year. That’s kind of where you are. I’m not making excuses for them. That’s just fact.”
Joe assumes the Buccaneers right and left tackles would fit Barber’s mold of players sure to leave Tampa and start for most teams. And then there’s Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield, Jr., guys with major experience and postseason awards earning a ton of Team Glazer loot. Is Joe to believe the Bucs don’t have one receiver nearly every team would consider an excellent No. 2 starter on their roster?
That’s just five guys right there without Joe going deeper.
Interesting take by Barber.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Did Doc Barber have his silly Dr suit on?
October 16th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
It’s what I said 2 weeks ago in here.
Lack of talent.
The Cowboys must truly suck.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Love Joe Bucs fan number one. Godwin is a great player that is being under utilized and a starter on most teams. Wirfs and Vea also fit the mold. Mccolum and Parrish have also played at starting level so far this year. Bowles needs to trust his corners and play more nickel and dime. His schemes exposes our lack of coverage from our linebackers and he is deathly against getting beat for a long TD. When Winston was our QB I understood but we have had much better offenses since that era. Thank God Reddick is gone, he was the biggest liability on defense since Shoynika and yes The Cowboys are terrible.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
I think that is a pretty silly take the way Barber worded it. A top tier team that is always in the playoffs that’s statement may be true. But I bet you asked jets, titans, falcons etc. they would gladly find roster spots for most players on this team. That is like a statement us readers here on Joebucsfan say after every loss or couple losses put together, our emotions tend to get the best of us. That is just what being a fan is.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Gas Licht is not and never has been a good GM.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Well when you’re best players don’t even live up to expectations (All of Them) then your team is probably 1-4. Last game was the only time I’ve seen any sense of urgency this entire season. The saddest display was the home opener. The whole team never showed up and that’s sad. No one to blame but the head coach.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
If coach plays scared, players play scared! Simple as that!
October 16th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
No number 1wr and Te is a problem for this offense
October 16th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
^ that too
October 16th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Ronde Barber is my favorite Buccaneer of all time, and he’s excellent at film analysis. His factual recall is not his most elite attribute. For example on this week’s podcast he said team absolutely never fire their coach promote their OC. Except his beloved Buccaneers did just that when Lovie got the boot for Koetter.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
This is an interesting exercise. My count is 14 players. When I look at the 2020 team I count 21 players. I’m including kickers in these numbers.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
Here’s my potential starters for any of the other 31 NFL teams. I grade out eleven as startable on the list:
Baker Mayfield
Bucky Irving
Emeka Egbuka
Luke Goedeke
Cody Mauch (pre-injury, give him time. The Buccs grade out at number 7 in pressure and second in pass block win rate when teams do not blitz. I think our tightends and runningbacks have hurt us with the blitz pickup)
Tristan Wirfs
Calijah Kancey
Vita Vea
Zyon McCollum
Jacob Parrish
Chase Mcglaughlin
October 16th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
“The Buccs grade out at number 7 in pressure and second in pass block win rate when teams do not blitz. I think our tightends and runningbacks have hurt us with the blitz pickup.”
That and Bake trying to make plays holding the ball too long causing pressure as well. Bake was at his best in Coen when distributing quick throws like a point guard in basketball limiting unnecessary risk and sacks and letting our players produce yards after the catch.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
How many teams would hire Bowels as their HC\DC if he was unemployed suddenly????
Answer: absolutely none
October 16th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Fred Flintstone
October 16th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Ronde is the man. But he has been carrying Bowles water for a while. Throwing doubt on the roster is another way of covering for Coach. I wonder if its because of the hand that feeds him, who knows.
But i dont put stock into this. I see a roster that good coaches could get solid production out of
October 16th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Tried to tell ya about the WRs. None of them would be a desirable WR 1, 2, or 3 at this time. Maybe Hurst develops. Oh but we’re so deep at WR 5. We got 5 of them.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Our good players don’t start on our team, (Walker) that’s how far ahead of the game we are.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
I.e time to get rid of expensive players doing norhing and go get some legit ones in FA. Bowles used to target guys like Suh, Brady, Gronk, AB Fournette all proven players. Need to see more of that instead of resigning guys like Otton, Winfield, riddick, gainwell etc. Dumpster divng.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
It’s from years of making sure every draft pick makes the team by not signing outside FAs and using all your money to re-sign your picks to massive contracts because they were part of the great culture that won a bad division with a .500 record.
October 16th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
We have more than 7 guys who can start elsewhere. While we may need a talent upgrade at certain positions, that is not the key issue holding the team back, IMO. We have players who played at a high level in past seasons but aren’t producing now, including Godwin & Kancey, among others. My gut feeling is that coaching is a big factor, including the addition of a new OC.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
so not talented enough last year and less talented (as he says younger) this year.
it does sound like more of ronde excuse theater. be patient OC is new, cant coach effort, not enough talent, too young.
whats next on the ronde excuse-o-rama.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Ronde will be Rondy until he calls out this slow death under Fraud Bowels!
October 16th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
I think there is enough talent for the Bucs to be a .500 team with proper coaching and solid play calling. The other issue is that the Bucs draft rookies and put them in the lineup as starters. They are not prepared to start in the NFL. I don’t care how much Jason and Todd hype the young guys, most are just not ready.
The answer next season is as obvious as it has been the last three. Dump Todd, dump Zac and get rid of Jason. These guys are losers that have been pursuing a losing strategy. They never learn.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Add to that list the following; Parrish, Zyon, Trotter, Chase, JD, Bucky, Mek, JMac, David Walker. All of them could start for another team. Maybe even Baker. losing Mike and Dean didn’t leave us devoid of talent. Wmight not have any coaches that couls coach for another team.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
I think it’s higher than 2 or 3, but not sure we actually get to 7… Here’s who I would list as “definitely”:
LT Tristan Wirfs
RB Bucky Irving
WR Chris Godwin
S Antoine Winfield
But I think that’s it. A lot of other guys would fall into the “maybe” category:
RT Goedeke
WR Emeka Ebuka
CB Zyon McCollum
LB Trotter
Maybe throw Jacob Parish and Keonte Scott in here too.
Notice that neither of our QBs, any of our interior o-lineman, and none of our d-lineman / OLBs make either of those lists… Barber is more right than he is wrong.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Oh sorry, K Chase McLaughlin should also be on the “definitely” list. He’s a dang good kicker.
So thats 5 guys…
October 16th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Some of ya’ll need to take off your pewter-colored glasses and be realistic.
That said, yes Bowles sucks and no team is gonna hire him as a HC after we fire him.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
We see guys flash as rookies – then they take a step back. It’s almost like our coaching staff makes them worse.
October 16th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
“Talent scrutinized”. Todd Bowles took a Superbowl team and turned them into an 8 win club. With frickin Tom Brady. Could the mic get dropped any harder? Its really tiresome hearing these players get blamed when the coaches should be delivering my mail.
October 16th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
Not a lot of Bucs are gonna start on upper echelon teams, that’s for sure.
October 16th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
I get the feeling there are some posters who blame baker for the majority of bucs woes are also the same ones that will say the team doesnt have enough talent just to cover for bowles.
October 16th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
We lack talent, coaching, and ownership is clueless. The crappie football team trifecta.
October 16th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
You need to actually watch other teams around the NFL. Have you seen the Titans, Commanders, Cardinals, or Dolphins at all this year? All players (and then some) on your maybe list would be starters on those teams, especially the Titans.
You don’t think Vita Vea would be a starter elsewhere? Really?
October 16th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Hodud! Dont forget you crappie fans as well!
October 16th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Is waht it is. All we got is what we got.
October 16th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Maybe one of our Top WRs (sarcasm!) will show up on Sunday?
October 16th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Vv is a run stopper on any team .
Yaya is a rotational edge rusher .
David walker is starting to show promise but not starter on most .
Kancy can’t stay healthy & has not impressed this year much
That’s our line
Alex anzalone = get real ! Bad linebacker 75 % of the time
Trotter I think could start in 80 % of the teams in this league. He’s a rookie but I think will be pretty damn good one day .
Linebackers are super thin
Tykee Smith has shown up on tape every week & is improving
Winfield got his bag of 💰 & maybe makes a few splash plays
There’s some safeties for ya
Mccullum when he’s not bored could be a decent corner & a few teams starter
Parrish is a baller !
A couple corners
And that’s the defense folks !
Let’s see our offense
Baker is a low tier starting QB . What , he starts for most teams with losing records ?
Daniel’s a un drafted player with heart and passion but we have no idea what he may or may not turn into .
That’s the QB room
Irving is a beast for a Lil guy but can he have a 20 + touch game week in and week out for a full season +
Gainwell will not ever be a starter but maybe can contribute
Tucker who the hell knows ?
Rb’s [ go bucky go ]
EE come on man ! Your better than that ! He can play but needs to be consistent
Godwin love Godwin but he’s a 2 or 3 on most teams
Hurst Ill we don’t know yet
Tez is a nice piece but not starting for anyone
Not bad for recievers but come on OC !!!
Otton = come on here ! How many drops or fumbles will this guy keep on ? FYI thoes gloves are not helping you !
There’s your lack of TE’s
As far as the line , you know who would be good anywhere.
Now tell me , how many starting players can play anywhere…hmmmmmmm 😒
October 16th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
Ronde is absolutely correct in his assessment. there are veery few Bucs players who would start for successful teams. Maybe Wirfs in previous year but that’s debatable. Can’t think of one Buc player who has actually been made better by this staff. To me they’ve all regressed. I’d like to be proven wrong.