Tykee Smith Building A Strong Resume
June 18th, 2026
Pro Bowl future?
Every once in a while, Joe hears someone grumble about Bucs safeties, or at least why that position wasn’t addressed in free agency or the draft.
Well, there’s a reason: The Bucs *really* like their starting safeties.
Having Antoine Winfield man centerfield at safety speaks for itself. But then, very quietly, Tykee Smith had a helluva 2025 season, though it’s hard to realize.
Consider Smith, per Bucs official stats, was the lone player in the NFL last season with at least 100 tackles, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways. Pretty darn good.
And Smith made Bucs history. He is only one of three defensive players who with at least 100 tackles, 10 passes defensed, five tackles for loss and two sacks in the same season. The others are Lavonte David (twice) and Winfield.
NFL folks like to say the biggest jump of a player’s early years is from his rookie season to his second season. Well, based on what Smith did last year, if he continues to improve, are we looking at a Pro Bowl safety in the making?
June 18th, 2026 at 8:27 am
Doing very well with 3rd & 4th round picks….Tykee, Jacob’s, Ya Ya, JMac, Bucky
Not so much with 2nd rounders
June 18th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Bowles Jr. will make him an Alll Pro.
LFG!!!!!!’
June 18th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Tykee is a straight ball player and a keeper. Has future leader written all over him too. One of the few on defense last season not allergic to contact or tackling last season as well.
After last season I thought, we need more dudes like Diaby, Tykee, Kancey (if he could just stay healthy) on this team. These dudes truly care about ball and are youngry….and it’s palpable.
June 18th, 2026 at 9:51 am
TS23 should be extended now lol…he’s a str8 DAWG!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Tykee is really good !! And plays with a mean streak
June 18th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Smith has been the Bucs best defender for the last 1-2 seasons. He hits hard…has a nose for the football and plays smart.
June 18th, 2026 at 10:03 am
Tykee’s impressed me since day one.
Definitely a keeper.
June 18th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Injury prone n pass coverage is slightly below average
June 18th, 2026 at 10:35 am
He plays the 328 very well.
June 18th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Tykee was perhaps our best defensive player in 2025.
He got hurt at some point I believe and his production tailed off for a few games but Smith looked like a real football player out there most of last season.
If Tykee continues his progression and Winfield finally has a year worthy of his pay grade – we are likely to see some stellar play from the Bucs’ safeties this year….
June 18th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Tykee Smith is the new edge rusher.
B-Rex will play safety most snaps. Genis.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:07 am
I think Winfield has been a shell of himself since signing his lucrative contract. I don’t consider him as rock-solid as implied. Tykee is the future, for sure.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:09 am
Tykee can be an all pro, and I expect his role to expand some with the re-tooled defensive front which should get us back to being formidable discouraging the run. That alone will make it easier to move he & Antoine around without and getting back to using both like we used Edwards & Whitehead who I think we get the best of what both those guys offered with Tykee by himself.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:45 am
100 tackles! Incredible, hes got a nose for the ball. Keep it up!
June 18th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
He’s 225. Same weight as LVD.
He looks like a moneybacker.
He is amazing in the box.
I hope we let him play closer to the line of scrimmage all season.
He’s like a 3rd LB slash SS.
I’m also excited to see how JJ Roberts and Rashad Wisdom look in the preseason.
They both look like solid backups and special teams killers.
Tykee Smith is our next LVD. Not Winfield.
Tykee was our only killah last season.
Definitely my favorite Buc on defense.
June 18th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
Scott can also play in the box safety….we did very well with that pick, also one that i was hoping for, just didnt realize he’d be there in the 4th.
June 18th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Bowles will have him regressing to Ryan Smith level in no time. Winfield’s trajectory is showing decline in performance as has every other player on defense. Tykee can regress, Todd will see to it.
June 18th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
I want more double nickle defenses.
I want more moneybackers.
Guys like Scott and Tykee.
They hit like linebackers and run like DBs.
Do you know who else ran like a DB and hit like a LB?
Lavonte David and Mark Barron.
I demand more dime packages without any linebackers.
With DBs like Scott amd Tykee Smith playing “linebacker”
June 18th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
Promising, good player