Tykee Smith Can Be Even Better
July 17th, 2026
Underrated dawg.
A player growing on Joe is Bucs safety Tykee Smith.
He showed flashes as a rookie in 2024 but last year Smith demonstrated he can hang in the NFL. And Joe believes Smith hasn’t hit his ceiling.
As a rookie Smith was banged up and only played in 13 games. He missed only one game last year. However, Joe was told over the summer Smith was hurt a whole lot worse than he was letting on or that the team ever acknowledged.
In fact, Joe had heard there was at least a three-game period last season where Smith couldn’t raise an arm above his shoulder, yet he started and gutted his way through games.
Man, it’s awfully hard to play defense in the NFL, much less guard receivers downfield, when you can’t raise an arm above your shoulder.
Last year Smith led all NFL safeties with 13 passes defended. How many more would he have had if he didn’t have a busted wing?
If Smith can stay healthy, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Smith has a Pro Bowl-level season this fall.
July 17th, 2026 at 1:32 am
No doubt Bucs got a 3rd round stud, nice job by Licht & Co. Can see him taking the reins from Winfield in a few years, if not before. He’s definitely still ascending.
July 17th, 2026 at 2:39 am
Smith played better than Winfield a good bit of last season.
Hopefully they both have very good years in 2026.
Winfield is past due – hasn’t had a good year since the Brinks truck backed up to his door…..
An improved pass rush should have both these guys in good position to make some big plays this year.
July 17th, 2026 at 5:02 am
‘Joe was told over the summer Smith was hurt a whole lot worse than he was letting on or that the team ever acknowledged.’
Is no one else seeing a trend here? Tykee, Baker, LVD, and heaven only knows how many others … guys not just playing hurt, but playing seriously hurt to the point that it adversely affects performance. This roster was badly beaten up last year.
But it’s so much more fun to go with the conclusion that they all QUIT ON TODD BOWLES. Of course, in the process of accepting THAT, fans need to recognize that also means that they QUIT ON EACH OTHER. Players ‘taking plays off’ I can accept because that happens on every team every game. But it’s a lot harder to accept players QUITTING ON EACH OTHER IMO.