Derrick Brooks: Bucs Have The Pieces To Transition Successfully After Mike Evans And Lavonte David
March 28th, 2026
New era.
Joe gets how most Bucs fans are in a bit of shock after Lavonte David classily hung up his cleats and Mike Evans ran away from Tampa as fast as he could.
Evans was so damn hungry to go, he didn’t even tell David why he left.
So what’s next? Fellow Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks addressed that this week on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“Transitions take patience. Do they have the players on the roster, the leadership in place to do it? Absolutely,” Brooks said of the Bucs. “This league is full of transition every single day. So this is nothing new.”
Brooks said he’s very confident Todd Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht have a strong plan. And yes, Joe knows Brooks stays very close to the organization. However, Brooks said that plan shouldn’t include the bosses meddling with changes on the ground.
“Front office and coaches, they can only do so much. A majority of this has to be done within the team, within the locker room,” Brooks said. I’ve learned being a part of this league a long time. When the front office and coaches try to dip those hands and toes too much over into that area of transition of that locker room, it doesn’t go well.”
Brooks said it’ll be key for the Bucs to trust their new additions and their core players to figure it out the inevitable culture change.
Joe isn’t hanging the Bucs’ collapse last season on Evans and David, but perhaps in some ways a lot of fresh blood and different voices rising in the locker room will be a good thing.
“This Joe” really expects Calijah Kancey to jump in and try to lead the defense his way.
March 28th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
The Bucs lack a vocal leader on offense and defense
It’s the leaders job to keep the players in check
And maintain a strong locker room and culture
March 28th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
We still have a bunch of real WRs. I heard a Godwin remark to trade him. The other WRs need his expertise and experience.
March 28th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Kancey has to stay healthy first to be that leadership voice. I imagine Gainwell will be a new voice in that role on the O given how raved about his qualities were in Pittsburgh.
March 28th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
The Bucs are a couple of good defensive players and a HC away from being really good.
This “transition” wont start until Bowles is gone.
Hope im wrong and Bowles proves 90% of the fan base wrong.
March 28th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Name the names #55 !
We ain’t buying the smoke you and the front office are pushing!
Name the names because the WHOLE FREAKING NFL ain’t seeing them!
March 28th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Kancey is the wrong player for leadership
Strong leaders lead by example, Kancey is always in street clothes
Too many soft spoken choir boys on this team
March 28th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Rub a dub dub, Kancey in the tub. I hope you’re right, Joe. Kind of hard to have a leader in a T- shirt on the sidelines though. Anzalone has a chance and maybe Tykee or Robinson. Damn sure won’t be a cornerback. AWJ ought to step up now that LVD is gone. Maybe being a leader will make him remember why he’s there.
March 28th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Love DB more than any other player. Best Buc of all-time. Great human. But I do not believe him here. Sorry. Nope.
-David
March 28th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
Sign Calais Campbell to replace Hall as our run stuffing DE. He can set the edge.
Draft a nasty DT in the 1st round to replace Gaines.
Bam. Two MAJOR upgrades.
Draft a MLB in round #2.
Beef up the middle of the defense.
Teach Tykee Smith to play MLB as well. Especially for our dime package.
March 28th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
I love Derrick Brooks, but he lost me when he said he has confidence in Todd Bowles. What would give him or anybody else confidence, the way the defense looked the last couple years? I mean, if you have Kirk Cousins in your fantasy league, I’d see why you’d still want Bowles around.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
The Bucs lack leadership on offense? I thought that was Baker’s job and one of his many “intangibles.” Gotta hand it to the Bucs OGs, they are loyal and won’t call a spade a spade no matter what. I love Brooks but if they had the leadership to get it done then they would’ve won at lease ONE more game in that 2-7 nosedive to make the post season.
The way this organization is constructed from GM, to HC to the entire roster…name the person that will lead the turn around. What has that person done in the past that leads you believe they’ll do it again?
March 28th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Joe … ‘“This Joe” really expects Calijah Kancey to jump in and try to lead the defense his way.’
I’m trying to figure out where that one came from Joe. Calijah Kancey barely has a 38% availability over his first 3 yrs. I can’t remember ever hearing Kancey’s name being associated with leadership on the Bucs. Not hard to figure out. Kancey has the right makeup. Even without these comments from Bowles. –Joe https://www.joebucsfan.com/2026/01/todd-bowles-thinks-calijah-kancey-will-be-a-captain/
I think he’ll be very fortunate if he’s still a Buc in 2027. Being a Rnd 1 pick, the Bucs would have to guarantee Kancey someplace around $14.5 mil by May. Licht would be crazy to do that IMO. If Calijah does well, offer him a new contract. If he spends the year in the tub again, bye bye birdie.
I’d love to see him used further outside this year though. I still think that he’s more of a DE than a DT, and if used a bit further outside he’ll survive better and be more effective.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
The problem isn’t talent—it’s identity. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft good players, but not enough dawgs.
Look at how Sean Payton teams are built—guys play with edge, finish plays, and bring real toughness. We draft too many “safe,” high-character guys instead of players you hate lining up against.
That shows up on the field—missed tackles, no intimidation, and a defense that reacts instead of attacks.
Until we start prioritizing toughness, motor, and attitude—not just measurables—this team won’t change.
Right now we’re built to be liked. We need to be built to be feared.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
Put Kancey in the “if he’d just stay healthy” column but if he does we could be decent on D.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
No fans are in shock about them leaving
March 28th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Kancey needs to exhibit availability before being handed anymore responsibility.
March 28th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
The leader on offense is hand’s down Tristan Wirf. Anyone who leapfrog from the swimming pool head’s up to stand on solid concrete is a leader by nature. He’s a scrapper n I vet him to be our leader.
March 28th, 2026 at 6:25 pm
Aright Aready Pre Season HYPapalooza!
March 28th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
@Defense Rules
@Joebucsfan.com
Defense, I agree with your points, especially the one about moving Calijah more toward the outside… if he could stay healthy, he’d be lethal in a role like that.
However, I distinctly recall reading somewhere, possibly here on Joebucsfan.com, that Todd Bowles chooses the team captains.
If that’s the case, we can pretty much bank on it at some point in the future, provided Todd and Calijah are both here. Todd wouldn’t mistakenly let something like what Joe quoted in the referenced article slip. He’s pretty intentional about things like that.