So Far, NFL Not Enamored With Bucs’ Roster
July 10th, 2026
Denied.
As the four-letter does every year, this summer is no different.
In an effort to bridge the dead time in the NFL between the Fourth of July and the start of training camps this month, BSPN surveys NFL types (coaches, scouts and suits) for a top-10 ranking at each position.
So far, BSPN has listed four positions (running backs, cornerbacks, edge rushers and defensive tackles). A fifth one (tight ends) is scheduled to drop today.
The Bucs have been shut out, and Joe thinks it may be a stretch for Cade Otton to get into the top-10.
On Saturday, offensive tackles are supposed to be published. Joe expects at least Tristan Wirfs to be included and maybe Luke Goedeke, too.
Joe found it funny when Jeremy Fowler, who coordinates this annual project, remarked about edge rushers, “The NFL is enjoying a golden era for pass rushers.”
Yeah. Except a certain city in Florida along the Gulf Coast.
There, the coach prefers edge rushers to “do other things.” So while the NFL as a whole enjoys the influx of quality edge rushers, the Bucs fight like hell to buck the trend, seemingly having seven sacks as a limit for edge rushers or otherwise they have to go to the principal’s office.
(Ssshhh… here’s a clandestine clip of an edge rushing technique from Bucs practice.)
Joe thought perhaps Vita Vea would make the unsourced NFL types’ top-10 of defensive tackles. Nope. But he did get honorable mention.
Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: “He’s still such a load to deal with, and he played a little lighter last year, which is good for him.” — NFL defensive line coach
So far, these lists make Joe think one of two things: Either Joe is inflating the Bucs’ talent or these NFL folks polled aren’t hip to what the Bucs have.
Of course, the defense might not have much top-10 talent because the pass defense was mostly lousy last year.
Joe’s hoping this NFL panel is way off base when it comes to the Bucs.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:12 am
I hope Tykee makes the safety list. AW3 could drop out since Bowles knew he had no pass rush and so he had AW3 playing 20 yards off the line. He was so far back that the defense was playing with 10 players.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:17 am
What’s so impressive about this roster? The best player on the team is on the OL. No consistent playmakers anywhere and the team is counting on a rookie on defense to bring juice to the team. The whole organization needs an overhaul. Bringing back the main decision makers and players from the 2-7 nosedive isn’t a great strategy. Especially when those same players have had diminished results the past 3 seasons.
No team is having sleepless nights before the face the Bucs.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:20 am
You can have a team with all the talent in the world, but coaches or should I say coach, that can’t develop that talent, the team will always be mediocre.
I would love to jump on the bandwagon and say this team is a ten win team. I just don’t see it with the defensive coordinator the Bucs have now.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Did they make one of these last year? Be interested to know that they thought of THAT team
July 10th, 2026 at 7:38 am
“So far, these lists make Joe think one of two things: Either Joe is inflating the Bucs’ talent or these NFL folks polled aren’t hip to what the Bucs have.”
Reality is somewhere in the middle. We’ve got talent, but this is the NFL which means everybody else has talent. Still got to come together, put it together, and perform at a level of consistent week in and week out to win ball games. That, remains to be seen.
We’ll see how useless the preseason is this year.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Guess we should stop supposing, guessing and try to forecast what’s going to happen. Let’s see, we do have a few new players and coaches, that might make a difference. I always like rooting for the underdogs.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:41 am
Wonder how many of the Seahawk units made it this time last year? My guess is not too many.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:45 am
Yeah? Well, last year they told us the roster was a Super Bowl caliber roster. And I believed it. I bought it hook line and sinker. All the promises about Braswell, SVD, Yaya, and the others.
So I don’t really care about opinions.
I need to see the score at the end of the game. That’s all that matters.
July 10th, 2026 at 7:53 am
What was so “impressive” about Seattle, NE?? How bout Chicago, Jax etc…?? You and Nobody knows what team is gonna make the tournament, not to mention the SB..Any Given Sunday …Look at the Rays no one had them winning ..They’re playing the best baseball right now .Sorry you think you know but you dont ,its easy to be negative nelly
July 10th, 2026 at 8:02 am
@bee
PREACH!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 10th, 2026 at 8:09 am
That Curly clip is a classic!! Spit my morning coffee all over my computer! Thanks a lot Jose!
July 10th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Outside of Offensive Tackle the Bucs don’t have an elite player, it’s a HUGE strike against Licht and his inability to build a roster. The Bucs as a whole have some good players who can compete together (in a bad division) but they just don’t have the elite talent of serious NFL teams.
July 10th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Outside of Wirfs, I can’t understand HOW even a Bucs Fan, could think that we had any Top-10 Players, at their positions… Unless, they were just DELUSIONAL. It’s been AWHILE NOW, since Winfield Junior has played at that level. I’ve been saying all along, that we have ZERO “ELITE” talent, outside of Wirfs. And, I believe that it is an absolute indictment on LICKT. But, it’s just more of the same… A weak roster, but still good enough to ‘potentially’ WIN the lowly NFC South. And, with no end in sight. WOO-HOO… YIPPEE. Yawn.
July 10th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Last season… or potentially a trade deadline candidate depending on the W-L record at the deadline.
July 10th, 2026 at 8:46 am
@ WBL Says: “this is the NFL which means everybody else has talent.”
THIS. This is what I’ve tried saying! Sometimes, in a snarky way, without actually SAYING IT. Especially, when some of these people want to fawn all over Hurst, and a bunch more of our players! It’s like, do you people NOT understand that literally EVERY other team’s fans (for the most part), believe that THEIR young #4-#6 WR’s have TALENT, or that their #3-RB is a STUD (like Tucker)… Well, they do. And, they are NOT wrong. It. Is. THE N.F.L. Come on. And, if you play DFS… You definitely KNOW THIS, when a starter is OUT and #5 WR (that no one has ever heard of) actually GETS TARGETS. It’s no different than in the NBA, when ‘someone’ gets called straight-up from the friggin’ G-LEAGUE, and DROPS ‘30’ THAT NIGHT on six-3’s, with 6-assists, 7-boards, 4-steals, and a block (scoring 60 freaking fantasy points – happened almost EVERY night, just a couple of years ago).
July 10th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Our Ring of Honor GM hasn’t drafted a Pro-Bowler in 6 years
July 10th, 2026 at 9:01 am
The extremely biased “Bucs” fans who seek nothing but doom and gloom for the 2026 season, no let me change seek to wish, tend to count their chickens before they hatch. Being disrespected by the football “experts” could be a blessing. Let the 2026 play out and then do the autopsy.
July 10th, 2026 at 9:11 am
The Athletic (I think it was) did a Steelers poll, polling all their fans. And, about 80% (admitted) that they’d wanted Tomlin GONE for awhile now, which I already knew. I think the Glazers want to be the Steelers of the NFC. They are perfectly fine with just being very mediocre every year, when most fans are NOT. Cause, if you’re NOT TRYING, then YOU’RE DYING. And, sometimes, you just have to tear-it all down, and get BAD FIRST. Before, you can get GOOD. It’s just pure LAZINESS. The same goes for almost EVERY other type of ‘business’ (or company) in the real world, who stays CONTENT with being where they are with no growth, & etc. They will eventually, DIE.
July 10th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Lather rinse repeat. HC DC stinx. Let’s keep him around just because…
July 10th, 2026 at 9:23 am
With the 1st pick in the 2027 NFL Draft the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select, Arc Manning, University of Texas
July 10th, 2026 at 9:25 am
The Bucs brought back the guy that had a head butt penalty that cost them a win.
Is it really that shocking when the media outside of Tampa has no respect for the roster???
It’s a clown car and Bowles is driving.
Queue the Barnum and Bailey circles theme!
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
July 10th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Broken record. Todd could take a full roster of all pros and go 7-10 with them. The quantum entanglement defense might impress PhD students studying game theory, but your average NFL player does t want to do fractal geometry, favoring playing fast and flying to the ball over thinking and pondering every step.