The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 8-9 in 2025, and were eliminated from the postseason with a Week 18 loss by New Orleans, despite a 6-2 start to the season.
Tampa Bay carries around $32M of projected cap space into 2026, against an estimated $304M league threshold. This figure includes 38 contracts (plus a void cap for Mike Evans, and an option salary for Riley Dixon). QB Baker Mayfield enters the year carrying a $51.9M cap figure, while 5 other players hold a cap hit north of $20M.
The Bucs have all of their 2026 draft picks intact, and are not currently projected to be awarded any compensatory selections for the upcoming league year. Future Tampa Bay Draft Picks
Early Offseason Questions
Will HC Todd Bowles’ tenure in Tampa Bay continue into 2026? The 4-year Bucs coach signed an extension through 2028 prior to this past season.
As he heads into a contract year, what lies ahead for QB Baker Mayfield, who battled injury and inconsistent play through much of the final half of the 2025 campaign?
Will Tampa Bay turn the page on legends Mike Evans, Lavonte David, and potentially a few others, signifying a big move to flip the roster over?
Notable Free Agents
(Spotrac’s Valuation APY)
WR Mike Evans ($13.5M)
CB Jamel Dean ($13M)
DL Logan Hall ($8M)
TE Cade Otton ($7.7M)
LB Lavonte David ($7.5M)
RB Rachaad White ($7.5M)
ED Haason Reddick ($5M)
WR Sterling Shepard ($3.3M)
Option Decision
DL Calijah Kancey
A #19 overall pick out of Pitt, Kancey was looking to build off of a breakout campaign in 2024 (8 sacks, 1 forced fumble), but was limited to just 2 2025 games due to a torn pec. The Bucs will need to decide on a projected $14.25M 5th-year option for Kancey by May 1st.
Extension Candidate
QB Baker Mayfield
This time last year, it was simply a matter of when – not if – Mayfield would be securing a near top of the market QB contract extension. But it’s without question to say that 2025 was a rough go for the 30-year-old. Just how much of the backslide can be attributed to injury remains unknown to us outsiders, but there’s at least some question as to if the Bucs organization lost a little confidence in Mayfield’s role as a multi-year franchise QB1. The 30-year-old is currently set to earn $40M in 2026, against a team-high $51.9M cap hit. Production-wise, Baker’s 2-year resume falls somewhere in between Jared Goff and Dak Prescott, which in turn means financially speaking his price point falls in between $53M, and $60M. The math currently calls for a 4 year, $215M extension ($53.5M APY).
DL Vita Vea
The 30-year-old has been reliable, consistent, and productive for the last 5+ seasons in Tampa Bay, and is heading into a contract year in 2026, set to earn $18M against a $22.2M cap hit. Vea holds a 3 year, $45M projection in our system.
The 29-year-old, who has proven to be one of the most reliable legs in all of football, is heading into a contract season in 2026, set to earn $3.8M. He projects toward a 3 year, $17M extension.
Potential Cap Conversions
All of OT Tristan Wirfs’ $26M salary for 2026 is currently fully guaranteed. A full salary conversion (plus 1 void year) can open up $19.8M of cap.
S Antoine Winfield Jr.’s 2026 salary isn’t guaranteed, but the 27-year-old seems largely engrained into the future of the Bucs, and could even be considered a fringe extension candidate this offseason (2 years, $39M remaining). A salary conversion opens up over $14M of room.
All of OT Luke Goedeke’s 2026 salary is fully guaranteed. Processing a simple salary conversion on it frees up $16.7M of cap.
Contract extensions for QB Baker Mayfield ($51.9M cap hit), & DL Vita Vea ($22.2M cap hit) can free up significant cap space.
WR Chris Godwin’s $33.6M cap hit for 2026 currently ranks 3rd on the team. A full salary conversion (plus void years) can free up $16.5M of space, but Godwin’s injury history may have Tampa Bay thinking twice about pushing any additional cap dollars down the line.
RELATED LINKS
2026 Buccaneers Salary Cap
Buccaneers 2026 Free Agents
Spotrac’s Offseason Guide