Jan. 13, 2026, 11:55 a.m. ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some key issues that will need addressing this offseason. They announced they would be keeping head coach Todd Bowles, but they did change a litany of other members of the staff. But the changes for this team go well beyond the coaching staff, as the roster is also going to look different due to free agency, retirements, or both.

So with those changes looming, we wanted to look over what trades could occur for this team to avoid another late-season collapse. With it would come a return to the playoffs for a team that is missing them for the first time since 2019.

Spoiler: the trades are all going to be defensive-minded. The offense is talented enough that they can fix themselves in 2026 by healing up over the offseason, and an average mind being added to the coaching staff. So here are three trades we think the Bucs could benefit from in 2026.

Edge Rusher Maxx Crosby

This is the obvious one: the Bucs have a massive hole in the pass rush department. They have one piece in Yaya Diaby at linebacker and Calijah Kancey on the defensive line. However, they truly lack a strong presence that can take over games. Maxx Crosby does that and then some, and he could be the missing piece this team has needed for some time. They have lacked someone with his pass-rushing chops ever since Shaq Barrett stepped away, and they have not looked the same since.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Edge Rusher Nick Herbig

If Maxx Crosby is too high a price for the Bucs and Jason Licht to pay, they could go for a lower buy with a big upside option in Nick Herbig. He gets overshadowed by the likes of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but Herbig could come to Tampa Bay and become a dominant presence on day one. He is just 24 years old and has a lot of upside still to come in his career based on the production he has in the limited use the Steelers have given him. Oh, and he is still on a rookie contract for one more year, so the team could see what they have in him before giving him a massive extension.

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey

This is a dark-horse candidate, but his name was brought up earlier in the year as a trade candidate. Marlon Humphrey could be a big piece that would help the Bucs’ secondary, and also the pass rush at the same time. Coverage sacks are a thing, and they help cover up teams with less-than-ideal pass rush situations, like the Bucs. Humphrey is entering the back end of the year, so he could be the cheapest acquisition of anyone on this list.