Any new rules coming up for the 2026 season? What were your thoughts on the rules implemented in 2025? – AJ M., via app submission

Actually, this is supposed to be an uncharacteristically quiet offseason for rule-change debates. Even the hubbub surrounding the “Tush Push” appears to have died down and there may not be another vote this year after the league declined to outlaw it last year. Rich McKay, co-chair of the NFL’s Competition Committee, noted at the recent Scouting Combine that he doesn’t expect this to be a big year for rule changes. If there are any, they will probably be of the minor procedural variety.

As for last year’s rule changes, well, there’s at least one that made me pretty salty. The three most prominent rule changes for 2025 were: 1) Tweaking the “dynamic kickoff” that was introduced in 2024; 2) Adopting the playoff overtime rules for the regular season, which meant that both teams were guaranteed a position in the extra period; and, 3) Expanding the scope of instant replay assist.

The one I didn’t like – and I’m on record saying this well before the start of the season – was moving the kickoff touchback line from the 30 to the 35. My worry when that rule change was passed was that this more favorable position coupled with the emergence of so many kickers who could routinely hit field goals from 55 or 60 yards would make it a little too easy to mount a scoring drive. And that’s exactly what happened! In one way, the rule worked exactly as the NFL intended, as it significantly increased the number of kicks that were returned. In 2024, only 32.8 percent of kickoffs leaguewide were returned; in 2025, that number jumped all the way to 74.5%. That’s all fine and dandy, but I don’t think the NFL teams should be able to score routinely on drives that may only need one or two first downs. I’m sorry, but I have no plans to step down off this soapbox anytime soon.

The new playoff rules make sense to me and were particularly welcome after a 2024 season in which the Buccaneers lost several games in overtime without Baker Mayfield even getting to touch the ball in the extra period. As for the expansion of replay assist, I don’t really know if I’m for or against it because I still find it hard to understand exactly when and how it is being used. Maybe we’ll get some more clarity in 2025. I do agree with the spirit of the move, which is to prioritize getting as many calls right as possible.

How realistic is it that the Bucs trade down? I don’t think a player that is worthy of trading up will fall to 15 – Robert W., via app submission

It’s an attractive idea, in my opinion, especially if the Buccaneers feel like there won’t be much of a difference in the edge rusher or linebacker (the two positions I’d like to see them target in Round One) at pick number 15 or, say, pick number 25 or 30. But you make the salient point here, Robert. It takes two to tango in a draft-day trade, and the Bucs would only be able to find a partner for such a deal if there is a player some team covets very highly still on the board at pick number 15. The lack of highly-regarded quarterback prospects after Fernando Mendoza is the biggest shortcoming in this regard, as teams are often more motivated to give up draft capital to get their man at that most crucial of positions.

The good news is that you only need one team to fall in love with one prospect for an opportunity of a trade to arise. Here’s one possible scenario: An early run on offensive tackles. There are a lot of teams that could be targeting tackles in the first round, but the Bucs probably aren’t one of them, so a run at the position could be a positive development for Tampa Bay. It’s a pretty good class of tackle prospects this year, but if mock draft trends are to be believed, several of them seem to be on the rise on draft boards, including Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Clemson’s Blake Miller, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor and Utah’s Caleb Lomu.

Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano (assuming he stays at tackle rather than being moved inside) have been top-10 staples in mock drafts, but it seemed like the depth at the position was going to create opportunities for tackle-needy teams in the back half of the first round. What if a team in the 20-30 pick range previously thought it had a shot at Freeling but now believes he goes in the top 15? Maybe that’s enough of a motivation to give up some extra draft capital to climb up the board.

Bucs GM Jason Licht doesn’t have huge history of trading down in the first round, but he has done it on occasion. In 2018, he moved down five spots from number 7 to number 12, trading with the Bills, who were moving up to get Josh Allen. That worked out well for Licht and the Buccaneers, who were still able to land Vita Vea with the 12th pick. In 2022, Licht moved from the 27th pick completely out of the first round, though not be far, as he picked up extra fourth and sixth-round picks from the Jaguars to land at the first pick of the second round, number 33. The pick at that spot was defensive lineman Logan Hall, who played four seasons in Tampa before recently moving on to Houston in free agency. That extra fourth picked up from the Jaguars was well spent on tight end Cade Otton.

How many yards from scrimmage can Gainwell get in our offense? – Christopher. V, via app submission

The Buccaneers moved quickly at the start of free agency to sign running back Kenneth Gainwell, most recently of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I’m pretty bullish on what he can bring to the offense. The fact that the Bucs targeted Gainwell immediately when there were still plenty of other running back options available – including Tyler Allgeier, with whom new Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson is obviously very familiar – suggest to me that they have a clear idea of what specifically he can do in Robinson’s system.

We have a pretty good blueprint for what Gainwell can do in a backfield committee based on the one-two punch he formed with Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh last year. The two backs got an almost completely equal offensive snap share (517 for Gainwell, 489 for Warren), while Warren had more carries (211 to 114) and Gainwell had more passing targets (85 to 45). Even in that timeshare, Gainwell topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage (1,023) and was named the Steelers’ team MVP.

Gainwell essentially replaces the since-departed Rachaad White on the Bucs’ depth chart, between Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker, who has been extended a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and therefore is likely to return for 2026. White had 571 offensive snaps, 132 carries and 45 targets last year, though we have to acknowledge that those numbers were up a bit because Irving missed a big chunk of time in the middle of the season due to injuries. Still, I think there is room here for Gainwell to get over 100 carries and 60 or 70 passing targets, at least. Robinson certainly doesn’t mind throwing the ball to his running backs; Bijan Robinson had 103 targets in Atlanta last year. I wouldn’t expect Irving or Gainwell to get anywhere close to that number, but they might combine to get close to the 119 targets that Robinson and Allgeier got last year. And if Gainwell proves to be the more trusted blocker in pass protection, he might end up on the high side of that target split, as he would be on the field on a lot of obvious passing downs.

I’m counting on better health for Irving in 2025, and if Tucker is in the mix he’s definitely proved that he deserves to be part of the picture as well. So let’s not predict that Gainwell gets the full 51% snap share that White did in 2025. I still think he gets close and if so it would be perfectly reasonable to expect him to approach 1,000 yards from scrimmage again. Even with Irving getting 1,514 yards from scrimmage during his 2024 rookie campaign, White still also complemented that with 1,006 yards of his own. The Bucs had the NFL’s fourth-best rushing attack in 2024 but that slipped to 21st in 2025 amid a rash of offensive line injuries. But the team has all five starters from that dominant 2024 unit back for the start of the upcoming campaign so a rise back up the rankings is certainly possible. Let’s be conservative and say they can improve to about 10th or 11th in the league. If that’s the case, I could see Gainwell – again being conservative – getting at least 900 to 950 yards from scrimmage.