After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2025-26 season collapsed beneath them, 2026 looms as a year they must put all the pieces together. Quarterback Baker Mayfield took a step back after throwing for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2024. He finished 2025-26 throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 

Entering this season, the Buccaneers will have to fill the void of the former two-time All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans, who left for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Although second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka will be expected to step up, they’ll need to find a way to replace his production. The Bucs also missed running back Bucky Irving for an extended period, which affected the offense as a whole. 

Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht heads to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft to retool the team in pursuit of reclaiming the NFC South. The Bucs will have seven draft selections to play with.

Buccaneers Draft Picks:

Round 1: Pick 15
Round 2: Pick 46
Round 3: Pick 77

Round 4: No. 116

Round 5: No. 155

Round 6: No. 195

Round 7: No. 229

Buccaneers Key Additions:

RB Kenneth Gainwell

LB Alex Anzalone

S/ST Miles Killebrew 

Buccaneers Key Losses:

CB Jamel Dean 

LB Lavonte David

WR Mike Evans

Buccaneers Positions of Need: 

Buccaneers Draft Targets:
Sonny Styles – LB – Ohio State

Sonny Styles, in all likelihood, won’t make it to pick No. 15, meaning Tampa Bay would have to trade up to get him. But he would be the perfect Lavonte David replacement for the Buccaneers.

Since David announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NFL, the Bucs will have to fill a major gap at the inside linebacker position. The highly athletic and talented Sonny Styles, who stands 6-foot-5 and runs a 4.46 40-yard dash, was integral for an Ohio State defense that made an appearance in this year’s College Football Playoff before falling short against the Miami Hurricanes.

Styles is disciplined in pre- and post-snap identification and makes quick changes while leading a defensive front. Finding a leader for the Buccaneers’ defense will be key to replacing the production of David, and Styles would be worth the price of moving up.