For a long time, the stars of the Bucs’ defense have been solidified.

Lavonte David.

Vita Vea.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Since Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl win in 2020, the trio of David, Vea, and Winfield has remained defensive leaders, and it is no surprise that each was voted a captain over the past two seasons. As vital as they still are to the unit’s success, another player has emerged with the potential to be a long-time playmaker.

Tykee Smith.

Smith, in his second season, is in his first year as the starting safety opposite Winfield. Not only have the immediate returns exceeded expectations, but they also provide hope in that this is the start of an extended run of dominance and gives head coach Todd Bowles another versatile, do-it-all defensive chess piece.

Tykee Smith Can Blitz, Cover, Tackle, And Make Plays

There was maybe some doubt, both internally and externally, about Tykee Smith being the Bucs full-time safety this season. Todd Bowles and Jason Licht did not commit to it over the offseason, while there was discussion before the draft about taking a safety and keeping Smith at nickel. Just as quickly as those suggestions came, they went out the door.

Bucs SS Tykee Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That is because Smith kicked the door down by establishing himself as one of the better safeties in the league. One look at the statistics and advanced metrics begins to tell the story. His 74 total tackles in nine games may rank 20th among all players, but that number is first among safeties. Tampa Bay’s communications team shared after the team’s last game that, after recording eight tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit, one interception and one pass defensed, Smith is one of two safeties in the NFL that has 100+ tackles, 15+ passes defensed, and multiple sacks and interceptions dating back to last season. He is elite company, as the other is star Packers safety Xavier McKinney.

Then, there is this little nugget putting him in the company of inside linebacker Lavonte David.

Reading all of this, the picture painted is one that is crystal clear.

Smith has emerged as a defensive playmaker who has blossomed in his second season. Learning from another playmaking safety in Antoine Winfield Jr. has helped expedite this process and given him someone to soak in knowledge from.

“Both can blitz, both can cover, both can tackle and both make plays,” Bowles said of his star safety duo. “We have a few chess pieces on defense that we use, but with Tykee and ‘Win’ (Antoine Winfield Jr.), they get along so well together with the communication and understanding which one is coming and which one is not. They help each other out a great deal. I like the combination of the two.”

Who doesn’t?

Bucs SS Tykee Smith and FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles is the defensive grandmaster charged with utilizing all of the pieces across the board and putting them in positions to make plays. The results have not been led to winning matches in recent weeks, but that has not stopped Smith from playing his best ball.

Facing the latest MVP frontrunner in Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the former Georgia Bulldog got his first pick of the season in the end zone. That was a big-time play in a big-time moment, as in the middle of the fourth quarter in a one-score game, Smith provided hope. Even though the Bucs did not pull it off, he has received his flowers from the coaching staff in recent days.

“It’s a heck of a play by him – very instinctive,” Bowles said. “[He is] one of our top three instinctive guys on defense. [He] makes plays all over the field. He made some great plays in the run game. He’s a very sharp guy. Heck of a play by him – it gave us a chance.”

Outside linebackers coach/run game coordinator Larry Foote also chimed in about that moment on Thursday.

“I was just hoping he got inbounds,” Foote said. “It wasn’t even close looking at the replay, but from the sidelines, you [were] kind of like, ‘Oh no, he’s out of bounds.’ [It was] a great play. Seeing the quarterback, his guy is stopped, and he just makes a great play – big-time play.”

This Is Tykee Smith’s Year To Make His Presence Known And His Physicality Felt

In what was a long time coming, Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds discussed at length last week how Tykee Smith is the badass the Bucs defense needs. There is a lot of truth in that, as the 24-year-old has all the makings of a player who will be the next leader that others look up to. Through two seasons playing two different positions, he already checks the box of a versatile player.

One willing to make big hits and give opponents fits, wherever he is on the field.

Bucs SS Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today

“Tykee [Smith] has been in the box more than ‘Win’ (Antoine Winfield Jr.), and he is just bringing that physical style of play we need and he’s setting the tone,” Larry Foote said. “Every game, you can just see him making plays close to the line of scrimmage and away from it, he’s doing a good job. Year [two] for Tykee, right? That’s the year.”

The tape does not lie about Smith, as week in and week out he is undoubtedly more of a complete player than during his rookie year. It was a solid debut season, one that brought about comparisons to Lions safety Brian Branch. Like Branch, he has transitioned from playing full-time in the slot to “branching out” as a safety. Moving across the secondary has allowed him to take the next step in his development.

“I think with that, [it is] just the love of the game,” Smith said. “[I am] trying to play 100% each and every play and make my presence felt. I think that is the biggest thing.”

Tykee Smith has done that and more, and while there are still kinks to work out defensively in limiting explosive plays, the Bucs can count on their promising young safety to give his all and make plays on the football.