Bucs fans should prepare themselves that from a sentimental standpoint, things could get rough this offseason. Add in the fact that fans are extremely unhappy that head coach Todd Bowles is still coaching the team after a 2-7 collapse after the bye week that resulted in an 8-9 record and the loss of the NFC South division title, and there could be a lot of anger, frustration and despair in the coming months.

The Bucs are looking at a possible trifecta of a nightmare scenario.

Two of the team’s legends potentially walking out the door.

The third part of what could be disastrous 2026 season would be Bowles being the one that stays and torpedos the team to an even worse record than the year before, igniting a huge overhaul of the organization.

Trifecta Part 1: Bucs WR Mike Evans Leaves In Free Agency

With star wide receiver Mike Evans up for free agency in 2026, there is growing concern that he might elect to play for another team that is closer to winning a Super Bowl next season after 12 years in Tampa Bay rather than come back to the Bucs – or even just retire. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about why Evans would choose to leave, which can be found in this Pewter Report article, Scott Reynolds’ SR’s FAB 5 column or even Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast, which was dedicated to this topic.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN Images –

At the end of the day it’s Evans call. He can’t be blamed for going to a different team that he thinks gives him the best chance to win a second Super Bowl title if that’s his top priority. Bucs fans have learned throughout the years that Evans cares more about winning than his own personal accolades. Losing him to another team would be a punch to the gut, but also somewhat understandable.

Trifecta Part 2: Bucs ILB Lavonte David Retires

The sentimental feelings really kick in with legendary linebacker Lavonte David, who is believed to be leaning towards retirement. David told Kay Adams recently that Tampa Bay has already told him that he’s welcomed back, and David will either return to the Bucs or retire. There’s no other team in play. There’s only been so many Tampa Bay legends that have spent their entire career with Tampa Bay. Those are Lee Roy Selmon, Derrick Brooks, Rondé Barber and Mike Alsott. David will be the next one on the list.

If last season’s finale was David’s last, he went out with a bang. His six tackles put him at 1,714 in his career, tying Derrick Brooks for the franchise record in tackles and sixth all-time in the NFL. He also had an important fumble recovery late in the game, making it the 35th takeaway of his career, putting him in company with Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher as the only inside linebackers in NFL history with at least 40 sacks and 35 turnovers in their career.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

This was meaningful for several reasons – for the career accolades and having one last signature moment with the Bucs. David is just as beloved as Evans, but he hasn’t always gotten the national recognition that Evans has. David closing the door on his career means it’s the last time he can build his Hall of Fame case.

David has one first-team All-Pro, two second team All-Pros and just one Pro Bowl nomination. He has been extremely overlooked. The longer he plays, the more it opens that opportunity for him to gain more career accolades and make a case for the Hall. Evans already has made his case, David unfortunately does not.

Its fair to say that David has lost a step, and he’s not going to get any faster at age 36. Yet some fans just might not be ready to say goodbye yet.

Trifecta Part 3: Bucs Coach Todd Bowles Is Back … And Bombs

The third part of his possible nightmarish trifecta is Todd Bowles. While Bucs fans want Evans and David back in Tampa Bay in 2026, many don’t want Bowles back – despite the fact that he’s staying. Bowles is coming off an 8-9 coaching season where the Bucs failed to make the postseason and lost six of eight games down the stretch. It’s the second year that in a row that Bowles’ defense in particular was the reason why Tampa Bay wasn’t as successful.

A lot of this will fall on general manager Jason Licht bringing in new players – better players – for the defense. But do we trust Bowles to get the most out of them? Does anyone legitimately believe that Bowles can take a team that won eight games last season and improve them by three to four more wins and get them in to the championship contender picture again?

Bowles has never won more than 10 games as a head coach – either in New York or in Tampa Bay. It’s more believable that the Bucs win even less games in the 2026 season, putting the team in an even worse situation. If Bowles doesn’t fix his defense and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can’t save the offense, that will raise even more questions about the future direction in Tampa Bay.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

Should the Bucs bottom out this year and the team not extending Baker Mayfield’s contract, do the Bucs move on from him? Or does Mayfield even want to return? That also likely means nose tackle Vita Vea, who will be 32 after his contract year in 2026, is out. And it means that wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. would only have one more year left on his deal – if Tampa Bay decides to hold onto him.

There could be a massive amount of change coming in 2027 if Bowles isn’t successful. The Bucs still have core players and a great offensive line, but other parts of the team could be ripped down to the studs.

Let’s hope that Evans decides to come back to Tampa so nobody has to face seeing him suit up with another team in 2026. Nobody is rooting for this to happen, but a harsh reality could be on the way as free agency is a two-way street.

Conversations about this doomsday scenario were also brought up during the Roll Call section of Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. Check out what was said there and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.