With the Bucs’ offseason overhaul all but complete, national analysts are now weighing which moves could define Tampa Bay’s 2026 season – for better or worse. While Pewter Report has already analyzed all the signings and draft picks, ESPN recently provided its thoughts on what the team addressed, and what the Buccaneers let walk out the door.

ESPN Names Bucs’ Smartest Move Of 2026 Offseason

The Bucs went out and added to several positions of need, primarily on the defensive side. Head coach Todd Bowles stressed an urgency to get “bigger,” which the team accomplished. One of the positions that was prioritized was inside linebacker, as Tampa Bay finally had to replace Lavonte David. How they approached turning the page on his career is something ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is a fan of.

Best: Addressing linebacker

It was time to do something at what had traditionally been a position of strength in Tampa Bay. The Bucs’ defensive tape made for painful watching at times last season, as the duo of Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis simply lacked the athleticism to compete against upper-echelon NFL offenses. David was in his 14th pro season, but Dennis was badly stretched in pass coverage or any sort of open space, where he often couldn’t get close enough to even miss tackles. Dennis allowed a 122.0 passer rating in coverage and missed 13% of his tackle attempts, and David wasn’t far behind, allowing a 120.1 rating as a pass defender.

Bucs ILB Alex Anzalone – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

David retired, marking the end of an excellent career in Tampa Bay. General manager Jason Licht replaced him by signing Alex Anzalone, landing the Bucs one of the league’s most competent coverage linebackers, albeit one on the wrong side of 30. He allowed a 78.8 passer rating in coverage in 2025 and has seen his coverage passer rating top 100 only once in eight years as a pro.

Second-round pick Josiah Trotter isn’t quite as ready to contribute against the pass, with the Missouri product projected as more of a solid run defender than the sort of player with the instincts to step right in as a pass defender. In that role, he might be an athletic upgrade on Dennis. Christian Rozeboom, who started with the Rams and Panthers over the past few seasons, was also added as veteran depth. This isn’t the great linebackers room of years past, but it should be less of a liability in 2026.

It is hard to argue with Barnwell’s analysis here. Anzalone and Trotter will not offer All-Pro production in 2026, but those two with Dennis and Rozeboom and backups will be better than what the team trotted out there in 2025.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The former provides a stable floor, one that is higher than what David provided as a 35-year-old linebacker. Anzalone was not the sexiest signing, but he brings a veteran presence and trusted leadership up the middle.

The latter needs more time to develop, but the player he is now will not be the same come Week 1. Trotter still needs development in coverage, but his athleticism alone gives Tampa Bay more range than it had last season with Dennis out there. If he can prove to be an upgrade over that, Trotter has an exciting enough foundation to last in the league, especially as a downhill thumper with a lot of energy.

Bucs Not Free From Criticism For How The Offseason Played Out

For all the improvements the Bucs sought to make, it did not come with some holes being created with high-quality players walking out the door. One legend retired, but another sought greener grass as wide receiver Mike Evans headed west to sign with the 49ers. In addition, cornerback Jamel Dean cashed in on a career season and decided to sign with the Steelers. Seeing both of them walk out the door the way they did contributed to Bill Barnwell highlighting the unfortunate aftermath.

Worst: Failing to convince either Mike Evans or Jamel Dean to return

It’s never fun to lose franchise stalwarts. And while it’s one thing when a veteran like David reaches the end of his playing career, the Bucs weren’t able to bring back a pair of players who had put excellent work on film in recent years. Evans was hit by injuries in 2025, but he had one of the most efficient seasons of his career in 2024, when the future Hall of Famer averaged 2.6 yards per route run. Dean posted a 63.1 passer rating in coverage in 2025 while missing just 2.1% of his tackle attempts…

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jim Dedmon

Even worse, neither player signed an exorbitant deal in leaving Tampa Bay. Evans’ contract with the 49ers is really a one-year pact for $14.3 million. Dean joined the Steelers, who don’t guarantee multiple years for players who aren’t future Hall of Famers, meaning his three-year, $36.8 million deal looks more like a one-year, $13.5 million contract. The Bucs are in a tight cap situation when you consider that Baker Mayfield is coming due for a raise this offseason, but those are more than fair deals for players who still project to play at a high level in 2026.

At the same time, the Bucs might never have had the opportunity to sign Evans at that number, given that the star reportedly wanted a new challenge and the opportunity to play in San Francisco. Licht prepared for this scenario by using his top two picks in last year’s draft on wideout Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Benjamin Morrison, although the latter struggled when called upon as a rookie. The Buccaneers will survive and remain competitive in the NFC South, but it hurts to see key players leave for relatively reasonable contracts elsewhere without landing anything in return.

It is clear that Tampa Bay will not be able to replace Evans in terms of organizational footprint. Still, Egbuka will receive more targets and the opportunity to have a second-year breakout. With Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, and Ted Hurst among the wideouts in the room, Mayfield will have ample talent to produce in a contract year.

The bigger question is what the plan is at cornerback. Right now, Zyon McCollum and Morrison are the Bucs’ top two cornerbacks, with Jacob Parrish in the mix to bump outside after the team drafted defensive back Keionte Scott to play in the slot in nickel defense. While having Parrish would help, Dean will be missed.

Bucs NCB Jacob Parrish and CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Although not the most durable, Dean remained productive when on the field. He is replaceable, but it will take each of the cornerbacks to rise up and not be liabilities in the secondary. If they are, there is no one behind them to come in and replace them with. Adding to Barnwell’s argument, Tampa Bay failed to go out and get a veteran corner with playing experience.

When it comes to the Bucs’ worst offseason move, it may ultimately be what the front office failed to do.