The Bucs find themselves in an intriguing position heading into the 2026 season, almost as if they’re teetering on a tight rope trying to get from one destination to another.

If they move one way, they will fall off the rope, struggle once more, fail to make the playoff again and likely be in the market for a new head coach. But if they move in the correct direction and maintain balance, a healthier team – spearheaded by a new outlook on offense and an influx of talent on defense – can get the Bucs right back on track to where they were when the team was 6-2 heading into the bye. That’s when it looked like Tampa Bay was heading towards another division title and making a playoff push.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This might be a thrilling circus act or it could be a high-flying spectacle that ends in an epic fall. Either way, everyone is going to watch the show in Tampa Bay in 2026.

A big reason why there’s a good possibility the Bucs trend in a positive direction is due to their 2026 draft class. Across the board, national talking heads have given rave reviews for the job that Jason Licht and his personnel team have done. Many draft pundits and news outlets have given the Bucs very positive draft grades with Tampa Bay mostly receiving an “A” grade.

The lowest grade given out was a “B-minus” from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who knocked Tampa Bay for not drafting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round instead of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who was actually a higher-rated player. Go figure.

Yet the consensus was that the Buccaneers had a stellar draft overall.

NFL Media Gushes Over Bucs’ Potential

Former Bucs backup quarterback and current ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky gave his stamp of approval, going as far as to say that the Bucs will be fantastic again while on the show “Get Up.”

“I thought the Rueben Bain pick and the Keionte Scott pick were both outstanding picks,” Orlovsky said. “The Buccaneers continue to draft well. They were a very good football team last year. Dealt with a little injuries down the stretch. I know – no Mike Evans. I think the Buccaneers are going to a fantastic group again.”

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Check out the clip below for his comments.

Orlovsky also took to his X account and said “The Buccaneers continue to be a very well run organization.”

The praise didn’t stop there from the NFL talk show arena. Kay Adams of the “Up And Adams” Show had the Bucs, along with the Eagles and Bengals, as the winners of this year’s draft.

“They got so much better this weekend,” Adams said. “It’s the 51st year of the Bucs, maybe the 51st year just makes more sense. Baker (Mayfield) needs to be in a corner. Baker needs to have people not believe in him, not tell him ‘Oh, you got Mike Evans and Emeka (Egbuka) and you guys always win the division.’ He needs people to doubt him.

“They really, really, did their thing. I don’t think it’s possible to do better than what Jason Licht did this weekend. Just take a look at the changes that were made. Rueben Bain at 15 overall, he would’ve been a home run on any team, any defense, that is a jump start for this defense.”

Adams continued.

“[Jason Licht] landed Mizzou linebacker Josiah Trotter in the second round to help fill the Lavonte David void that will be huge,” Adams said. “Trotter, as I understand, is a tackling machine, makes a lot of plays, line of scrimmage dynamo. And then what did Licht do? He got Miami nickel Keionte Scott in the fourth, and that’s going to be one of the steals of the draft, and somebody that will hopefully transform the secondary. This is a guy who is a game-breaker, he’ll win games for them. Absolute playmaker.”

Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Photo by: Sophie Pallman – The University of Miami

See Kay Adams’ full comments about the Bucs below.

Tampa Bay has the potential to have four key contributors in 2026 with their first fours picks in Bain, Trotter, third-round receiver Ted Hurst, and Scott in the secondary. It’s likely that Bain and Trotter will start from day one.

Hurst is better suited to be in the rotation that has a very talented receiver room that already has Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson. Scott’s role should be interesting. He’ll challenge Jacob Parrish for the nickel role, but can be a backup at safety, too. With his blitzing ability, Todd Bowles will find a spot for him.

We’re still several months from the start of the 2026 season, but the negative feelings about this team for the last several months have began to dissipate because of this draft class, which was kick-started with the selection of Bain in the first round. If the play of this draft class leads to playoff run, then the Bucs will have acquired some cornerstone pieces that should result in success year after year.

Pewter Report recapped the Bucs’ 2026 draft class on Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. Check out the video below and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.