While the Bucs aren’t expected to re-sign a whole lot of their internal free agents, that doesn’t mean other teams won’t be coveting some former Tampa Bay standouts.

Pro Football Focus recently released its rankings of the top 250 players set to enter free agency in 2026, and the Bucs are well represented, particularly within the top 50. In fact, three Tampa Bay players landed inside that top 50, with one at No. 5, another at No. 13 and the third at No. 43.

Two Longtime Bucs Top The List Of Internal Free Agents

The highest-ranked Buc on PFF’s list may come as a bit of a surprise given the big name who landed eight spots lower than him. But checking in at No. 5 was cornerback Jamel Dean. Here’s what PFF had to say about the longtime Tampa Bay corner who is set to enter free agency again and is likely to land elsewhere after spending the first seven years of his career with the Bucs:

“Dean ranked fourth among all cornerbacks in PFF grade (81.5) in 2025 and allowed just a 46.9 passer rating on throws into his coverage, which was the best mark in the NFL. Now seven seasons into his career, he has never posted a PFF coverage grade below 70.0.”

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today

Dean just had an excellent platform year heading into free agency, and the kicker for the Bucs is that originally, he was supposed to be under contract for the 2026 season as well. But that changed last September when he took a pay cut to remain with the team in 2025 in exchange for entering free agency a year earlier in 2026. Dean would ultimately go on to outperform Zyon McCollum, who was given a contract extension prior to the season. And now, Mr. “Don’t Make a Scene” is set to hit the open market.

PFF (and more specifically, Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo, who is handling PFF’s contract projections this offseason!) has Dean projected to make $55 million over three years with his next contract, with $35 million guaranteed. The contract comparison was none other than Carlton Davis III, Dean’s former teammate in Tampa Bay who cashed in on a new deal with the Patriots last offseason and is now set to play in Super Bowl LX this Sunday.

This time, it really feels like the end of the line for Dean in Tampa Bay. It seemed like a foregone conclusion in 2023 that Dean would make too much money as a free agent and wouldn’t be back with the Bucs. Instead, he re-signed on a four-year deal and spoke at length about his love for head coach Todd Bowles and playing within his defensive system. But the feeling heading into the 2026 offseason was that this time around, Dean actually has played his last down in red and pewter.

As for the other Buccaneer in PFF’s top 15, it’s none other than future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans. Evans has been subject to much speculation over the last week or so, as there seems to be a thought out there that this time, he may not choose to return to the team he has played his first 12 seasons with.

Bucs WR Mike Evans Photo by: USA Today

Here’s what PFF had to say about Evans, who somewhat fittingly is No. 13 on the list:

“Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard seasons came to an end after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, and it is fair to question whether his best days are behind him. Still, at 32 years old, he is just one season removed from earning a 90.2 PFF receiving grade, leaving him more than capable of serving as a strong short-term option.”

Evans had an injury-plagued 2025 season, which saw his 1,000-yard receiving season streak end at 11 seasons. But when he was on the field, especially when he returned late in the year, he still looked like he had plenty left in the tank. There seems to be little to suggest that he’s leaning toward retirement, and there’s no doubt that the Bucs would want him back for a 13th season.

But as others have pointed out, if Evans wants one more shot at a second Super Bowl ring, might he leave Tampa Bay? There are other contenders out there that would be in the market for a receiver like him, and those contenders may be in a much better spot in terms of roster construction and championship readiness than the Bucs are. It’s something Evans will have to weigh as he makes his decision over the next month or so.

As for his contract projection, he comes in at one-year, $18 million with $15 million guaranteed. If it comes down to money, you’d have to think general manager Jason Licht, assistant general manager Mike Greenberg and the Bucs will make it work. But there are likely to be other factors at play, and that’s why the entire Tampa Bay fan base will collectively be holding its breath over the next month-plus.

A Third Former Buc Could Catch On And Play A Big Role Elsewhere

The third Buc on the list and the final in the top 50 is running back Rachaad White, who comes in at No. 43. A third-round draft pick by Tampa Bay out of Arizona State in 2022, White just finished up his rookie deal and has made it clear he’s on his way out. Between saying his goodbyes after the Bucs were eliminated from playoff contention to speaking candidly about his thoughts on Todd Bowles needing to drop defensive play-calling to just be a head coach, it’s clear that he’s headed elsewhere in the coming months.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Here’s what PFF had to say about White:

“White put together the best season of his career heading into free agency, ranking fourth among running backs in PFF rushing grade (87.2). After fumbling multiple times in each of his first three seasons, he cleaned up the ball-security issues entirely in 2025, going without a fumble and recording zero drops on 42 targets. While he doesn’t offer much as a true receiving threat, White graded in the 98th percentile on gap runs and the 94th percentile on zone runs, putting strong tape on file in a contract year.”

White spent most of his rookie year in 2022 as Leonard Fournette’s backup, then he burst onto the scene in 2023 with 990 rushing yards and 549 receiving yards, adding up to 1,539 total yards and nine total touchdowns. He eventually became the backup again in 2024 after Bucky Irving emerged as a rookie 1,000-yard rusher, but still proved his worth as one of the best pass protecting running backs in the league.

Then, when Irving was sidelined for much of 2025, White stepped back into a familiar role and did well even behind a makeshift offensive line that was riddled with injuries. He averaged 4.3 yards per attempt for the second straight season and ran for 572 yards while adding on 218 receiving yards.

White is projected to land a two-year, $11 million deal in free agency with $8 million guaranteed.

Other Bucs In PFF’s Rankings Of Top 250 Free Agents

While Jamel Dean, Mike Evans and Rachaad White are the only three Bucs in the top 250 for PFF, there are a few other Tampa Bay players to be found deeper down the list. After White at No. 43, next is linebacker Lavonte David, who checks in at No. 180. David just turned 36 years old and saw his play dip considerably in 2025, which could’ve been his last season in the NFL. However, David did say last week that the Bucs have left the door open for him should he decide to come back for a 15th season in the league… and a 15th season in red and pewter.

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

Falling just behind David is tight end Cade Otton, who came in at No. 181. Otton, who caught 207 passes for 2,018 yards (9.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns between 2022 and 2025 after being a fourth-round pick out of Washington in 2022, could be back in Tampa Bay on a second contract. That’s a topic Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Josh Queipo butted heads on in a recent Point-Counterpoint article on PewterReport.com.

The final Buc on PFF’s top 250 list is edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is down at No. 229. Reddick was a massive disappointment in Tampa Bay after signing a one-year, $14 million contract with the team last offseason. The hope was that he could rediscover his form from his Philadelphia days after a down year in New York with the Jets, but he finished with 2.5 sacks and missed four games in his lone year as a Buc.