Training camp has not even begun, but NFL front offices are already thinking about next offseason. That includes Bucs general manager Jason Licht and his front office, whose reputation has been built on planning years ahead rather than simply plugging immediate needs.

While Tampa Bay is focused on chasing another NFC South title, it is never too early to identify the positions that could become priorities in 2027. None of the positions mentioned below represent glaring weaknesses today, but plenty can happen between now and next offseason. Teams always have one eye on the present and one on the future when constructing a roster.

In a two-part series looking at each side of the football, I will be looking at the biggest need, likely need, and wildcard need for the Bucs for 2027. After starting with the offense, it continues with the defense.

Biggest Need: Cornerback

More than any other position on the Bucs’ defense, cornerback continues to cause the most angst from those who follow the team. Before last season, the Bucs’ long-term vision at cornerback seemed clear after Jason Licht drafted Benjamin Morrison to eventually replace Jamel Dean while extending Zyon McCollum. Optimism was high about what the duo could be, but that quickly faded as the 2025 season progressed. Even though Tampa Bay has invested significant resources in the room, questions remain.

Bucs CBs Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

McCollum’s traits have been a key talking point from the moment he was drafted in 2022. While he has developed into a starting-caliber cornerback since his rookie year, he has yet to break out. It puts him and the team in an interesting spot, with $7.4 million of his $14.9 million 2027 salary guaranteed, with no further guaranteed money left afterward. If McCollum remains an average or below-average starter, there is the ability to either find a trade partner or release him outright and eat the money. At 27 years old, McCollum is reaching the point where potential has to become production.

Morrison remains just 22 years old, but his health has started to raise red flags — and not the red Bucs flags that are raised at Raymond James Stadium. After missing time last offseason recovering from injuries at Notre Dame, they lingered and forced B-Mo to miss seven out of 17 games during the regular season. What is concerning is that he suffered a leg injury that prevented him from putting in good work during OTAs and mandatory mini-camp. Morrison will be competing against Jacob Parrish for the second cornerback spot, and it lines up to be an intriguing training camp battle.

It is difficult to envision the Bucs entering next offseason feeling comfortable about their cornerback room. There is little depth beyond McCollum, Morrison, and Parrish, and it takes a lot of projection to foresee them exceeding expectations.

The concern is not that the room lacks talent — it is that none of the projected starters has firmly answered whether they can anchor the position beyond 2026. Given Licht’s propensity to invest in the position, the team must continue to prioritize it for the future. Whether it is a premium draft pick, a veteran free-agent signing or both, cornerback feels like a position Tampa Bay will not be able to ignore another offseason.

Likely Need: Inside Linebacker

The Bucs made it a priority to address the front seven over the offseason, which included finally drafting an inside linebacker and signing a veteran to help fill the void of Lavonte David’s retirement. Head coach Todd Bowles’ defense has several new faces joining the mix, but how the middle of the field looks with its new additions will be critical in the unit’s success.

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

Starting with Josiah Trotter, Tampa Bay invested a second-round pick on him and will give him every chance to become a full-time starter in 2026 and beyond. Trotter is brimming with untapped potential, and although he is far from being a finished product, the bar for him as a rookie is just being more serviceable than K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis were in recent seasons. There is plenty to like about Trotter’s mike linebacker skill set. The 6-foot-2, 237-pound rookie has flashed as a blitzer and run defender, traits that should complement Alex Anzalone well. Should he prove capable of holding his own in pass coverage, the middle of the defense could have its physical tone-setter.

Anzalone is the more proven linebacker and signed a two-year deal to return to Florida. Turning 32 years old in September, two years is a realistic timeframe for him to hold down the starting spot and provide quality play as the team searches for his replacement. That is what makes inside linebacker a likely need going forward. The team could begin its search for a long-term answer to pair with Trotter next offseason. Considering Dennis and Christian Rozeboom will be free agents after this season, it is a wise idea to keep investing at inside linebacker until the position becomes a long-term strength rather than a recurring weakness.

The Wildcard: Defensive Tackle

As it stands, the Bucs’ defensive tackle room is one of the unit’s strengths.

With Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and A’Shawn Robinson as the starters, and Elijah Roberts, DeMonte Capehart, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches as depth, it is a stronger room than it was last season. So, why is it a wildcard need? There are several factors that could change the entire outlook of the position.

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Vea, for as good as he is, is 31 years old and in a contract year. Even if the burly nose tackle has another productive season, how much can Tampa Bay count on him in his thirties? Keeping him around would not be a cheap investment, as he will likely command a contract exceeding $20 million per season.

Kancey has long profiled as the perfect pass-rushing sidekick next to Vea, but playing a full season is not something he has proven able to accomplish. While his fifth-year option was picked up for 2027, 2026 is a make-or-break year for his future. Robinson and Nunez-Roches are also in their thirties and were signed to one-year deals, adding more uncertainty to the room’s long-term outlook.

How this season plays out will determine the extent of the room needing an overhaul. Vea and Kancey could very well play their way into sticking around, but if they cannot, Jason Licht must find multiple starters in the trenches. The room projects to need young talent, but 2026 will determine whether Tampa Bay is simply adding depth or searching for another foundational piece in the trenches.