BUCCANEERBLITZ | 23 DAYS TO TRAINING CAMP
#23 — Tykee Smith | Safety
23 days, Bucs Nation — and today’s spotlight is on a player who isn’t just good, he’s becoming one of the most dominant safeties in the entire NFL. Meet Tykee Smith, #23!
After filling a nickel role as a rookie, Smith stepped into a full-time, every-down starting safety role opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2025 — and he absolutely delivered.  He finished the 2025 regular season with 100 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 13 passes defensed, one interception, and two fumble recoveries across 16 games. He was the only player in the entire NFL in 2025 with 100-plus tackles, 10-plus passes defensed, AND three-plus takeaways.  Numbers like that don’t lie.
Todd Bowles himself has called Smith “very strong, very underrated, a tough competitor, and one of our most instinctive players.”  High praise from one of the most respected defensive minds in football. Bowles even dubbed him the team’s “tone-setter” heading into 2026. Now entering 2026 with his starting role entrenched, Smith is zeroing in on refining his angles and leverage in the open field  — scary thought for opposing offenses considering how good he already is.
Alongside Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith gives the Buccaneers arguably the most feared safety tandem in the NFC. Training camp in 23 days is where the next chapter begins — and #23 is ready to write it.
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If Winfield Jr levels up with T. smith those two are hard to beat. Looking forward to seeing rookie Scott playing some safety while he dabbles at NCB to be the rover reserve if need be. Right now based off experience it looks like in nickel packages that Parrish/McCollum are the main guys but Scott may be in the mix and maybe Roberts too. Wisdom and Banks are trusted reserves on the roster by Atkins and Johnson. And Roberts when fully healthy should take Izien's role on the roster. IF only the Bucs added a veteran CB this secondary would be complete...
100-plus tackles, 10-plus passes defensed, AND three-plus takeaways.
At this point (emphasize "at this point") Smith is definitely a tone setter with a ton of potential, but his 2025 film also has plenty of negative plays like bad angles as a true cover safety and missed tackles in the hole and these misses led to some of the biggest plays against the Bucs. Patriots had a huge run because he missed a tackle in the hole and a TD pass because of an absurd angle.
Bowles seems to love tweener guys but many tweener guys struggle at the full job his defense requires. I think Smith had an injured shoulder by season end, right? Banged up a bit in 2024 too. Part of that had to be the pounding of 100 plus combined tackles. All Pro Bates had similar stats (so KUDOS to Smith), but Bates is also 3 inches taller and 10 pounds heavier.
Hope he has a big 2026! No doubt his plays is CRITICAL
@bucsbits I agree that he had some negative plays over the last part of the season. I think a lot of that goes back to Bowles defense and it not settling up players with splash plays. Guys like T. Smith start taking chances instead of trusting the system. But I don’t blame him when quarterbacks were picking us apart.
@bucsbits I agree that he had some negative plays over the last part of the season. I think a lot of that goes back to Bowles defense and it not settling up players with splash plays. Guys like T. Smith start taking chances instead of trusting the system. But I don’t blame him when quarterbacks were picking us apart.
Agree completely and this is why I said it seemed to me like Bowles lost the defense. When things are not working players start to freelance and things get even worse. Some of his poor pass defense angles no doubt come from trying to do too much or make a play.
Alongside Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith gives the Buccaneers arguably the most feared safety tandem in the NFC. Training camp in 23 days is where the next chapter begins — and #23 is ready to write it.
Last year they were at Best a top 10 unit
100-plus tackles, 10-plus passes defensed, AND three-plus takeaways.
At this point (emphasize "at this point") Smith is definitely a tone setter with a ton of potential, but his 2025 film also has plenty of negative plays like bad angles as a true cover safety and missed tackles in the hole and these misses led to some of the biggest plays against the Bucs. Patriots had a huge run because he missed a tackle in the hole and a TD pass because of an absurd angle.
Bowles seems to love tweener guys but many tweener guys struggle at the full job his defense requires. I think Smith had an injured shoulder by season end, right? Banged up a bit in 2024 too. Part of that had to be the pounding of 100 plus combined tackles. All Pro Bates had similar stats (so KUDOS to Smith), but Bates is also 3 inches taller and 10 pounds heavier.
Hope he has a big 2026! No doubt his plays is CRITICAL
Splash plays mixed with fundamentally unsound football.
Just like White.
