After Tom Brady’s three-year tenure with the Bucs… one of which culminated in a Super Bowl championship… the team managed to achieve some relative success by securing two additional division titles. This led many fans to believe that the Bucs might have sidestepped the dreaded rebuilding years. However, that might not be the case.
The last few seasons can be viewed in two ways: as a successful transition from world champions to the next generation in just a few offseasons, or as a franchise that has now begun to falter and enter a rebuilding phase, potentially masked by a weak division. Which perspective is more accurate?
While the Bucs have worked hard to maintain their recent winning culture, instilled by Brady and his teammates, the question remains: Are they on the upswing or experiencing a gradual decline?
The team’s talent has certainly taken a hit over the past three to four years. How do you replace Ndamukong Suh, JPP, Shaq Barrett, a prime Lavonte David, Carlton Davis… and that’s just on defense. That’s what a championship roster looks like.
We’ve tried to build by replacing those legends through the draft. The question is whether this youth has merely filled vacancies or if these players are genuine stars in the making. While the Bucs have youth across the roster, is it of high quality? Recent draft picks like Yaya Diaby, Graham Barton, and Calijah Kancey show great potential, and the 2025 draft class, featuring Emeka Egbuka, Benjamin Morrison, and Jacob Parrish, has also demonstrated flashes of talent. However, their youth means little if they don’t evolve into more than just starters.
Bucs’ Tykee Smith and Jacob Parrish
What the Bucs truly need are stars—game changers, playmakers, champions! I’m not convinced that Jason Licht and Todd Bowles have done enough to build a roster with that level of talent just yet. This leads me to believe that we’re closer to a rebuild than to embarking on another playoff run.
Our stars are on the backend of their careers. Evans and David may be done this year or next year. Godwin has seen his best years. Vita Vea is still solid, but he doesn’t dominate like he used to. That leaves us with Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs as stars of this team. One, because of his flashy style… the other, because he is truly one of the best in the league at his position. Antoine Winfield is another fine player. A guy that I respect and would want as a teammate, but not a guy that I feel will return to his 2022-23 stats. Two stars won’t get you too far.
Hopefully Licht and Bowles look outside of the draft to fill some holes. This team, as it stands today, isn’t overly exciting. Same head coach. Same players from year to year. I’d love to see us add some new blood into the locker room. Give the players something to get excited about.
Bucs’ Running Back, Bucky Irving
Sometimes, bringing in new faces to the locker room and during practices can provide the jolt this team desperately needs. Without that spark, we risk entering a prolonged rebuilding phase over the next few seasons. The critical question is: where do we find additional stars to elevate this franchise? Will players like Egbuka, McMillan, Diaby, and Bucky Irving step up and become the stars we need in this league? Moving forward, we must prioritize identifying and developing these key talents.
While the Bucs have made significant efforts to uphold the winning culture established by Brady and his teammates, the pressing question remains: Are we on the rise, or are we facing a slow decline?
Good post. The Bucs will continue to be mired in mediocrity until Todd Bowles is no longer the DC and HC. The roster will be churning a bit over the next couple of years. There will no longer be a solid core of veteran players augmented by the draft and limited FA signings. I for one just can't bring myself to be excited by the prospects for this team in the 2026 season. Just more of the same. 8-9. 9-8. 10-7. 8-9. 1-3 playoffs. 36-36. .500.
Great write up and question. No trying to cop out but my answer would be neither, at this moment.
The Bucs have some talent. Its not a SB team and was not last year (even if healthy) and I say that just going off the Bucs actions instead of their words.
The Bucs won a SB in 2002 with multiple HOFers, but in the run up they still brought in Rice and an new HC and a revamped offense.
In 2020, the Bucs brought in the GOAT and the GOAT TE and Playoff Lenny and AB and . . .
In 2025, we took a longshot with Reddick, did nothing to the LBs and went with a rookie playcaller.
We did reduce our dead cap though!
You ask me this after 2024 season and i would have had a different answer, but given the collapse and regression of Baker Mayfield; yeah i'd say 2026 is a make or break year; so if had to answer today, i'd say rebuild
i think how far the Bucs can go will be how well Baker performs with Zac Robinson calling the plays. Is Baker closer to the 2024 version we saw? That type QB play and we can beat anyone; but if Baker is closer to mediocre play, call it maybe a little above average like 2023 and 2025 seasons, then yeah i dont see us doing much better than what you saw in 2023 with a home playoff win then eliminated.
We have some solid talent on offense, lacking a bit on defense, and until the Bucs actually hire a defensive coordinator, there will be limitations how far this team can go
Good topic. In another thread I brought up the Eagles and how they rebounded because they made big changes after their meltdown. They replaced coordinators, the HC gave up coordinator duties and they signed Saquon. They didn't just hope that things would get better and players would be healthier. The Bucs have to recognize that they aren't going to rebound just by doing business as usual. They have to make some big moves. So far they did replace one coordinator, but on the side of the ball where we need the most change Bowles refused to give up playcalling duties. Of course the free agency period hasn't started, but I don't get the feeling that big moves are on the way. I hope I'm wrong.
The other option is rebuilding. But I don't see that happening. They've been rebuilding and we're supposed to be at the point where that's paying dividends.... not so much. But I don't see Licht being ready to cut the cord and start over just yet.
The effects of the meltdown are long lasting. They don't just go away with the passage of time, hoping a few guys get healthy, signing a couple midrange free agents - that's not going to do it. The meltdown of 2025 has to be dealt with.
Unfortunately, I don't think Licht and the Glazers are facing the reality of the situation. They aren't going to choose A - Big Moves or B - Rebuild. They're going with C - Half Measures. I could be wrong. The Bucs have done surprising things before, and we have the whole offseason ahead of us.
They aren't going to choose A - Big Moves or B - Rebuild. They're going with C - Half Measures. I could be wrong.
I think this is probably right
This is where the pessimism of our fans loses me. We are certainly closer to a real Super Bowl run than a rebuild. But, coaching matters. So with 4 new players on defense, and with the assumption they will all be contributing well, I think we can turn it around in 2026.
Always optimistic but the reality is we are one of the youngest teams in the league and should have an offense that scores an average of 24 points a game in 2026. Will the defense improve against the pass and get a few more turnovers.
@theknees - so really what I’m hearing from your comments are that we “can” be closer to a playoff run? But that still depends on what we do this offseason.
How are we getting those 4 new contributors for the defense? Because 4 draft picks isn’t going to ignite the defense this year. If we draft well and it’s the right guy, then that guy might help. But a trade and free agency help is the answer for defense this year.
If that type of help doesn’t come, we’ll be seeing a complete overhaul next offseason.
This is where the pessimism of our fans loses me. We are certainly closer to a real Super Bowl run than a rebuild. But, coaching matters. So with 4 new players on defense, and with the assumption they will all be contributing well, I think we can turn it around in 2026.
Always optimistic but the reality is we are one of the youngest teams in the league and should have an offense that scores an average of 24 points a game in 2026. Will the defense improve against the pass and get a few more turnovers.
Baker Mayfield last half of the season was troublesome at best. If he can return to 2024 form then we got ourselves a chance, heck, look at Seahawks this year;
But Baker was broken last half of year and biggest reason along with dead last defense into why we collapsed.
If that's the new norm, call it a touchdown and INT per game, then Baker is not our QB of the current or future and that's a big issue; couple that with likely retirements this or next year in Evans and David, Vea on the wrong side of 30, Kancy maybe not earning 5th year, and yeah you have some building blocks, particularly on offense, but yeah...can certainly see another playoff miss season as opposed to being in the NFC Champ game next year
They didn't just hope that things would get better and players would be healthier.
This sounds as if you were in the Bucs' front office.
They didn't just hope that things would get better and players would be healthier.
This sounds as if you were in the Bucs' front office.
yeah...healthier?
when the players got healthy, for some unbeknownst reason, we became one of the worst teams in the league!
@theknees - so really what I’m hearing from your comments are that we “can” be closer to a playoff run? But that still depends on what we do this offseason.
How are we getting those 4 new contributors for the defense? Because 4 draft picks isn’t going to ignite the defense this year. If we draft well and it’s the right guy, then that guy might help. But a trade and free agency help is the answer for defense this year.
If that type of help doesn’t come, we’ll be seeing a complete overhaul next offseason.
We will be signing at least two, maybe three players on the defensive side of the ball through FA, and I think we draft 3 or 4 players on defense in April.
Tampa isn’t trading for a defensive player. Few are even worth considering for a trade. Should be about 22 million more to play with in the salary cap in 2026.
@theknees - that would be a good start. I will say this now for the 4th offseason in a row. If we do not spend the money to get a top edge in free agency (or trade) we will have the same overall issues on defense. And don’t for a second think that player will come in this years draft.