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?
