Compared to where the Bucs were at the beginning of the year, the future is not what it seemed, as they have fallen significantly. For a Tampa Bay squad this talented, with quarterback Baker Mayfield playing so well, how has it come apart? Fingers have started to be pointed, with calls for head coach Todd Bowles’ job only growing.

Pro Football Focus’ (and Pewter Report alum) Trevor Sikkema and NBC Sports’ Connor Rogers attempted to solve the looming questions after the season in their latest Fix Your Franchise episode on their NFL Stock Exchange podcast.

The full hour-and-a-half show is worth watching for a detailed breakdown as Sikkema and Rogers provided insight into where this team stands with Bowles, whether they would make a move to replace him, and which players they would add through free agency, trades, and in the 2026 NFL Draft.

If Todd Bowles Is Fired, Who Should Replace Him?

The million-dollar question this offseason, regardless of how the rest of this Bucs season goes, is what to do with Todd Bowles? Barring a miraculous playoff run, it appears the ceiling of this current team has been reached. After an 8-9 record in 2022, a 9-8 record in 2023, and a 10-7 record in 2024, Tampa Bay appears to have plateaued at that win total with minimal playoff results to show for it.

Connor Rogers began the discussion regarding the coaching staff’s fate.

“There’s a limited ceiling with this coaching staff here that kind of makes you go, ‘Maybe it is time,’ Rogers said. “It’s better to be ahead of it than to go down another year; you’ve spent a lot of money and draft capital on this roster, and you’ve been disappointed with the results. There has to be a mindset of, ‘Winning this division and appearing in the playoffs isn’t good enough for us anymore.'”

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The last thing this team can afford is to run it back next year, only to have the same result. Inaction would not evoke any inspiration at this point, and even in a scenario where Bowles sticks (which remains a real possibility), he would have to overhaul his group of defensive assistants. Still, general manager Jason Licht will remain around and in position to select the next head coach.

“If I think Jason Licht is a good GM and this roster has a lot of talent despite it missing players at various points in the season, well, what’s the one button we can press with a limited [number] of buttons we can press?” Rogers questioned. “It’s probably the coaching staff.”

Trevor Sikkema agreed, while also noting what happened following the firing of Jon Gruden after the 2008 season. That came after Gruden was extended before the year, but it was “Chucky” who also got the Bucs over the hump in 2002. At the time, he replaced Tony Dungy, who many have compared Bowles to. Even though it is not an apples-to-apples comparison, the thought of bringing back the same coach nearly 20 years after his dismissal is intriguing on multiple levels.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think the Bucs have hit their ceiling with Bowles,” Sikkema said. “Can you do worse than Todd Bowles as head coach? Yes, you absolutely can. Not that this is the same situation, but Tampa’s already done this once in their franchise… When you look beyond the record, look beyond just the wins and losses, when you look at how we got here and what we are as a football team, are you achieving what you think you can achieve in the situations that you have?”

Although Gruden was on Sikkema’s initial list, he went in a different direction. It was a list that featured Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, along with retreads Gruden and Mike McCarthy. It is not the most inspiring list, especially compared to recent years and also considering the brutal truth of hiring a defensive head coach in the modern-day NFL.

“If you don’t have an offensive-minded head coach, this will happen to you every single offseason,” Sikkema said of offensive coordinators being poached. “To be honest with you, of the guys who are on this list, I would love Jesse Minter. Jesse Minter, Chris Shula, I think one of these two guys. I’m all-in. The problem is whoever their offensive coordinator is, even if they bring in a good offensive coordinator next year. Guess what happens? They coach well, gone… that’s a tough cycle to live in.”

It is a cycle Bowles knows all too well after hiring Dave Canales and Liam Coen, which makes this hit that much harder. After proposing Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as an option should he be fired from the dysfunctional franchise, the route chosen was firing one Todd and hiring another.

Former Bucs OC Todd Monken – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

“Let’s go Todd Monken. Let’s bring him home. Can you think about Todd Monken designing an offense for Baker Mayfield and all four of these wide receivers?”

Monken has ties to Tampa Bay and Mayfield, having been an offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2016-2018 before leaving to be Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2019. Given that and his experience in recent years at Georgia and in Baltimore, hiring the 59-year-old would bring a wealth of knowledge and a no nonsense approach that checks a lot of boxes.

Which Players Should Bucs Add Through Free Agency And The Trade Market?

After agreeing to fire Todd Bowles and hire Todd Monken as head coach, the next question to fix the Bucs franchise was assessing the needs across the roster. Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers decided to re-sign wide receiver Mike Evans, tight end Cade Otton, running back Sean Tucker, and tight end Ko Kieft. Only electing to bring back offensive players, it should be noted a new defensive scheme also means refreshing that side of the ball with new talent. That left a team needs list going into next offseason with the goal of acquiring two edge rushers, two inside linebackers, a cornerback, and an offensive guard if the right one presented itself.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The biggest name out there in the upcoming free agency class is Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson is a popular name who has been linked to Tampa Bay, but injuries have limited the 31-year-old to just seven games this season. Although he has four sacks in that span, it does not make enough sense for a still-young team to put all its eggs in the veteran pass rusher basket.

Look at how well that worked out signing Haason Reddick.

To address the biggest positions of need at outside and inside linebacker, Sikkema and Rogers decided on Eagles inside linebacker Nakobe Dean as the main splash on the open market. Dean is expendable in Philadelphia given the emergence of Zack Baun into an All-Pro and rookie first-round pick Jihaad Campbell already looking like an impact player. That does not mean Dean isn’t a capable player in his own right, having overcome medical concerns to record 128 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 15 games in 2024. Playing in nine games (seven starts) in 2025, the 2022 third-round pick has 53 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Flashing playmaking ability and just turning 25 years old, Dean could be the long-term answer and replacement for Lavonte David, whom many predict will retire after this season.

Then came adding an edge rusher.

Needing to address it in the worst way, the trade that was made included sending wide receiver Jalen McMillan and a 2026 second-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for Nick Herbig. Herbig offers some serious Shaq Barrett parallels as someone who has flashed as Pittsburgh’s third pass rusher behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Steelers OLB Nick Herbig – Photo by: Barry Reeger – Imagn Images

Only 24 years old, he would inject youth into Tampa Bay’s outside pass rush but would also need a long-term contract as soon as next offseason. The talent is undeniable, as he would be the Bucs’ leading sacker this year with 6.5 sacks despite making just five starts and playing 60% of the defensive snaps.

It would hurt parting with McMillan, but a trio of Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Emeka Egbuka along with Tez Johnson still provides Baker Mayfield with enough weapons.

The 2026 NFL Draft Offers Chance To Address Bucs’ Defensive Needs

Last but not least, the 2026 NFL Draft.

Being over four months away, a lot can change between now and then in terms of which players the Bucs could look to select. That should not change the overall philosophy, one that is eerily similar to last year in having a largely defensive focus. Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers did a full breakdown of two potential mock drafts. It should be noted that the first one involved a trade down to acquire an extra third-rounder, while each is without a second-round pick due to the trade made above.

First Mock Draft:

No. 22 Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald
No. 65 Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds
No. 83 Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez

Second Mock Draft:

No. 19 Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
No. 83 Cincinnati ILB Jake Golday

While these moves are far from the only adds and subtractions the Bucs will make next offseason, they offer a foundation to build on entering the 2026 season. What do you think of the head coaching hire proposed, as well as which players were brought in?

Be sure to also check out the full Fix Your Franchise episode below: