Look, the NFL doesn't stop for anyone. We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, and if you’ve been following the tampa bay bucs depth chart, you know it’s been a total rollercoaster. Most people look at the roster and just see Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield.
They’re the big names. The household brands. But honestly? The real story of the 2025-2026 season—and why the Bucs are currently staring at a massive offseason—is found in the gaps. The injuries. The "who the heck is that?" guys who had to step up when the wheels fell off the interior offensive line.
The Baker Mayfield Factor and the 2026 Outlook
Let’s talk about Baker. He’s the heart of this thing.
He just finished a season where he was basically a third-down wizard. Seriously, he converted 72% of his third-down rushes. That’s insane. He’s out there putting his body on the line, playing through a shoulder injury and a bum knee just to keep drives alive.
But here’s the kicker: he’s entering the final year of that three-year deal he signed back in 2024. As we look at the tampa bay bucs depth chart moving into the 2026 spring, Baker is the guy, but the room behind him is... well, it’s veteran heavy. Teddy Bridgewater is the primary backup, a guy who’s seen it all. Then you’ve got the kid, Connor Bazelak, who was an undrafted find out of Bowling Green.
If Baker’s physicality finally catches up to him—and we saw him miss half a game against the Rams with that shoulder—this team changes instantly.
Skill Positions: The "Egbuka" Revolution
If you haven't been paying attention to the receiver room, you're missing out. Everyone knows Mike Evans is a living legend. He’s 32 now, still stacking yards, still the alpha.
But look at the depth. The Bucs snagged Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State, and he has been a revelation. He’s basically the WR2 now. Chris Godwin is still doing his thing in the slot, though he’s battled some dings lately.
Then you have the young speed. Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson.
It's a crowded room. Kameron Johnson is in there too, mostly making his bones on special teams as a returner.
The backfield is where things get really interesting. For a while, everyone thought Rachaad White was the undisputed RB1.
Not anymore.
Bucky Irving has essentially taken over the lead role. He’s got that "home-run" ability that Rachaad sometimes lacks. White is still the better pass-catcher—Baker loves him on those check-downs—but Bucky is the guy getting the carries when they need a spark. Sean Tucker is still lurking back there too, though he’s mostly a special teams ace and a "break glass in case of emergency" option.
Tight End Stability
Cade Otton is the iron man. He plays almost every snap. Behind him, it's Payne Durham and Devin Culp. It's not flashy, but it works. With Ko Kieft on IR with a leg injury, the blocking duties have fallen more on Durham, which has been a bit of a learning curve.
The Trenches: Where Things Got Messy
This is the part of the tampa bay bucs depth chart that gave fans nightmares this past season.
Tristan Wirfs is a god at Left Tackle. Luke Goedeke is solid at Right Tackle. But the middle? It was a disaster zone.
🔗 Read more: World Cup Argentina vs Brazil: Why the Superclásico Still Rules Football
- Cody Mauch: Out for the year with a knee injury.
- Ben Bredeson: Hit the IR.
- Graham Barton: The young center had to survive with backups on both sides.
Because of those injuries, we saw a lot of Dan Feeney and Michael Jordan. Yeah, that Michael Jordan. He’s a veteran who stepped in at Left Guard, but let’s be real—the pass protection was "leaky" at best.
If the Bucs want to protect their investment in Baker for 2026, they have to fix the interior depth. You can't rely on practice squad elevations for half the season and expect to win a Super Bowl.
Defense: Saying Goodbye to Legends?
The biggest cloud hanging over the defense is Lavonte David. The man is a legend, but the whispers of retirement are getting loud.
On the current depth chart, it’s David and SirVocea Dennis in the middle. Dennis has been "okay," but he hasn't exactly turned into the superstar the coaches hoped for. If David walks, there is a massive, gaping hole in the leadership of this unit.
The Pass Rush
Haason Reddick was brought in on a one-year flyer. He was supposed to be the perfect bookend to Yaya Diaby.
It... sort of worked?
Reddick had his moments, but the Bucs still struggle to get home with just a four-man rush. Diaby is the future, no doubt. Chris Braswell is the developmental piece. But right now, this group is a bit streaky.
The Secondary Shuffle
This is where the roster moves have been fast and furious.
- Jamel Dean: The top corner, but he’s dealing with a shoulder injury and heading toward free agency.
- Benjamin Morrison: The rookie out of Notre Dame who had to step in for Zyon McCollum.
- Zyon McCollum: Finished the year on IR with a hip injury.
The secondary is young. Like, really young. Tykee Smith and Antoine Winfield Jr. are the anchors at safety, and thank goodness for Winfield. Without him, this defense would be a sieve. He’s the highest-paid safety for a reason; he covers up a lot of mistakes made by the young corners like Jacob Parrish.
Special Teams and the "Futures"
The Bucs already started signing guys to "reserve/futures" contracts for 2026. Names like Owen Wright, Michael Wiley, and Josh Williams. These are the guys who will be fighting for those bottom-of-the-roster spots in training camp.
Chase McLaughlin remains one of the most reliable kickers in the league. Riley Dixon is holding down the punting duties. It’s the one area of the team that hasn't felt like a constant emergency.
Actionable Next Steps for Bucs Fans
If you're tracking the tampa bay bucs depth chart to see where this team goes next, keep your eyes on three specific areas:
- Monitor the Interior O-Line Health: Watch for the return of Cody Mauch and whether the front office brings in a veteran center/guard during the first wave of free agency. Barton needs help.
- The Lavonte David Watch: This is the domino that falls first. If he retires, the Bucs are almost certainly looking at a linebacker in the first two rounds of the draft.
- Secondary Stability: With Jamel Dean likely testing the market, the development of Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish becomes the most important storyline of the 2026 offseason.
The roster as it stands today isn't the roster that will take the field in September. Between the IR returns and the expiring contracts, the Bucs are about to undergo a significant facelift. But as long as No. 6 is under center and No. 13 is running routes, they're going to be a problem for the NFC South.