Top 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players Going Into the 2025-26 Season

Tampa Bay honestly has all the pieces to make a deep playoff run. They have one of the more balanced rosters, I'd say, and they have the luxury of playing in a weak division.

Tampa Bay gave Washington everything they could handle last year and came up just short in the playoffs, but they absolutely can make it to the NFC Championship, assuming everyone stays healthy.

This team could potentially be a Super Bowl contender when it's all said and done.

The Top Ten

Tristan Wirfs

Wirfs is an excellent offensive tackle. He is an excellent pass blocker. With a 93.7 overall grade according to PFF, he was the best pass blocker in the league, and his 82.8 overall grade ranks 9th in the league according to PFF.
He did not allow a single sack in 2024. He has good footwork, good technique, and is a very versatile player. With 4 Pro Bowls and 2 First Team All-Pros in his career already, one could make the argument that he's on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
He's only 26 and has shown improvements every season so far. His presence makes the offense better in so many ways. Hopefully, his recent injury doesn't keep him sidelined too long.
Mike Evans

Michael Lynn Evans is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Evans was drafted seventh overall by the Buccaneers in the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M University and led the NFL in receptions in 2019.

Talk about wide receivers who have aged like fine wine. Few have aged better than Mike Evans. He is the definition of consistency. He has yet to not record at least 1,000 yards in a season.
While he's slowed down statistically over time, he's still the top wide receiver for the Buccaneers. He has 6 Pro Bowls, 2 Second Team All-Pros, and a Super Bowl ring. Evans certainly has a case to be a Hall of Famer someday. He's easily the best receiver in Buccaneers franchise history.
He finished the 2024 season with 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he's not necessarily the flashiest wide receiver ever, he's still a consistently productive wide receiver.
Baker Mayfield

Baker Reagan Mayfield is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He famously played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he secured the Heisman Trophy during his senior year. The Cleveland Browns originally snagged him with the... read more

Baker Mayfield's story has been nothing short of interesting. From being the best quarterback the Browns have had since the revival to bouncing around from team to team to finding a home in Tampa Bay.
The crazy thing is that he's probably a top 10 quarterback in the NFL right now. He finished top 3 in both passing yards and touchdowns in 2024. Assuming he continues his high-level performance going forward, he immediately launches the Buccaneers into Super Bowl contention.
I used to think this guy was an arrogant prick, and he kinda was, but he's matured and has become more likable. I'm so happy he found a new home in this league. He was a mere play or two away from beating the Commanders in the playoffs last season.
Is it crazy to think he's in the MVP conversation this coming season?
Antoine Winfield Jr.

Antoine Winfield is one of the best safeties in the league right now. He's very versatile, showing the ability to play multiple different roles. Winfield Jr. is a turnover machine that can force and recover fumbles and intercept passes.
Antoine has become a true leader in the Buccaneers' secondary. Unfortunately, he was limited in 2024, only playing in 9 games. But in 2023, Winfield had a standout season with career highs in tackles (122), passes defensed (12), quarterback hits (8), sacks (6), forced fumbles (6), fumble recoveries (4), and interceptions (3), earning First Team All-Pro honors.
I expect him to have a bounce-back year in 2025 and return to being one of the premier safeties in the league.
Chris Godwin

When he's healthy, Chris Godwin is a very good wide receiver 2. He is a reliable target with good hands and is a good route runner.
Godwin is a true team player who has been a key asset to the Buccaneers' offense since his rookie season. In 4 of his last 6 seasons, he's had at least 1,000 receiving yards. Unfortunately, last season he missed over half the season due to injury. Otherwise, he very well could've had a career year in 2024. He was at least on pace for it.
I'm curious how well he'll play coming off a season-ending injury like that, but in theory, he should return to form and be a top WR2. If so, the Buccaneers may very well be a Super Bowl threat once again.
Lavonte David

Lavonte Lamar David is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Nebraska, earning consensus All‑American honors twice before being selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. As of March 2025, he agreed to a one‑year extension... read more

Lavonte David is an example of a player who has aged like fine wine. Even all these years later, he's still a top linebacker in the league. Talk about durable and consistent. David has been one of the keystone players for the Buccaneers' defense.
He's always been underrated to me, never getting the recognition that he deserves. David has been a true stud. He's the longest-tenured player on the team and has been a team captain for 11 consecutive seasons.
Statistically, he's been one of the best defensive players in franchise history. He has a valid case to get to the Hall of Fame someday. I imagine he'll stick around a few more years, but you have to begin to wonder how much longer he has left in the league. Maybe 5 years at most? In any case, he'll be irreplaceable when he hangs up the cleats eventually.
Vita Vea

Vita Vea has been an integral part of the Buccaneers' pass rush. He was a key contributor on that Super Bowl team from a few years back.
Vea is exactly the type of guy you want on your team, a dominant run stopper, formidable pass rusher, great athleticism, and a true locker room leader with great character. What more could you possibly want from this guy?
His 2024 season was arguably his best yet: 7.0 sacks, 42 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits, and he made the Pro Bowl. Vea should have at least 3 to 5 more productive seasons given his age. He's as steady and reliable as they come at nose tackle.
Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving really proved himself as a true hidden gem in his rookie season. He finished the season with 1,122 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. He finished top 10 in rushing yards and top 20 in rushing touchdowns across the league.
Pretty impressive for a 4th round pick in 2024. I think he has the potential to be even better in 2025. He was arguably a top 10 running back last season and should have a strong case to be top 5 this season. Other than Rachaad White, who else would he be splitting carries with?
Bucky should be the primary running back for Tampa Bay based on his performance last season alone. Assuming he picks up where he left off, he can absolutely be Pro Bowl caliber, maybe even an All-Pro. I'm excited to see how well he does in 2025.
Graham Barton

Barton was generally decent as a rookie. I expect him to play even better in his second season. He's a good run blocker with solid athleticism and agility.
He only allowed 1 sack the entire season. While his PFF numbers are relatively low, he has shown flashes of brilliance and should show significant improvements going into his second season. If he can improve in pass protection, he could be a Pro Bowl-caliber center.
Emeka Egbuka

While I question the Buccaneers' logic of taking a wide receiver when it really wasn't necessary, there's no denying that Egbuka is a very talented prospect. He has strong hands, decent route-running skills, and has high football IQ.
He is coming off a national championship season at Ohio State, finishing with two 1,000+ yard seasons. He's a high-floor prospect who should at least be a wide receiver 2. My guess is Egbuka is going to be the eventual Mike Evans replacement.
Might not see a lot of him early on, but he could add a layer of depth to the wide receiver room. Should be a safe bet pick with great athleticism and good character. He should definitely develop and be a valuable asset in a very favorable situation in Tampa Bay.