Not like the offense, the place most beginning jobs are already settled, the Bucs’ protection nonetheless has a number of pivotal questions getting into coaching camp. From rookies and younger starters to established veterans, loads of gamers want a powerful summer season for Tampa Bay’s protection to achieve its ceiling.
Narrowing the listing down was a tougher train, however listed below are 5 gamers who should rise to the event in 2026.
DT Calijah Kancey
For Calijah Kancey, the problem has by no means been about expertise. Discussing Kancey’s sturdiness has develop into a damaged file, however for good cause.
Kancey has flashed Professional Bowl-caliber disruption every time wholesome, however that has been the largest impediment to him turning into the centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s defensive entrance. His fourth season feels just like the tipping level in proving he can develop into the disruptive power everybody believes he might be. The entrance seven has been revamped round Kancey, contemplating the additions of Rueben Bain Jr., A’Shawn Robinson, and Al-Quadin Muhammad, together with the return of David Walker (extra on him beneath).
There isn’t any higher time for Kancey to place all of it collectively and spearhead the move rush.
Bucs DTs Calijah Kancey and Elijah Roberts – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Schematically, Kancey’s match inside the Bucs’ protection is as good because it will get. Vita Vea simply so occurs to be a 350-pound nostril deal with who eats up double groups, creating alternatives for the 2023 first-round choose to make use of his uncommon explosive first step to break down the pocket. This isn’t simply hyperbole. It was on full show through the 2024 season when he had 7.5 sacks in 12 video games, together with 5 sacks in a four-game span.
Had he continued to get full reps and in-game expertise, he might have helped stop Tampa Bay from having simply 37 sacks as a crew. Now, the stress is on for him this summer season. After succumbing to damage earlier than every of his first two seasons and struggling a season-ending damage in Week 2 of his third season, a wholesome coaching camp is step one towards getting him again on observe. Kancey has the possibility to take away doubt about him main the defensive deal with room for years to return.
OLB David Walker
Accidents haven’t solely held Calijah Kancey again, however a torn ACL stored David Walker from seeing the sector in any respect throughout his rookie season. Seeing Walker go down throughout final yr’s coaching camp after initially impressing was an unlucky blow, contemplating the struggles of the skin move rush in 2025. It’s not possible to make up for the misplaced time, however what he can do is hit the bottom working and compete to see the sector usually this yr.
Bucs OLB David Walker – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Whereas undersized, Walker’s pass-rushing capacity shouldn’t be doubted. His collegiate manufacturing was excellent, as in 38 video games throughout three seasons at Central Arkansas and one season at Southern Arkansas College, he totaled 82.5 tackles for loss and 39 sacks.
Walker should ball out as a result of the door might start closing on him. That actuality might already be setting in, with Rueben Bain Jr. being the beginning exterior linebacker subsequent to Yaya Diaby, who is anticipated to obtain a contract extension in some unspecified time in the future. With these two as long-term starters and Al-Quadin Muhammad main the subsequent wave, Walker’s position will probably be extra restricted.
Not solely does he need to thrive in pass-rushing conditions, however each follow towards Tampa Bay’s offensive tackles will function a litmus take a look at, and Walker has to translate that into the preseason. At 26 years outdated with out an NFL snap, Walker doesn’t have the luxurious of a protracted developmental runway. The concentration is going to clearly be on Bain, however Walker’s presence has to make a distinction instantly, too.
ILB Josiah Trotter
Josiah Trotter has caught his share of flak since being drafted by the Bucs within the second spherical. Coaching camp is Trotter’s first likelihood at quieting the skin noise holding down an inside linebacker spot. Being a premium choose at what has been a dire place of want, he’s anticipated to be the starter subsequent to Alex Anzalone. Given how a lot the center of the protection has been a obtrusive weak spot, loads of eyes will probably be on the 21-year-old to see simply how prepared he’s.
Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Picture by: Adam Warren/PR
Trotter was not drafted to develop behind veterans, however slightly as a result of the group believes he can stabilize one of many protection’s greatest weaknesses instantly. Understandably, his ups and downs in move protection have raised considerations. It’s unrealistic for him to be a completed product Week 1, however the strides he makes earlier than the season will say lots concerning the state of the place and whether or not or not he’s prepared for the tasks that include being a mike linebacker.
Constructed like an old-school thumper and carrying one of many NFL’s most recognizable linebacker bloodlines, Trotter suits precisely what Todd Bowles desires in the course of his protection. Bowles’ protection operates greatest with two linebackers who complement one another effectively, such because the early days of the Lavonte David and Devin White duo. Trotter has loads of room to develop, however given the longstanding struggles on the place, he should not solely look the half however play the half. In any other case, will probably be a protracted yr of shuffling gamers and getting picked aside.
CB Zyon McCollum
Shifting focus to the secondary, the place the Bucs stand at cornerback doesn’t evoke a lot confidence. Whereas the group has loads of promising gamers, that promise has but to translate into constant manufacturing. Tampa Bay is in a spot the place they’re totally trusting in youth over manufacturing, evidenced by swapping Jamel Dean for Benjamin Morrison and betting on Zyon McCollum to be the highest nook. McCollum is getting into his fifth season with time working out to show that he might be constant for a whole yr. He regressed in 2025, wanting weak in protection, which is a worrying development contemplating that he ended 2024 in the identical means.
Bucs CBs coach Rashad Johnson and CB Zyon McCollum – Picture courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todd Bowles has spoken about his lack of focus and his eyes as areas to enhance, and the crew should see him step up in coaching camp. It won’t be simple going up towards the crew’s loaded vast receiver room, however that additionally offers fairly the chance to rise to the event and alleviate fear. Among the many trio of McCollum, Morrison, and Jacob Parrish, McCollum has the most important contract and highest expectations to carry out. The move protection — and actually the complete protection — wants him to place these struggles behind him to be able to achieve success.
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
Maybe the bar for Antoine Winfield Jr. was set too excessive after his All-Professional 2023 season the place he lit up the stat sheet and performed like one of the best security within the NFL. Anticipating Winfield to achieve that gold normal yr after yr will not be truthful. On the similar time, since turning into the protection’s highest-paid participant, he has taken a step again in manufacturing. He has been good, however not the identical elite participant that moved the needle.
Antoine Winfield in 2023: 17 video games, 122 tackles, six sacks, six pressured fumbles, three interceptions
Antoine Winfield in 2024 and 2025: 26 video games, 153 tackles, three sacks, one pressured fumble, two interceptions
Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Winfield’s playmaking has dried as much as an extent lately, with a part of the reason is the struggles of the secondary resulting in him taking part in cleanup slightly than searching for and going after the ball. The hope is that he has extra freedom to roam the backend of the protection with Jacob Parrish rotating in as an out of doors cornerback and Keionte Scott manning the nickelback place.
For this protection to achieve success and bounce again, it wants one of the best model of Winfield beginning in coaching camp. He doesn’t must have 12 mixed sacks and fumbles, however even half that whole would go a great distance in flipping the end result of video games in Tampa Bay’s favor. That positive was the case in 2023, because the crew wouldn’t have made the postseason with out his clutch, game-changing performs.
If Antoine Winfield Jr. is taking part in at an All-Professional stage once more, the Bucs’ protection turns into much more harmful. If he’s merely good, the unit might battle to create the splash performs essential to compete for one more playoff run.
