The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
68 days away from Bucs common season kickoff38 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff22 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the lead-up to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams might be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who might be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
At this time, the collection continues with proper guard Cody Mauch.
26 For ‘26: Cody Mauch Bucs Storylines In 2026
How Will Cody Mauch Fare In His Return From Knee Surgical procedure?
When Mauch returns to recreation motion within the preseason, it is going to have been 11 months because the final time he took the sphere in a aggressive setting. After all, when the Bucs open up the actual season in Cincinnati on Sept. 13, it is going to have been almost a full 12 months because the Bucs’ proper guard has performed in an everyday season recreation. His final one got here on Sept. 15, 2025.
So naturally, the conversations surrounding Mauch in 2026 heart on how effectively he’ll bounce again from the season-ending meniscus tear he suffered in Week 2 of the 2025 season. He performed each snap that evening, gutting it out because the Bucs got here again to win late. However that was the ultimate recreation he would play in his third NFL season.
Mauch missed the ultimate 15 video games of a disappointing season for Tampa Bay, and extra accidents at guard led to fairly the revolving door for the place all through the marketing campaign. However quick ahead to now and the 6-foot-6, 320-pound mauler is wholesome and able to go for Yr 4.
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However what is going to his return seem like? Will there be a reacclimation interval for Mauch? Will he be capable of clear these early hurdles and shake off that rust in coaching camp, joint practices and the preseason? Or will there be some bumps alongside the best way early within the common season? The slate to start out the 12 months is unforgiving, with a fairly formidable trio of Dexter Lawrence II, Mason Graham and Javon Hargrave on the schedule throughout the first 4 weeks. The hope is that he hits the bottom operating instantly, however time will inform for the 27-year-old.
Can Cody Mauch Keep On The Trajectory He Was On Pre-Harm?
Earlier than the harm, Mauch was on fairly the trajectory. The 2023 second-round decide took his lumps as a rookie, however that was to be anticipated contemplating he was shifting from deal with to protect, the left facet to the correct facet and North Dakota State to the NFL. There’s a studying curve and an adjustment interval with all three of these transitions, and he was coping with all three directly. He was additionally doing so whereas taking part in subsequent to proper deal with Luke Goedeke, who was readjusting in his personal proper after spending his 2022 rookie season at guard earlier than returning to his pure faculty place of deal with.
In 2023, Mauch performed all 1,103 of the Bucs’ offensive snaps and posted a 43.9 general PFF grade with a 37.6 run blocking grade and a 52.1 cross blocking mark. He allowed eight sacks and 57 complete pressures whereas being penalized 5 instances. So, sure, there have been some robust moments.
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However in 2024, Mauch took an enormous step up. He performed 1,133 snaps for the Bucs, which got here out to 99% of the offense’s complete. And his grades massively improved throughout the board. He earned a 74.6 general grade with a 68.4 run blocking mark and a 77.2 cross blocking grade. Mauch additionally allowed two sacks and 19 complete pressures, which meant 1 / 4 of the sacks he allowed in 2023 and round one-third of the pressures. He additionally went from 5 penalties in 2023 to only two in 2024. Total, it was fairly the leap from rookie season to Yr 2 for Tampa Bay’s proper guard.
After an injury-shortened 2025 season, Mauch and the Bucs will hope to see that rise proceed in 2026. Getting via the early hurdles of his return from that meniscus tear and the following surgical procedure might be key, each mentally and bodily. The bodily facet of it contains the truth that he’s carrying extra weight heading into the brand new season, and he’s carrying that weight on a surgically repaired knee. Mauch is seeking to be larger and higher in his fourth season as a professional, as he informed Pewter Report.
In an April look on the Pewter Report Podcast, Mauch informed Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera that he was weighing within the vary of 320-325 kilos and was going to see how 325 kilos felt for him throughout OTAs. That’s about 10 extra kilos than he was weighing heading into 2025, and it’s almost 25 greater than he weighed when he was drafted. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how he manages that weight and if/the way it impacts his play fashion.
Mauch stated as a guard, he thinks the larger, the higher. Nonetheless he will get there, hitting an excellent greater stage than the one he performed at in 2024 could be big for him, the offensive line and the Buccaneer offense as a complete.
In A Contract Yr, Cody Mauch Will Be Shaping His Future With The Bucs – Or Elsewhere?
How Mauch’s return from harm goes and whether or not he continues the trajectory he was on previous to his harm will instantly influence the large man’s future. Whether or not that future is with the Bucs or elsewhere stays to be seen, and that’s a unique a part of the dialog that we’ll get to shortly. Earlier than that, let’s concentrate on the truth that 2026 is a contract 12 months for Mauch, making it a massively vital season for him.
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The timing of Mauch’s meniscus harm creates a singular scenario for him in 2026. As a result of as a lot as this season might be about ending up his restoration, readjusting to the grind of the NFL season, returning to type and even taking the following step after a vastly profitable 2024 season, it’s additionally about him establishing his worth as he’s set to hit free company.
As of Might, Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo projected Mauch to make between $14 million-$17 million per 12 months on a brand new contract. This season will assist decide whether or not the common annual worth (AAV) on his new contract might be on the decrease finish of that vary, the upper finish and even past that $17 million. This season might additionally play a task in deciding whether or not Mauch’s future is with the Bucs or one of many 31 different groups within the league. And that’s an attention-grabbing layer of this dialog.
Proper now, it might really feel like an enormous shock – and probably an enormous misstep – for Tampa Bay to cross on re-signing Mauch. He’s simply now hitting his prime heading into his age-27 season, and he was on the correct path previous to the harm that ended his 2025. Assuming he returns to the sphere absolutely wholesome and has one other excellent season for the Bucs, Mauch very effectively might and must be a precedence subsequent offseason.
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However there’s rather a lot that the Bucs should juggle subsequent offseason. Baker Mayfield, Yaya Diaby, Vita Vea and Chase McLaughlin are all pending free brokers. And there’s solely a lot money to go round, proper? Nicely, as Queipo urged again in that Might article, there’s an opportunity a choice must be made between re-signing Mauch and retaining Ben Bredeson for the third and remaining 12 months of his three-year contract. In that scenario, you’re selecting Bredeson to be a cap casualty and Mauch to be a long-term constructing block for the offensive line 100/100 instances.
In any case, Mauch is about to play out his contract 12 months until Tampa Bay inks him to an early extension within the coming weeks. There hasn’t been any smoke on that, although, so this can be a subject that’s tabled till subsequent February or March. Nevertheless it’s a subject that may linger as a essential thread all through the upcoming season.
Catch Up On Earlier Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Collection
Baker MayfieldBucky IrvingKenny GainwellChris Godwin Jr.Emeka EgbukaJalen McMillanCade OttonTristan WirfsBen BredesonGraham Barton
