The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
67 days away from Bucs common season kickoff37 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff21 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the lead-up to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams can be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who can be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
At the moment, the collection continues with proper sort out Luke Goedeke, who’s the ultimate member of the offense we’ll concentrate on within the collection.
Can The Bucs Rely On A Wholesome Luke Goedeke In 2026?
The Bucs’ harm issues in recent times have been properly documented. And whereas they’ve had extra apparent examples of gamers they might/can fairly count on to overlook a couple of video games or extra every season — suppose Jamel Dean previously, Calijah Kancey all through the beginning of his profession and Benjamin Morrison extra not too long ago — Goedeke is a sneaky a part of that checklist as properly. Tampa Bay’s proper sort out is sadly a type of guys who has additionally missed chunks of time comparatively incessantly all through his profession.
Goedeke missed 4 video games throughout his 2022 rookie season with a foot harm and didn’t play in two others after that, although whether or not that was based mostly on his efficiency at guard previous to the harm or he nonetheless wasn’t absolutely recovered is topic to debate — or clarification that we might by no means get.
Upon his transfer to proper sort out in 2023, Goedeke began all 17 video games for Tampa Bay throughout the common season in addition to each of the group’s playoff video games. That was a constructive signal, however two years later and 4 years into his profession total, that is still the one full season he’s managed to play.
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Goedeke missed 4 video games early within the 2024 season after getting into concussion protocol following the Bucs’ Week 1 sport. Then, in 2025, Goedeke left Tampa Bay’s Week 2 sport after additional aggravating a foot harm he suffered the earlier week. He was then positioned on injured reserve and missed the group’s subsequent six video games earlier than returning after the bye week.
Total, Goedeke has performed in 52 of a attainable 68 video games over the course of his profession. Even accounting for the video games in his rookie 12 months that he may’ve been sidelined for resulting from efficiency, he’s missed at the very least 4 video games in three of his 4 seasons with the Bucs. And that’s a disgrace, as Goedeke has was fairly the participant since his transfer to proper sort out. Tampa Bay will hope that he can play a full season — or near it — in 2026, because the Bucs offensive line is clearly at its finest when he’s on the sphere with the remainder of the beginning unit.
Can Luke Goedeke Hold Shutting Out Opposing Go Rushers?
Goedeke’s transfer to protect after he was drafted out of Central Michigan in 2022 didn’t go as he or the Bucs hoped it might, however he’s been a very totally different participant since returning to the place he performed on the collegiate stage. Late in his rookie 12 months, he made temporary cameos at proper sort out and appeared proper at house, and that prompted Tampa Bay to return him to that place in 2023 when it moved Tristan Wirfs from proper sort out to left sort out.
Goedeke went from a season at guard that noticed him earn PFF grades of 46.7 total, 47.8 run blocking and 46.7 cross blocking to a 2023 season at proper sort out that featured grades of 73.4, 70.0 and 72.5, respectively. That 12 months, he allowed six sacks and 44 whole pressures over 730 cross blocking alternatives. A 12 months later, his grades jumped once more, rising to 73.6, 75.7 and 76.8, respectively. In 2024, he allowed simply three sacks and 17 whole pressures over 531 alternatives.
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In 2025, Goedeke had his finest 12 months but regardless of the time he missed with that foot harm. He completed with a career-high 75.8 total grade, a 72.9 run blocking grade and a career-high 78.9 cross blocking mark. It’s straightforward to see why he earned such a excessive cross blocking grade, as opposing cross rushers merely couldn’t beat him. Over 384 cross blocking alternatives, Goedeke didn’t permit a single sack. He didn’t even permit a single quarterback hit. He gave up simply 22 whole pressures, all of which went down as hurries.
It was simply the newest step ahead for Goedeke in what has been a meteoric rise during the last three years. However now the query is whether or not he can hold shutting down opposing cross rushers week in and week out. As a result of the Bucs have already got the most effective sort out duos within the NFL in Goedeke and left sort out Tristan Wirfs, a five-time Professional Bowler and two-time All-Professional. But when Goedeke has actually reached that shutdown stage and carries that top stage of play into 2026, it’ll be completely huge for Tampa Bay’s offense. It’ll really feel like a cheat code having two tackles who deal with cross rushers so properly.
Bucs OTs Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs will face loads of cross speeding expertise in 2026, so Goedeke will proceed to be examined. There’s Jared Verse in Week 2, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig in Week 6, Jaelan Phillips in Weeks 7 and 12 and the younger duo of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. (relying on any self-discipline from the NFL for his off-field troubles) in Weeks 8 and 16. There’s additionally Montez Sweat in Week 9, Aidan Hutchinson in Week 11, Khalil Mack in Week 13, Trey Hendrickson in Week 14 and Myles Garrett and Byron Younger in Week 17. That’s lots for Goedeke and Wirfs to take care of. Are they as much as the duty?
Most likely.
Cam Jordan is again with the Saints for yet one more season earlier than Bucs RT Luke Goedeke retires him. https://t.co/oaAoa9czAn
Will 2026 Be The 12 months That Luke Goedeke Earns League-Vast Notoriety?
Bucs followers have come to know and love Goedeke over the last three years, however has the league taken discover but? Perhaps to an extent, as Tampa Bay does get a variety of love for its sort out duo being up there with one of the best of them. Opponents have actually come to know Goedeke very properly, and at this level, he’s absolutely earned their respect. However is there an excellent larger stage of recognition No. 67 can attain in his fifth NFL season? There must be.
A 12 months after signing a four-year, $90 million contract extension to stay with the Bucs, Goedeke can be seeking to achieve much more respect each from the opposition and the NFL world as a complete. One other 12 months just like the one he had in 2025, particularly paired with a more healthy season, can be exhausting to disregard.
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Goedeke has been on a Professional Bowl trajectory over the previous few years, so may this be the 12 months all of it involves fruition to assist him firmly set up himself among the many NFL’s finest tackles? There’s a variety of competitors on the sort out place when it comes time for the Professional Bowl Video games, with Tristan Wirfs being an apparent instance in the exact same locker room. However a wholesome Goedeke — one who performs 15+ video games — and a Goedeke who continues to close down opposing cross rushers and maul would-be tacklers within the run sport? You may see that man within the combine for his first-ever Professional Bowl honors.
What about an excellent larger stage of recognition? Wirfs is among the many favorites to win the NFL’s Protector of the 12 months Award, which honors one of the best offensive lineman within the league annually. However is Goedeke a worthy longshot? His odds sit at +8000 proper now, with 38 offensive linemen holding higher odds than him. His are the identical as 2026 rookies Francis Mauigoa and Vega Ioane. Are there 38 linemen higher than Goedeke? Ought to his odds be on the identical stage as guys who’ve but to play a down within the NFL? Argue whichever manner you need, nevertheless it’s these sorts of narratives that the 6-foot-5, 312-pound proper sort out will look to disprove in 2026.
As an offensive lineman, you understand you’re in a comparatively thankless place. So chances are high, Goedeke doesn’t care whether or not he will get that league-wide notoriety and would moderately see the Bucs win ball video games than have praised heaped on him. A season equally dominant to the one he simply had will put Tampa Bay in place to win and the much-deserved recognition will merely come as a byproduct, proper?
Catch Up On Earlier Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Collection
Baker MayfieldBucky IrvingKenny GainwellChris Godwin Jr.Emeka EgbukaJalen McMillanCade OttonTristan WirfsBen BredesonGraham BartonCody Mauch
