Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
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INTRO: With the beginning of coaching camp simply three weeks away, let’s check out the place every Bucs starter and key reserve want to enhance essentially the most when the pads come on. This week’s SR’s FAB 5 focuses on the offense and particular groups, and subsequent Friday’s column will concentrate on protection. Get pleasure from!
FAB 1. The place The Bucs Should Enhance In Camp: Backfield
Let’s kick off this SR’s FAB 5 by analyzing the place Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving and Co. want to enhance essentially the most in coaching camp previous to the beginning of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
QB Baker Mayfield: Completion share
A yr after former offensive play-caller Liam Coen helped Mayfield obtain a career-best and franchise-record 71.4% completion share based mostly round finishing quick passes rapidly and in rhythm, new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard needed Mayfield to push the ball downfield extra with the hope of making extra explosive performs within the passing sport. That method backfired.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and former OC Josh Grizzard – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Mayfield’s completion share plummeted to 63.2%, which was even decrease than the 64.3% mark underneath Dave Canales in 2023. Because of this, his common yards per cross fell from 7.9 yards in 2024 to only 6.8 yards final season as a consequence of extra incompletions. And Mayfield threw for almost 1,000 fewer yards final yr with simply 3,693 yards in comparison with 4,500 yards in 2024. Mayfield’s landing complete additionally fell from 41 in 2024 to only 26 final yr.
Zac Robinson desires to get the ball out of Mayfield’s arms sooner with extra quick and intermediate passes into the arms of the staff’s playmakers, much like the kind of performs Coen was calling two years in the past. If Mayfield can try this and full a better share of his passes, it can outcome within the chains transferring extra usually with longer scoring drives, and people drives hopefully ending in additional touchdowns than area targets or punts.
RB Bucky Irving: Go safety
Irving had a sensational rookie season during which he ran for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns, exhibiting super elusiveness and a nifty operating type that made defenders miss whereas he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Final yr he improved as a receiver out of the backfield regardless of foot and shoulder accidents costing him seven video games in 2025.
In 2025, Irving caught 30 passes for 277 yards and his first three receiving touchdowns, together with a 72-yard rating on a wheel route versus Philadelphia. And he improved his receiving common from 8.3 yards per catch in 2024 to 9.2 yards in 2025. However the space that Irving wants essentially the most work is in cross safety, and he wants to essentially present enchancment on this space when the pads come on.
Irving’s 5-foot-9, 192 kilos work towards him as a cross protector, however he can enhance by engaged on his method. He had a 28.9 cross safety grade per PFF in 2024 and that quantity regressed to 22.6 final yr. Irving will lose snaps on third right down to Kenneth Gainwell largely due to this facet of his sport, as Gainwell is superior in cross safety. If Irving desires to actually change into a three-down again, he must be higher on third down and hone his cross safety method.
RB Kenneth Gainwell: Take up the playbook
Gainwell is coming off his greatest NFL season in Pittsburgh, the place he totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and was the Steelers staff MVP regardless of not even being a starter. Gainwell wasn’t even the main rusher, but beat out Jaylen Warren and a few established Steelers legends like T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward for that honor. The staff views him as an improve over Rachaad White, who wasn’t re-signed in free company.
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Memphis product is an completed runner, receiver and cross protector. Now he simply must proceed to immerse himself in Zac Robinson’s playbook to the place he is aware of the scheme nearly as good or higher than Bucky Irving or Sean Tucker. That’s the important thing to actually getting extra taking part in time and taking snaps away from the opposite backs.
Gainwell obtained a head begin this offseason with Irving sidelined as he recovered from shoulder surgical procedure and made an excellent first impression, particularly as a receiver popping out of the backfield. That should proceed in coaching camp and the preseason. The extra mistake-free play he displays the extra belief he’ll construct with Robinson and operating backs coach Skip Peete.
RB Sean Tucker: Sense of urgency
Tucker had essentially the most carries of his profession final yr with 86, which was a rise from the 50 he had in 2024. However his common fell from a team-high 6.2 yards per carry in 2024 to a pedestrian 3.7 common final yr. A part of that was as a consequence of his elevated utilization as a short-yardage and purpose line again final yr the place naturally his common would dip.
But that position did assist Tucker lead the Bucs with a career-high eight landing runs. However regardless of being the quickest operating again on the roster, Tucker solely had three runs of 15 yards or longer final yr, which matched his 2024 output in that class regardless of having 36 extra carries. The arrival of Kenneth Gainwell and Bucky Irving’s return to well being will imply restricted touches once more for Tucker in 2026.
So he must take advantage of his each carry and have a “swing for the fences” mentality when he runs the ball. Tucker must play with an elevated sense of urgency and get rid of the runs for little or acquire from his play, as he’s in a contract yr and shall be a free agent in 2027. He wants to indicate that he’s basically a beginning operating again trapped as RB3 on Tampa Bay’s depth chart and get his speeding common again as much as over 5 yards per carry.
FAB 2. The place The Bucs Should Enhance In Camp: Offensive Line
Now let’s took a have a look at the beginning offensive linemen. It will be too tedious to undergo all the reserves, who actually want to enhance in a mess of how to enhance their inventory and their possibilities of making the 53-man roster.
LT Tristan Wirfs: Consistency
Wirfs is a five-time Professional Bowler and is already an elite offensive sort out, nevertheless it takes work to remain elite. Wirfs has all the time been a dominant cross protector, however had a career-high 91.6 run blocking grade in 2025 per PFF.
His earlier greatest was a 77.1 run blocking grade as a rookie in 2020, and final yr was an unlimited enchancment over Wirfs’ 62.8 run blocking grade in 2024. So the problem for Wirfs is to take care of his dominance in each the cross and the run sport on a weekly foundation with constant fundamentals and a perfectionist mindset. That must be his focus in camp: constant domination.
Bucs OL Cody Mauch, Ben Bredeson, Tristan Wirfs and RB Rachaad White – Picture by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
LG Ben Bredeson: Run blocking
Professional Soccer Focus will not be the gospel in the case of evaluating NFL gamers, particularly offensive linemen. However it’s the very best device at the moment out there. There was a stark distinction to Bredeson’s run blocking grades and cross safety grades final yr.
He earned a 44.1 run blocking grade and a 76 cross safety grade in 2025. So whether or not it’s hand placement, taking the correct angles, physique positioning and method, ending blocks, or different areas, it looks like Bredeson’s run blocking as an entire might use loads of work in coaching camp as soon as the pads come on.
C Graham Barton: Core energy
On his look on the Pewter Report Podcast this offseason, Barton mentioned that his purpose this yr is to enhance his capability to anchor in cross safety. He’s spent the offseason lifting weights and getting stronger in his core and his decrease physique. Now he wants to mix that purposeful energy with nice method in cross professional.
Generally what hurts Barton is firing his arms a cut up second too late and that permits defenders to get into his chest too rapidly and rock him backwards earlier than he can anchor his decrease physique. So beating defenders to the punch will allow his improved core energy to kick in faster and thus make him more practical. Seeing how Barton has improved when going up towards Vita Vea in one-on-one drills shall be attention-grabbing to observe.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and C Graham Barton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
RG Cody Mauch: Shaking off the rust
Mauch was on his approach to ascending to turning into a possible Professional Bowl guard in 2025, after an excellent second season in Tampa Bay. He improved his PFF grade from 43.9 as a rookie in 2023 to a 74.6 grade in 2024. He had an okay begin to the 2025 season with a 63.4 grade within the first two video games of final yr however must shake off the rust of lacking all however two video games final season from a torn meniscus and get again to his 2024 kind.
Mauch has added some wanted dimension this yr and is about 325 kilos – his greatest since turning into a Buccaneer. We’ll see how a lot that helps him in 2026 beginning in late July. What Mauch must concentrate on is the current and the long run. He must mentally put his knee damage behind him and play prefer it didn’t even occur.
RT Luke Goedeke: Pre-snap focus
Goedeke has led the Bucs in penalties in every of the final three years, and that is nonetheless after lacking six video games final yr and 4 video games in 2024. Goedeke’s penalties have decreased annually from 10 in 2023 to 9 in 2024 to only eight final yr, however once more, he additionally missed fairly a little bit of time, which undoubtedly aided his discount in penalties.
Goedeke’s greatest infraction annually are false begins. He had six in 2023, 4 the subsequent season and 5 final yr. Higher pre-snap focus will help cut back or get rid of these penalties and that may start in coaching camp in 11-on-11s.
FAB. 3 The place The Bucs Should Enhance In Camp: Broad Receivers
Subsequent let’s concentrate on the huge receivers almost definitely to make the 53-man roster and the areas that they should enhance in, beginning with the primary coaching camp apply on July 29.
WR Chris Godwin Jr.: Discover a approach to recapture explosiveness
Age and accidents have undoubtedly robbed the 30-year outdated Godwin of a few of his velocity and explosiveness. Being a full yr faraway from a ugly ankle damage ought to assist recapture a little bit of his burst to make yards after the catch and that should proceed this yr as he should show he’s nonetheless productive sufficient to justify his $22 million wage.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Picture by: USA Right this moment
After averaging a paltry 7.6 yards per catch previous to Week 13, Godwin had a 31-yard catch-and-run towards Arizona, adopted by a 21-yard seize versus New Orleans the subsequent week. In Week 17 at Miami, Godwin had a 59-yard catch-and-run in his lone 100-yard sport of the season and he wound up averaging 10.9 yards per catch on the yr consequently. However is {that a} signal of issues to return?
Godwin is transferring higher this offseason and will presumably be getting nearer to what he was in 2024 which was a receiver averaging 11.5 yards per catch. He’s good sufficient and skilled sufficient to win within the slot towards nickelbacks, linebackers and safeties. Godwin simply wants to have the ability to present slightly extra juice and be greater than a chain-moving possession receiver in 2026 to justify sticking round as a high-priced receiver subsequent yr.
WR Emeka Egbuka: Beat man protection
Egbuka had a sensational rookie season in 2025 because the staff’s first-round choose, main the Bucs in catches (63), yards (938) and touchdowns (six). It will be straightforward to level out stamind as the world in Egbuka’s sport that must be labored on so he can end, as he had all six of his TDs within the first 9 video games of the season – and didn’t have a sport with greater than 64 yards receiving over the ultimate eight video games of the yr.
However Egbuka has already labored on his conditioning this offseason to assist in that space. And it ought to be famous that he was coming off an prolonged school yr during which Egbuka gained the nationwide championship at Ohio State as a senior, which explains why he hit a rookie wall and his manufacturing light down the stretch.
The realm that wants essentially the most work is thrashing man protection, as Egbuka thrived in zone. Engaged on his route-running and studying to higher snap off his routes will assist him create extra separation, and thus be a more practical receiver in man protection in 2026.
WR Jalen McMillan: Proceed to get open
Whereas Emeka Egbuka struggled towards man protection final yr, McMillan thrived towards it. He obtained open versus man protection at a better charge than some other Bucs huge receiver. McMillan solely performed within the final 4 video games of the season in 2025 after recovering from a fractured neck damage he suffered in August, however hauled in 12 catches for 178 yards for a formidable 14.8-yard common. He additionally recorded his first 100-yard sport as an NFL receiver at Miami.
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Picture by: IMAGN Photos – Sam Navarro
McMillan would possibly get misplaced within the shuffle a bit with a $22 million receiver in Godwin forward of him on the roster, along with Egbuka, final yr’s first-round choose. However Baker Mayfield has proven the willingness to throw to the open receiver and doesn’t discriminate. If McMillan is open, he’ll get the ball. Simply as he did on the finish of his rookie season when he completed with seven touchdowns within the last 5 video games of the 2024 marketing campaign.
McMillan must proceed to refine his routes and change into a greater technician as a receiver. He has the pure twitchiness that permits him to create separation. McMillan can improve that with consideration to element in coaching camp and change into an much more efficient man-beater on the perimeter.
WR Ted Hurst: Proceed to show you’re prepared
We’ll add one rookie to this group as a result of Hurst, the staff’s third-round choose, will make the 53-man roster and see some taking part in time as a rookie. Nonetheless, the Bucs don’t want Hurst to be a giant contributor as a rookie. There are at the moment 4 receivers forward of him on the depth chart in Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan.
Hurst’s arms and route-running capability had been higher than anticipated coming from Georgia State and he’s proven early indicators that he can actually contribute and earn fairly a little bit of taking part in time throughout his rookie season. That development must proceed when the pads come on, and he must shine underneath the lights within the preseason in August. If these issues occur, Hurst will see loads of motion in 2026.
WR Tez Johnson: Grasp the playbook
Johnson hit the bottom operating final yr as a rookie receiver, ending with 5 landing catches, which was second on the staff behind Emeka Egbuka’s six. These 5 scores equaled the mixed landing manufacturing of each Mike Evans (three) and Chris Godwin Jr. (two) final yr. When the Bucs spent a seventh-round choose on Johnson they anticipated him to be WR5 on the depth chart final yr behind Evans, Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Egbuka.
Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Picture by: USA Right this moment
However accidents to Evans, Godwin and McMillan meant than Johnson noticed loads of motion – much more taking part in time than the staff envisioned. Johnson wound up beginning eight video games and was at instances WR2 because of the myriad of accidents on the receiver place. Whereas he hauled in 28 catches for 322 yards (11.5 avg.), Johnson made loads of rookie errors, too.
These errors led to operating the mistaken routes and both not getting the ball or resulting in incompletions when Johnson broke off his routes on the mistaken depth. There have been even some cases the place his errors triggered him to run too near different receivers, which led to whole performs being blown up and wasted. These rookie errors had been comprehensible and forgiveable – final yr. However Johnson wants to indicate he is usually a pupil of the sport and be assignment-sound.
WR Kam Johnson: Enhance as a returner
Johnson made the 53-man roster as WR6 on the depth chart, and lived as much as the promise he confirmed throughout an injury-riddled rookie season. Staying wholesome for all 17 video games in his second season in Tampa Bay, Johnson gained the kick and punt returner positions and led the Bucs in each classes. He additionally caught his first landing final yr in a key win towards San Francisco, and completed the yr with 4 catches for 64 yards, in addition to two end-arounds for 13 yards.
The Bucs don’t want Johnson to be a dynamic power at huge receiver. There are 5 extra gifted and extra completed receivers forward of him on the depth chart. That’s to not say that he couldn’t – or shouldn’t – develop as a receiver on offense throughout coaching camp and the preseason. The higher and extra well-rounded a participant is, the extra doubtless they’re to make the 53-man roster.
However Johnson gained a roster spot as a consequence of his return capability and that shall be how he stays a Buccaneer in 2026 if that’s his destiny. He averaged a decent 11 yards per punt return and a 25.4-yard common on kick returns. Tampa Bay has a brand new particular groups coordinator in Danny Smith, so Johnson should show himself yet again this yr and actually make some much more dynamic returns in apply and the preseason to maintain his roster spot.
FAB 4. The place The Bucs Should Enhance In Camp: Tight Ends
The Bucs tight ends determine to be extra concerned within the passing sport in 2026, however precisely how rather more depends upon what occurs in coaching camp and the way every tight finish improves.
TE Cade Otton: Run blocking
Otton signed a three-year, $10 million contract extension as a result of he does two issues properly. First, he’s out there and performs a excessive quantity of snaps. Otton has missed simply 4 video games over the previous three seasons, making him very dependable. Second, he does numerous issues properly. Not nice, however properly. He’s versatile sufficient to be an efficient receiver and a blocker, however he’s higher as a cross blocker than he’s as a run blocker.
He might nonetheless use some work in that space of his sport, as he earned a 56.1 run blocking grade from PFF final yr after posting a career-high 65.2 run block grade in 2024. Otton is a prepared blocker who makes use of fairly good tehcnique, however might generate extra energy on the level of assault to get motion off the road of scrimmage, and as a run-blocking finisher this yr.
TE Payne Durham: Present one thing as a receiver
Bucs TE Payne Durham – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Durham is getting into a contract yr and wishes to essentially enhance his worth to the staff and his value on the free agent market by being extra versatile. Whereas he lacks splendid velocity to be a dynamic playmaker on offense, what Durham can do is change into a dependable receiver. Although he might not ship yards after the catch, Durham is in a state of affairs the place he must at the least catch all the pieces his manner throughout coaching camp to assist his trigger.
TE Bauer Sharp: Proceed to seek out the top zone
Sharp, the staff’s sixth-round choose, is the second rookie to make this record inside this SR’s FAB 5. Why? As a result of all he did through the rookie mini-camp, OTAs and obligatory mini-camp was get open and rating touchdowns. Sharp scored extra touchdowns in apply in Tampa Bay in Could and June than he did the final two years at Oklahoma (tw0) and LSU (two), which opened loads of eyes on the teaching employees and within the personnel division.
Sharp is thought to be a whole a good finish who’s adept at blocking in addition to being an excellent receiver. He seems to be the closest factor to starter Cade Otton that the Bucs have on the roster. He’s a high-energy tenacious participant who is anticipated to excel when the pads come on. Sharp will doubtless push Devin Culp off the roster, and if he proves to be a top quality receiver who continues to indicate a nostril for the top zone he might transfer up the depth chart previous Ko Kieft and Payne Durham this August and contend for TE2 duties.
TE Devin Culp: Lastly change into a blocker
Culp generated numerous buzz when the Bucs drafted him within the seventh spherical in 2024, particularly after he blazed a 4.47 time within the 40-yard sprint. However that velocity has did not translate into success on the gridiron. In two seasons underneath two completely different offensive coordinators, Culp’s incapability to dam has prevented him from getting on the sector and solely resulted in six catches for 94 yards (15.7 avg.) together with one landing, which got here on his lone catch through the 2025 season.
Bucs TEs Devin Culp and Payne Durham – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Culp, who was a backup tight finish at Washington, must have a breakthrough coaching camp and present that he has the energy and improved method to be extra than simply pigeonholed on the roster as a receiving tight finish. Culp additionally should show that he will be an efficient contributor on particular groups. Rookie Bauer Sharp was one of the vital spectacular gamers through the OTAs and mini-camp, which Culp missed as a consequence of a hamstring damage. Culp wants the camp of his life to remain on the roster.
TE Ko Kieft: Show to be a dominant particular teamer
Kieft has proven that he’s not a lot of a receiver in his 4 seasons in Tampa Bay. He’s simply by no means developed his arms to the purpose the place he can persistently catch the ball, nor can he persistently get open as a route runner. However he’s a powerful, efficient blocker within the operating sport, though his presence on the sector is normally a inform to the opposing protection that the Bucs shall be operating the ball.
Kieft was re-signed on an affordable, one-year deal to enhance the staff’s protection items on particular groups. That’s an space that took a success when he was misplaced for the yr early within the season as a consequence of a damaged leg. With a brand new particular groups coordinator in Danny Smith, Kieft should preserve his status as a core particular groups participant and one of many unit’s high tacklers. Kieft isn’t simply competing towards different Bucs tight ends for a roster spot, he’s truly competing with linebackers, edge rushers and safeties for a particular groups spot.
FAB 5. The place The Bucs Should Enhance In Camp: Particular Groups
Rounding out this week’s SR’s FAB 5 with the place the staff’s high particular teamers should enhance heading into the 2026 season.
Ok Chase McLaughlin: Give attention to the sector, not the cash
The Bucs are both going to let McLaughlin play out his contract yr or they’ll lengthen his contract in August previous to the beginning of the 2026 marketing campaign. Both manner, the person often known as “Money” McLaughlin as a consequence of his capability to return by way of with clutch kicks, wants to only concentrate on placing kicks by way of the upright somewhat than a looming pay day.
P Riley Dixon: Velocity up the method
Dixon had two punts blocked final yr, together with one returned for a landing in a one-score loss to Philadelphia. Whereas the Bucs particular groups blocking was subpar final season and contributed to Dixon’s plight, the veteran punter was too methodical at instances in his supply and wishes to indicate a better sense of urgency when punting the ball. He wants to hurry up his course of, and hopefully new particular groups coordinator Danny Smith will help make that occur in camp.
LS Evan Deckers: Present you’re nonetheless the person
Deckers, a third-year lengthy snapper, enters coaching camp because the staff’s two-year starter. He’s accomplished a fairly properly job as an extended snapper on punts, area targets and further factors, however he’ll must beat out Scott Daly, a newcomer who was signed to be camp competitors. The primary trait an extended snapper can have is reliability, and that must be Deckers’ focus in August.
