QUESTION: Is that this the yr Yaya Diaby takes his play to the subsequent stage?
ANSWER: Sure, I imagine we’re going to see one of the best of Yaya Diaby this season in Tampa Bay. In spite of everything, Diaby is getting into a contract yr in 2026 and will or might not get a contract extension previous to the season. The Bucs wish to maintain Diaby for the long run, and the guess is that he’ll get a four-year extension previous to free company in 2027.
The important thing to that occuring was the drafting of Rueben Bain Jr. within the first spherical relatively than signing a big-name free agent like Trey Hendrickson or making an enormous commerce for Maxx Crosby – each of whom earn in extra of $30 million per yr. With Bain being on his reasonably priced rookie deal for the subsequent 4 years, the group can afford Diaby’s price ticket, which shall be north of $20 million together with his extension. Bain acquired a four-year deal value $23,760,24, together with over $13 million in a signing bonus. In a single yr Diaby will seemingly make what Bain is making over 4 years.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Lions QB Jared Goff – Picture by: USA Right now
Diaby isn’t as appreciated as he must be as a result of he has but to file double-digit sacks, however he’s actually able to it. He had a 7.5-sack season to guide the Bucs as a rookie in 2023 after which led the group once more with seven sacks final yr. So actually changing three extra pressures to sacks would fully change the narrative round Diaby.
However over the previous two seasons that Diaby has been a full-time starter he’s been a pressure with regards to pressures, totaling 132, together with 70 in 2024 and 62 final yr. And Diaby rightfully complained on the finish of the 2025 season that he felt like he was alone on the market speeding the quarterback, referencing the truth that pass-rushing defensive sort out Calijah Kancey solely performed in three video games out of 17, and implying that free agent bust Haason Reddick wasn’t doing a lot as a cross rusher.
Now taking part in reverse both Bain or free agent addition Al-Quadin Muhammad, and with Kancey wholesome, Diaby must be primed for an enormous season. He gained’t be receiving as a lot consideration with Tampa Bay’s line of defense now having a number of threats that offensive coordinators and quarterbacks need to be involved about. I feel it’s doable that Diaby can get seven sacks on his personal in one-on-one conditions, after which get a handful of clean-up sacks with Kancey and Bain flushing quarterbacks in his course. So I may actually see a 10-12-sack season occurring for Diaby this yr.
QUESTION: Will Baker Mayfield lastly lock on this season?
ANSWER: I feel Baker Mayfield is at all times locked in. That’s simply his persona, his psychological make-up, and his aggressive nature. When you imply, when is Mayfield going to take the subsequent step and get this group deep into the playoffs? Then that’s a unique query. Look no additional than the 2024 season when offensive coordinator Liam Coen took Mayfield‘s sport to new heights with a system and scheme that was tailored for Mayfield‘s strengths.
In 2024, Mayfield set a franchise file with a 71.4% completion proportion whereas throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. The offense was prime 5 in scoring, averaging 29 factors per sport and Mayfield had a Professional Bowl season. Is that this what you have been referring to if you say locked in?
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA Right now
Accidents to the offensive line and Mayfield himself derailed the Bucs offense final yr underneath new play-caller Josh Grizzard. The Bucs took extra deep pictures in 2025 in Grizzard’s offense and I don’t assume that helped Mayfield’s accuracy or the group’s offensive manufacturing.
Beneath new offensive coordinator Zack Robinson, I feel the Bucs will return to extra of what they did efficiently in 2024 with extra quick, rhythmic passes to get the ball within the palms of the group‘s weapons and allow them to get yards after catch. That’s when Mayfield is at his finest, studying the protection and throwing the ball to the open receiver.
Mayfield has completed some extra tv commercials as he has settled into turning into Tampa Bay’s quarterback. I’m positive there are some naïve followers that imagine that the commercials that he shot within the low season one way or the other had a destructive influence on his on-field efficiency throughout soccer season. That’s simply merely not the case.
And I’m positive Mayfield’s detractors might level to the truth that he was filming “The Quarterback” collection for Netflix as a purpose for his subpar 2025 season. The Quarterback debuts in a number of weeks this June, however didn’t play a task within the Bucs offense underachieving final season.
Bear in mind, Tampa Bay was 6-2 whereas The Quarterback was being filmed and Mayfield was being touted as an early candidate for NFL MVP honors whereas delivering masterful performances early within the season earlier than he bought harm, together with out-dueling Sam Donald and beating Seattle, 38-35 on the street.
QUESTION: Who do you assume within the division took the most important step ahead by way of the draft? The Buccaneers draft was a great one however so was the Saints and Panthers.
ANSWER: Nicely, it’s not Atlanta, proper? I used to be not impressed by the Falcons’ draft in any respect, and I don’t assume many have been. Nor have I been impressed with Atlanta’s offseason basically.
And that features the hiring of former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski to guide the group, changing Raheem Morris. Stefanski had a pair of 11-win seasons in Cleveland, however he’s coming to Atlanta with an 8-26 file with the Browns during the last two years. I may see the Falcons truly taking a step again from the 8-9 file they’ve produced over the previous two seasons and being the worst group within the NFC South in 2026.
To reply your query, I feel the Bucs had one of the best draft within the division, and that can assist Tampa Bay keep the truth that it has essentially the most gifted roster within the NFC South. However I’d say New Orleans had the second-best draft within the division.
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures – Patrick Breen
With the Saints betting that Tyler Shough, final yr’s second-round choose, might be the group’s franchise quarterback, head coach Kellen Moore gave him loads of weapons to throw to within the draft with first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson and third-round tight finish Oscar Delp on the primary two days of the draft. Then the Saints used two Day 3 picks on vast receivers Bryce Lance and Barion Brown to essentially stockpile the place that wanted it with simply Chris Olave being the one menace at receiver heading into the offseason. I additionally just like the addition of guard Jeremiah Wright within the fourth spherical.
Carolina had the third-best draft in my view. The Panthers used first- and third-round picks on left sort out Monroe Freeling and middle Sam Hecht, and used their second-round choose on defensive sort out Lee Hunter. Common supervisor Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales made the trenches a precedence this offseason, taking a web page out of Jason Licht’s playbook in Tampa Bay.
In order that’s how I’d charge the drafts – Bucs, Saints, Panthers and Falcons in that order. And I feel that’s how the NFC South race will pan out this yr with Tampa Bay again on prime and New Orleans and Carolina duking it out for second place with Atlanta being the cellar dweller of the division.
QUESTION: Scott, with a little bit fortune, and a whole lot of persistence from the entrance workplace (Jason Licht), the entrance 7 overhaul of expertise and perspective fell into place splendidly. Additionally upgraded offense and particular groups staffs. Why does it really feel like we’re gonna be pulling our eyelids off anyway with the recognized yearly Todd Bowles flaws?
ANSWER: Nicely, let’s hope not. I do really feel just like the Bucs have leveled up their entrance seven and their teaching employees – on offense, protection and particular groups – this offseason. Let’s hope head coach Todd Bowles can stage up, too. It’s not an incredible look when the Bucs lose a winnable sport or two annually to a lesser opponent, neither is it a great look when Tampa Bay continues to lose three or 4 video games in a row annually.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
That’s now occurred in every of the final 4 years and it’s getting ridiculous. That’s been an enormous purpose why the Bucs haven’t surpassed 10 wins in 4 seasons with Bowles as the top coach. Bowles hit 10 wins as soon as in 4 seasons in New York with the Jets in 2015, and once more with a 10-win season in 2024 in Tampa Bay. But it surely’s the shedding streaks and shedding winnable video games that the group had no enterprise shedding to that has prevented Bowles’ Bucs from profitable extra.
It’s astonishing that Mike Macdonald gained 14 video games and a Tremendous Bowl in simply his second season as head coach in Seattle. And former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen left Tampa Bay after the 2024 season with out taking a single assistant coach with him to take over as head coach in Jacksonville. In his first yr as a head coach, Coen flip a 4-13 Jaguars group right into a 13-4 squad that gained the AFC South. In 50 years of the Buccaneers’ existence the franchise has solely gained 13 video games as soon as – in 2021 – which makes what Coen did in Jacksonville fairly outstanding.
Bowles must discover a strategy to cease the shedding streaks in Tampa Bay this season. He additionally must win the winnable video games and beat each opponent during which the Bucs are favored. Bowles additionally must benefit from much better expertise on protection this yr, particularly alongside the entrance seven, and turn out to be a greater play-caller in 2026. Tampa Bay’s offense ought to return to type as a possible prime 5 scoring unit. Now it’s time for some stability and for the Bucs protection to step up in 2026.
