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Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Team adds Gainwell to backfield
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 12:26 PM
Irving could face increased competition for touches, as NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports Monday that Kenneth Gainwell is signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers.
Analysis: Irving missed seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries in 2025, and he ceded touches to Sean Tucker and Rachaad White after returning. While Irving ultimately led the Buccaneers with 173 rushing attempts, he scored only one rushing touchdown compared to White's four on 132 carries and Tucker's seven on 86 carries. White and Tucker are both free agents, but the addition of Gainwell suggests Irving could be ticketed for less of a workhorse role in 2026, as Gainwell racked up 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns on 114 carries and 85 targets in the 2025 regular season with the Steelers. |
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Kenneth Gainwell Kenneth Gainwell Headed to Tampa Bay
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 12:18 PM
Gainwell is signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers on Monday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
Analysis: Gainwell's contract reportedly includes $10 million in guarantees, positioning him as the clear No. 2 backfield option alongside Bucky Irving and foreshadowing the departure of Rachaad White from Tampa Bay in free agency and potentially also Sean Tucker. After the versatility and efficiency Gainwell demonstrated during his career year with the Steelers in 2025 in which he emerged as one of the most productive pass-catching backs in the NFL with a 73-486-3 line on 85 targets, he projects as an ideal complement to Irving's physical, bruising rushing style. Gainwell also logged 537 yards and five touchdowns on 147 carries (4.7 YPC) across his 17 regular-season appearances in 2025. Especially in fantasy formats that feature PPR scoring, Gainwell's landing spot is one with a solid floor and the potential for increased touchdown upside. |
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Cade Otton Cade Otton To remain in Tampa Bay
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 11:48 AM
Otton is finalizing a deal that will have him re-sign with the Buccaneers on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Otton, a 2022 fourth-round pick, was positioned as one of the top available tight ends on the free-agent market, but he'll instead remain in a familiar offense with quarterback Baker Mayfield at the helm. Otton's time in Tampa Bay has largely been characterized by lofty snap counts and low target rates, though he's proven capable of handling larger receiving workloads when injuries at WR necessitate it. He made 58 regular-season starts over the course of his rookie contract, posting his best receiving line in 2024 (59-600-4) despite missing three games. Otton dropped to 59-572-1 last season, with six fewer targets (81) in two more games (16). |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans May not return to Tampa Bay
Sun, Mar 8, 2026, 11:06 AM
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Evans will explore his options in free agency and may not return to the Buccaneers for the 2026 season.
Analysis: Evans was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay, where he posted 11 consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards, earned six Pro Bowl selections and played a key role in the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV run in 2020. Evans was limited to just eight regular-season games in 2025 due to a hamstring injury and broken collarbone. While he turns 33 before the start of the 2026 season, Evans will garner interest from several teams looking for a significant upgrade to their wide receiver corps. |
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Sean Tucker Sean Tucker Set to hit free agency
Thu, Mar 5, 2026, 10:51 AM
Tucker won't be tendered a contract by the Buccaneers as a restricted free agent, so he will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 11, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Tucker had only 320 rushing yards in 2025 as part of a backfield that also included Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, but the 24-year-old running back out of Syracuse led the team with seven rushing touchdowns. Given Tucker's effectiveness in the red zone in 2025 after he averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 50 regular-season rushing attempts in 2024, he should garner some interest on the open market and could work his way into part of a backfield platoon depending on his landing spot. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Will play in 2026
Tue, Feb 17, 2026, 3:42 PM
Evans will continue his playing career in 2026, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Evans will turn 33 years old in August but will play a 13th NFL season. He was limited to a career-low eight regular-season contests in 2025 as he dealt with hamstring and collarbone injuries in addition to a concussion. When on the field, Evans was still productive, securing 30 of 62 targets for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler should have plenty of interest around the league if he decides to test free agency, but a return to Tampa Bay -- the only team he's ever played for in the NFL -- is the most likely outcome. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Not expected to retire
Fri, Feb 13, 2026, 4:05 PM
Evans isn't likely to retire this offseason, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine.
Analysis: Laine notes that fellow Bucs legend Lavonte David said he'll either re-sign with the team or retire, whereas Evans is considered more likely to continue his NFL career. The implication seems to be that Evans is willing to play for another team if he can't reach terms with Tampa Bay before hitting free agency in March. He'll turn 33 in August after finishing 2025 with career lows in numerous categories, including games played (eight), catch rate (48.4 percent) and yards per game (48.4). |
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Ko Kieft Ko Kieft Plays just three games in 2025
Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 1:23 PM
Kieft (leg) didn't record an offensive statistic while logging 29 offensive snaps across three games in 2025.
Analysis: The Minnesota product sustained a leg injury in Tampa Bay's Week 3 win over the Jets that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. In the Buccaneers' first three games, Kieft was primarily used as a blocker and did not receive a target. He also contributed on special teams, logging 65 snaps and recording three total tackles. With Kieft's rookie contract expiring after the 2025 season, he's set to hit unrestricted free agency. Expect the 28-year-old to draw interest from teams in need of tight-end depth and special-teams help ahead of next season. |
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Payne Durham Payne Durham Limited to blocking duties in '25
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 8:09 PM
Durham brought in one of four targets for 11 yards across 17 games during the 2025 season.
Analysis: Fellow tight end Ko Kieft's season-ending leg injury, which he suffered in Week 3, led to Durham being utilized almost exclusively as a blocker throughout the 2025 season. Durham was coming off a 2024 regular season where he'd posted a career-best 11-115-2 line on 14 targets across 16 games, but those numbers were almost exclusively the byproduct of No. 1 tight end Cade Otton sitting out the last three games of the campaign due to a knee injury. Durham will be playing out the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and appears ticketed for a similar minimal pass-catching role. |
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Jalen McMillan Jalen McMillan Abbreviated '25 due to injury
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 11:25 PM
McMillan brought in his only target for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He finished the 2025 season with 12 receptions for 178 yards on 15 targets and one carry for one yard across four games.
Analysis: A neck injury suffered in a preseason game against the Steelers would end up wiping out most of McMillan's second season, as the fleet-footed wideout didn't make his 2025 debut until Week 15. McMillan went on to record multiple receptions in each of his first three games and even recorded one 100-yard effort in Week 17 against the Dolphins, but the small sample functioned almost as another exhibition slate. McMillan should have no restrictions for OTAs and therefore have a good opportunity to bounce back in 2026, with the possibility of returning to a top-three role in the wideout corps if Chris Godwin and the team can't come to terms on restructuring his onerous 2026 salary and cap hit. |
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Sean Tucker Sean Tucker Quiet finish to '25 on offense
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 11:17 PM
Tucker rushed four times for minus-4 yards and committed a fumble that was recovered by Tampa Bay in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He also returned three kickoffs for 57 yards.
Analysis: Despite his forgettable finish to the season on offense in Week 18, Tucker rushed for a career-high 320 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 carries while adding an 8-34-1 receiving line and a career-high 597 kickoff-return yards across 17 games. Back in the preseason, the Buccaneers coaching staff had spoken of getting the ball into Tucker's hands more consistently, but he only logged 36 more rush attempts than in 2024 despite the fact Bucky Irving missed seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries. However, the Syracuse product did make an impact on kickoff returns and also became a preferred red-zone option down the stretch run of the season while logging 24 touches in that part of the field. Tucker will presumably have an inside track to the No. 2 role in 2026 due to the fact Rachaad White is expected to depart in unrestricted free agency. |
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Michael Wiley Michael Wiley Staying in Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 4:55 PM
The Buccaneers signed Wiley to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Wiley spent some time on Tampa Bay's practice squad in 2025, though he was never elevated to suit up for a regular-season game with the team. The running back will compete to secure a reserve role with the Buccaneers this offseason. |
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Emeka Egbuka Emeka Egbuka Quiet finish to rookie season
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 10:57 PM
Egbuka brought in one of three targets for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He finished the 2025 season with 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets and two rushes for nine yards over 17 games.
Analysis: Egbuka was thrust into a significant role from Day 1 of his rookie season, as the Buccaneers began the campaign without Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan due to ankle and neck injuries, respectively. The Ohio State product looked like an instant star after posting a 25-445-5 line on 38 targets over his first five career games, but Egbuka topped 64 receiving yards just once for the remaining 12 contests despite Mike Evans and Godwin missing significant time and McMillan not making his season debut until Week 15. Nevertheless, there isn't any doubt about Egbuka's talent after he still nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his first season, and he could be set for a similar elevated target share in 2026 if Godwin isn't retained this offseason. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Closes season with one catch
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 10:48 PM
Godwin secured his only target for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He finished the 2025 regular season with 33 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns on 51 targets across nine games.
Analysis: Godwin's uninspiring finish was a somewhat fitting end to a career-worst season for the accomplished veteran, who failed to hit the 50-catch mark for the first time since his rookie 2017 campaign. Godwin didn't make his season debut until Week 4 while completing his recovery from a 2024 ankle injury, and after posting matching three-catch, 26-yard efforts in his first two games, the Penn State product went on to log five consecutive absences due to a fibula injury. Godwin ultimately managed just one 100-yard performance and finished with a career-low 7.1 yards per target, making it close to a throwaway campaign from a fantasy perspective. Godwin is under contract for the 2026 season at a significant cap hit of $33.7 million thanks to a $22 million base salary, so a restructuring or potential parting of the ways appears to be in the cards this offseason. |
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Owen Wright Owen Wright Inks future deal with Tampa Bay
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 8:51 PM
The Buccaneers signed Wright to a reserve/future contract Monday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Wright was on and off of Tampa Bay's practice squad throughout the 2025 season, and he appeared in three contests, turning three carries into six yards while playing seven total offensive snaps. The running back will now have the chance to participate in the Buccaneers' offseason activities, and he'll look to compete for a reserve role behind Bucky Irving with top backup Rachaad White set to become a free agent. |
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Josh Williams Josh Williams Staying in Tampa Bay
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 8:47 PM
The Buccaneers signed Williams to a reserve/future contract Monday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: The undrafted free agent out of LSU earned a spot on the Buccaneers' 53-man roster after a strong training camp. His rookie season was a bit tumultuous, as he missed time while in the league's concussion protocol before being served a six-game suspension by the NFL in mid-November for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy. He was waived by the Bucs on Dec. 29 before being signed to the practice squad one day later, and he'll stick around with Tampa Bay during offseason activities with the aim of cracking the team's active roster for a second-straight year. |
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Teddy Bridgewater Teddy Bridgewater Still wants to play
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 3:02 PM
Bridgewater said Monday that he wants to continue playing in the NFL next season, but has yet to discuss with the Buccaneers about a potential return, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Bridgewater is set to become a free agent for this upcoming offseason. The 33-year-old appeared in four games for Tampa Bay in 2025, only getting quarterback reps in Week 12 against the Rams when Baker Mayfield exited with a shoulder injury. Bridgewater completed eight out of 15 passes for 62 yards, and rushed three times for four yards in his lone opportunity. Should the tenth-year pro reach free agency, he can potentially be a compelling backup for teams in need. |
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Rachaad White Rachaad White Records 41 total yards in win
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 9:36 PM
White rushed seven times for 23 yards and brought in both targets for 18 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday.
Analysis: White was a distant runner-up to Bucky Irving in carries for the Buccaneers on the afternoon, with the latter logging a career-high 26 rush attempts. Like Irving, White averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, and he complemented that with equally modest receiving yardage. White put together a serviceable regular season despite the fact he had the potential for expanded opportunity with Irving missing seven games with shoulder and foot injuries, finishing with 572 rushing yards and four touchdowns at 4.3 yards per carry while adding a 40-218-0 line on 45 targets across 17 games. White would remain in a complementary role should the Buccaneers play next weekend in the wild-card round by virtue of the Saints tying or defeating the Falcons on Sunday. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Pair of grabs in Week 18 win
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 7:57 PM
Evans brought in both targets for 34 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday.
Analysis: Evans contributed 21- and 13-yard gains on his pair of catches, but the Panthers did a good job overall on limiting receiver production, which opened up plenty of opportunity for tight end Cade Otton. It was a quiet finish to an injury-shortened season for Evans, who appeared in a career-low eight games and posted a 30-368-3 line on 62 targets. The talented veteran will hope to continue his season in next weekend's wild-card round, which will be made possible if the Saints tie or defeat the Falcons on Sunday. |
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Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield Gutsy, efficient in big win
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 7:19 PM
Mayfield completed 16 of 22 for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed four times for 31 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He also fumbled once but recovered.
Analysis: Mayfield averaged an impressive 9.2 yards per attempt while connecting with both Mike Evans and Cade Otton for passes of 20-plus yards. The veteran signal-caller's only touchdown toss came early on, as he connected with Otton from 18 yards out to cap off a nine-play game-opening drive. Mayfield repeatedly focused on Otton throughout the afternoon for several more productive gains, although his one interception in the second quarter at his own 39-yard line did lead to a Panthers touchdown. Mayfield wraps up the 2025 regular season with the lowest completion percentage (63.2) and passing yardage total (3,693) of his three-year Buccaneers tenure, but he and his teammates will be pulling for the Saints to defeat or tie the Falcons on Sunday in order to be able to continue playing in next weekend's wild-card round as the NFC South champions. |
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