The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just wrapped up a 2025 season that felt like a fever dream. One week you’re watching Mike Evans break a collarbone, and the next, a rookie named Emeka Egbuka is leading the league in receiving yards. If you’re looking at the Tampa Bay Bucs starting lineup as we head into the 2026 offseason, you’ve got to realize this isn't the same "Tom Brady era" skeleton. It’s a weird, gritty, and surprisingly young group that almost stole the NFC South from the Panthers on a tiebreaker.
Honestly, the depth chart is a bit of a moving target right now. With the season ending just days ago, the front office is already ink-drying 14 "futures" contracts for guys like Marcus Banks and Josh Williams. But let's look at the core—the guys who actually took the snaps when the season was on the line.
The Baker Mayfield Offense: Who’s Actually Protecting Him?
Baker Mayfield is the guy. Period. He threw for nearly 3,700 yards in 2025 and proved that his 2023 resurgence wasn't a fluke. But the guys standing in front of him? That’s where things got dicey.
Tristan Wirfs is the anchor at left tackle, but he missed time at the start of the year. When he’s healthy, he’s the best in the business. Next to him, the left guard spot became a revolving door. Ben Bredeson started the year there, but after he landed on IR, Michael Jordan (no, not that one) stepped in.
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The Trenches and the Playmakers
Graham Barton, the rookie center out of Duke, basically played every single snap. He’s the future. On the right side, you’ve got Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke. It’s a young line. It’s also a line that struggled at times, which is why Baker had to scramble for 382 yards just to keep drives alive.
Then there’s the backfield. If you’re still thinking Rachaad White is the undisputed RB1, you haven't been watching. Bucky Irving basically took over the Tampa Bay Bucs starting lineup at running back by December. He’s got that twitchy, "hard to find in a phone booth" style that Todd Bowles loves. White is still heavily involved, especially in the passing game, but Irving is the guy getting the bulk of the carries now.
- QB: Baker Mayfield (The heartbeat of the team)
- RB: Bucky Irving (The hot hand)
- WR1: Mike Evans (When healthy, the GOAT of Tampa)
- WR2: Chris Godwin (Still the best slot weapon in the NFC)
- WR3: Emeka Egbuka (The rookie sensation who had 938 yards)
- TE: Cade Otton (The "Iron Man" who never leaves the field)
Defense: The New Look "Graveyard"
For years, the Bucs defense was defined by Lavonte David and a bunch of dudes who hit hard. Lavonte is still there—somehow—leading the team with 114 tackles at age 35. But the Tampa Bay Bucs starting lineup on defense has some new faces that changed the geometry of how they play.
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The biggest off-season splash was Haason Reddick. Pairing him with Yaya Diaby on the edges was supposed to be a sack party. It didn't quite result in 20 sacks for either guy, but Diaby led the team with seven, and Reddick’s presence forced teams to stop double-teaming Vita Vea in the middle.
The Secondary Shuffle
This is where it gets confusing. Zyon McCollum was the breakout star at corner until a hip injury ended his season in Week 16. That forced rookie Jacob Parrish into a starting role opposite Jamel Dean. Parrish didn't just survive; he thrived, playing 86% of the snaps in the final stretch.
And don't overlook Tykee Smith. He was supposed to be a nickel back, but he ended up starting at strong safety next to All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. Having two guys back there who can both hit like linebackers and cover like corners gives Todd Bowles the flexibility to run those weird blitzes he loves.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
People keep waiting for the "post-Brady collapse." It isn't happening. The Bucs are actually younger now than they were during the Super Bowl run.
- The Mike Evans Factor: People think he's slowing down. He’s not. He had 3 TDs in limited action before the collarbone injury. The chemistry between him and Baker is legitimate.
- The "Three-Headed Monster" at Receiver: It’s not just Evans and Godwin anymore. Emeka Egbuka is a legitimate WR1 in the making. He finished the season with 63 catches. If McMillan can stay healthy in 2026, this might be the best receiving corps in the league.
- The Left Guard Problem: This is the team’s Achilles heel. Until they find a permanent solution for Ben Bredeson or Michael Jordan, the interior pressure will continue to haunt Baker.
Moving Into the 2026 Offseason
The season ended on a sour note with the Panthers taking the division, but the "bones" of this team are solid. The front office has already started signing futures contracts, which tells you they’re looking for special teams help and depth.
If you're tracking the Tampa Bay Bucs starting lineup for your 2026 dynasty leagues or just getting ready for next season, keep an eye on the health of the secondary. If McCollum and Benjamin Morrison (another rookie who showed flashes) come back 100%, this defense is going to be a nightmare.
Actionable Insights for Bucs Fans
- Watch the O-Line: The Bucs have a lot of cap space. Expect them to target a high-end guard in free agency to finally solidify the pocket for Mayfield.
- Bucky Irving is the RB1: In any fantasy or statistical analysis, treat Irving as the lead back. Rachaad White has transitioned into a "scat-back" third-down role.
- The Egbuka Era: Emeka Egbuka isn't just a "good rookie." He is the focal point of the passing attack when Evans is doubled.
The 2026 version of this team is going to be defined by how well the young guys—Barton, Irving, Egbuka, and Parrish—take the "sophomore leap." The veteran leadership is there with David and Evans, but the engine is now officially powered by the draft classes of '24 and '25.