Every NFL season has good and bad roads it can take. More often than not, there is one key factor that can take a season to new heights, or make it all come crashing down.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport recently laid out the best and worst-case scenarios for every NFL defense. When it came to the Bucs, it all centered around their pass rush. The Bucs have been searching for a consistent pass-rush presence for years now, and 2026 seems primed for it to finally happen.
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Davenport writes, “After last year’s second-half collapse, there’s work to be done on the Tampa defense—especially with longtime inside linebacker Lavonte David gone. In fact, there are four players vying for the starting spots inside this year. There’s also a new edge-rusher in first-rounder Rueben Bain Jr., and the Buc need the youngster to be a quick study—Tampa had just 37 sacks last year. Fill the hole in the middle and get after the quarterback more consistently, and this can be an above-average defense.”
The combination of Yaya Diaby, Calijah Kancey, Rueben Bain Jr., and Vita Vea should allow for their defensive front to create some decent pressure. To make a playoff run, they will need it.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What is the best case scenario for the Bucs’ defense in 2026?
