Key young Bucs, including Smith, Kancey, and Irving, must step up. Their health and performance are crucial for Tampa Bay's winning aspirations.
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers search for players in the draft to address their needs, internal improvement must also happen to have a winning season next year.
Matt Matera and Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report named the young Buccaneers who need to ascend next season on Thursday's podcast episode: safety Tykee Smith, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and running back Bucky Irving.
Tampa Bay is coming off an injury-riddled year that spoiled a 5-1 start to the season, and they finished 8-9. While Smith was healthy and played 16 games, Kancey missed 14 games and Irving missed seven.
Smith is entering his third season with the team and had a career-best year in tackles with 100 (61 solo). He added two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
The Buccaneers' third-round pick has shown the ability to force turnovers in his two seasons. He forced three fumbles and caught two interceptions in his rookie year, and his lone interception last season came in Week 9 against the New England Patriots.
Smith intercepted Mac Jones at Tampa Bay's two-yard line, handing the team another opportunity to take the lead.
"That was the safety type of plays that we saw from Antoine Winfield Jr. in other seasons," Matera said. "Lavonte David gave his seal of approval, and obviously, Lavonte David's word is gold in that building."
Reynolds said Smith must continue ascending because he believes he has the potential to become a Pro Bowler. He also highlighted Smith and Winfield Jr. having a friendly competition about who can generate more turnovers.
For Kancey, his ascension is determined by health. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, which sidelined him for 15 straight games.
Kancey returned in the season finale against the Carolina Panthers. Entering his fourth season with Tampa Bay, he had back-to-back productive years in 2023 and 2024.
The Buccaneers' former first-round pick finished his rookie season with 26 tackles (19 solo) and four sacks. He increased those totals in the following year with 28 tackles (22 solo) and 7.5 sacks.
His 7.5 sacks ranked 39th in the league and 17th in the NFC. While productive, he still faced some injury issues, playing 14 games in his rookie year and 12 games in his sophomore season.
"Just prove you can stay healthy," Reynolds said. "And injuries sometimes aren't a player's fault, especially soft tissue injuries. Those are so maddening."
Irving faced the same troubles as Kancey last season with a shoulder subluxation that sidelined him from Week 5 to Week 12. Alongside the shoulder injury, he dealt with a foot sprain when he was out. Irving underwent successful shoulder surgery in February and is expected to be healthy for team activities in the offseason.
Entering his third season with Tampa Bay, Irving's ascension is returning to his rookie-season form.
Irving rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries and added 392 yards on 47 receptions in 2024. The injuries last season dropped his production, going from a thousand-yard rusher to rushing 588 yards with one touchdown.
He had more receiving touchdowns with three last season. Irving's return to form is crucial for the Buccaneers' run game and his place on the team.
"Can he just kind of be a consistent thousand-yard back?" Reynolds said. "Or did the Bucks really do the right thing and say, 'We're going to get Kenneth Gainwell in here just in case Bucky deals with some injuries again because he's a smaller guy?'"
Tampa Bay signed Gainwell, a former Pittsburgh Steeler, to a two-year, $14 million contract on March 14. Gainwell rushed for 537 yards and five touchdowns on 117 carries, and added 486 yards and three touchdowns in 73 receptions last year.
The Buccaneers organization understands that a losing season is unsatisfactory, and they must return to their winning form from 2024, when they finished 10-7.
Turnover generation from Smith, quarterback pressure from Kancey and a 1,000-yard rushing season from Irving could help Tampa Bay have a bounce-back 2026 season.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!