This season has been nothing short of a nightmare for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

There were high expectations for the Bucs heading into the season. Tampa was the overwhelming favorite to win the NFC South and return to the playoffs after missing out last year. 

Unfortunately for the Bucs, everything has gone wrong through the first six weeks. Tampa dropped its first four games. Franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his thumb late in Week 3 and hasn’t played since, though his return appears imminent after missing three games. 

The offensive line, thought to be the team’s biggest strength, has underperformed greatly. 

Star rookie Rueben Bain Jr. hasn’t met his own lofty expectations. However, after missing Weeks 3 and 4 with injuries, he has started to play better. Bain finally notched his first sack in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The Bucs finally breathed life into their season by upsetting the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. There was a sense of optimism for the first time all year, but it disappeared when Tampa blew a 16-3 lead in the fourth quarter against the Steelers before falling 26-19 in overtime. 

At 1-5, the season once again feels lost, and it may be in the organization’s best interest to start looking toward the future. 

Unless the Bucs go on a miraculous run, they will be forced to watch the postseason from home again. Significant changes will almost certainly be made, and a new head coach will likely replace Todd Bowles to lead whatever type of rebuild the team chooses. 

With the trade deadline three weeks away on November 10, Tampa deciding to be sellers is the best move for the future. Trading a few veterans for valuable draft capital will help jump-start a rebuild. 

Here are four likely trade candidates if the Buccaneers decide to be sellers at the trade deadline. 

1. Yaya Diaby: Tampa’s fourth-year outside linebacker is playing out the final year of his rookie contract and will be in line for a significant payday. It is possible Diaby could demand over $20 million/year on his contract. 

The 27-year-old is having a down season thus far. With the emergence of David Walker, who already has four sacks in limited playing time, to pair with Bain as Tampa’s future edge-rushing duo, the Bucs could move on from Diaby. 

Tampa has also been linked to the nation’s top pass rusher in early 2027 mock drafts. Trading Diaby, who would bring a solid return, could fetch a valuable pick or two and save a lot of future money, which would be wise. 

2. A’Shawn Robinson: Robinson has been a terrific free-agent signing for the Bucs. He is currently PFF’s second-highest-graded interior defensive lineman. Robinson has 19 total tackles, one sack, and surprisingly leads the team with two interceptions. 

Many contending teams would love to add a rental like Robinson for the second half of the season, and Tampa could be a big beneficiary of a possible bidding war. 

Robinson is only signed for this year, so he may not be returning in 2027 anyway, especially if Tampa commits to a rebuild. Why not cash in on his trade value before losing him for nothing?

3. Kenny Gainwell: Gainwell was added in free agency to form a dynamic running back tandem with Bucky Irving. However, he has barely been used. 

Last season with the Steelers, Gainwell had over 1,000 combined rushing and receiving yards, caught 73 passes, and scored eight touchdowns. 

After six games, the dynamic Gainwell has only 19 carries and 11 receptions with his new team. His lack of usage is absolutely baffling. 

If the Bucs aren’t going to use Gainwell, they may as well trade him to a team that will. Plenty of teams would covet Gainwell’s skills as both a runner and a receiver. 

4. Vita Vea: It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of Vea playing for a team other than the Bucs was inconceivable. That changed this offseason after a contract dispute led the star defensive tackle to request a trade. 

The Bucs refused and eventually gave Vea a new contract that added $6 million to his $18 million salary for this season and guaranteed all $24 million plus another fully guaranteed $24 million for next year. 

A team doesn’t guarantee that kind of money to a 31-year-old DT with a lot of wear and tear on his body because it planned on its season being over before Halloween. 

The Bucs expected to win now, but that hasn’t happened. Vea would have had plenty of suitors if Tampa had given in to his trade request. 

Vea would still have several teams interested in his services if Tampa makes him available. 

Vea’s new contract does not help a potential Bucs rebuild. Trading Vea would still likely net the Bucs a hefty return and could speed up Tampa’s return to being a contender.