If you had told me two weeks ago that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be buyers at the NFL trade deadline, I would have called you crazy.

So much has changed since then. The Bucs have won two straight over NFC South rivals and have climbed to only a half-game out of first place in the division. Their playoff odds have skyrocketed, and they are once again favorites to win the South.

With the trade deadline next Tuesday, Tampa Bay has become possibly the most interesting team in the league.

Will the Bucs try to capitalize on the momentum they have built over the last two weeks and aggressively look to improve their playoff chances by buying at the deadline?

Or will the organization take a more long-term approach and choose to sell off some of their attractive veterans for valuable draft picks that could help make the team a true contender in the near future?

Right now, it is anyone's guess. The outcome of Sunday night's road matchup against the 6-2 Chicago Bears may have a big say in the team's decision to buy or sell.

However, the Bucs are very much in the thick of the division race, and I expect them to go for it. Anything can happen once you get to the playoffs. If the Bucs win the division, they are guaranteed at least one home game in the postseason no matter their record, and the roster is talented enough to pull off an upset or two.

Expect general manager Jason Licht to go for it and buy at the deadline.

Here are my top five trade targets for the Buccaneers:

!. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals: Acquiring McBride would be a dream scenario for the Bucs. There may not be another player potentially available who could come to Tampa and make as big an impact as the reigning First-Team All-Pro. 

McBride leads the NFL with 66 receptions and would be a game-changer for the Bucs, who desperately need a difference-maker at tight end. The 26-year-old has a combined 237 catches, 2,385 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons and is off to a great start this year with a line of 66-544-5.

If the Bucs are serious about going for it this year, making a deal for McBride gives them their best shot. He will be expensive, both in draft capital and salary, but he can completely transform the offense, both this season and for the next decade.

2. Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers: The 35-year-old Mack is still playing at a high level and is being wasted on an 0-7 Chargers team that should be one of the league's most active sellers at the deadline.

Tampa Bay's pass rush has been all over the place this season. The Bucs had only six sacks through the first five games before notching five each in back-to-back contests. The pass rush fell back to Earth against the Atlanta Falcons last week, failing to record a sack.

YaYa Diaby, the team's leader in sacks in 2025, is expected to miss a few weeks with a knee injury. Mack could come in and help improve a pass rush that needs to be more consistent if the Bucs are to make the playoffs.

3. Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles: If the Bucs can’t land McBride, Goedert would be an excellent consolation prize. 

The Eagles have lost six straight and are clearly a team in transition. They could be active sellers at the deadline. If they are, the Bucs should take advantage. 

Goedert has been one of the NFL’s premier tight ends for years and he could add a new element to Tampa Bay’s offense. 

4. Roy Lopez, DT, Arizona Cardinals: The Bucs could decide to strengthen a strength by adding Lopez to an already stellar run defense. A DT rotation of Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, A’Shawn Robinson, and Lopez could be the NFL’s best. 

Trading for Lopez would allow Todd Bowles to utilize a rotation that will keep all four fresh throughout the season and into the playoffs. Lopez would also provide excellent insurance in the event of an injury. 

5. Nahshon Wright, CB, New York Jets: The Jets signed Wright to a one-year deal following his five-INT, Pro Bowl 2025 season with the Bears. 

However, Wright has inexplicably played a grand total of zero defensive snaps for the Jets this year. He has only been active for three games, in which he has played exclusively on special teams. 

The Bucs’ starting CBs, Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish, have been outstanding this season. However, there is not much depth behind them. 

Benjamin Morrison is extremely talented but has struggled with injuries in his first two seasons. The Bucs have rookie fourth-rounder Keionte Scott playing inside and undrafted Ayden Garnes, who has also been active for only three games, playing one snap on defense and 11 on special teams. 

Wright wants (and deserves) playing time. Tampa Bay can give him that. At 6’4, Wright brings uncoachable size to the position and would be a relatively cheap addition who has Pro Bowl upside.