The Bucs as stated multiple times previously in other pieces I have wrote are entering a make-or-break season for the likes of Baker Mayfield/Todd Bowles as a QB + head coach tandem. The pairing had a strong first two years together, but last season was disappointing and Bowles especially will be on the hot seat headed into the 2026 season. The defense under the defensive minded Bowles has been hit and miss during his tenure as head coach and has been consistently below average the past few seasons which is disappointing. However, despite that Bowles still earned another season on the job heading into 2026 and the team and especially his defense will be expected to be elite. In addition to just Bowles’ coaching the personnel that Tampa Bay has on the defensive side of the ball also matters quite a bit as well. Tampa Bay’s defensive personnel must also improve heading into 2026 if the team plans on having an elite defense that warrants Bowles keeping his job. Here I will go into detail analyzing the Bucs’ front seven personnel heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at the first of the edge rusher spots is 2025 5th rounder Elijah Roberts who is coming off a decent rookie season that he can now build off of. Roberts graded (100/147) in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus as a rookie. That is solid production for a rookie by any stretch, and he is in line to build off of it and potentially become a solid starter but likely not a star.
Set to start at the nose tackle spot is former first rounder Vita Vea who is among the better defensive lineman in the sport and has made multiple Pro Bowls. Vea is known for being especially stout against the run while also being effective at getting after the passer. Vea is not a superstar but is a very good player set to start up front for Tampa Bay.
Former 2nd round pick A’Shawn Robinson is set to start at the other primary defensive end spot and is a talented player with his inconsistencies, however. In ten seasons in the NFL Robinson has graded in the above average range five times and in the below average range five times in terms of an overall defense grade among qualified players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. Robinson however has shown a very high ceiling and is a very good player when on his A game.
2026 1st rounder Rueben Bain Jr is set to start at the first of the two linebacker spots and was a highly touted prospect coming out of the University of Miami. Bain Jr will likely see his rookie growing pains but if he can start to capture some of his prime form in the second half of the season, he could potentially provide the Bucs with a strong player starting up front for the team.
The newly acquired Alex Anzalone is set to start at the second of the team’s linebacker spots and is a talented player with his inconsistencies, however. Anzalone has graded in the above average range among players at his position for three straight seasons now after grading in the below average to poor range the previous two years. Anzalone is perhaps better suited as a backup because he is inconsistent just like A’Shawn Robinson is, but he does not have the high-end ceiling that Robinson has.
Linebacker Christian Rozeboom is set to start at the third of the starting linebacker spots and is the current weak link in Tampa Bay’s starting front seven. Rozeboom has graded in the below average to poor range in every single season he has played thus far in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Rozeboom might transition to a reserve role at some point during this upcoming season as the Bucs have some talented young linebackers who could take his place.
2023 3rd rounder Yaya Diaby rounds out the Bucs’ starting front seven and is a very good player. Diaby has graded in the above average to well above average range in both seasons outside of his rookie campaign thus far. Diaby is very good and perhaps he can start to take the leap to great next season with another year of experience in the NFL.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the Bucs have numerous noteworthy names that could loom large as they transition to starting roles given some of the concerns that Tampa currently has in their starting front seven. Those same names will also be expected to contribute depth to the team and step in smoothly in the case of injurie(s). 2023 first rounder defensive lineman Calijah Kancey was drafted very highly but has struggled thus far in the NFL. In each of Kancey’s first two seasons in the NFL he graded in the below average to well below average range among players at his position playing about 500 snaps each season. Kancey then missed the vast majority of the 2026 season due to injury and looked poor even in his very limited time on the field. Kancey has really underwhelmed thus far as a first round pick but has still yet to put together a full season of snaps and very well could now start to come into his own. 2025 undrafted free agent defensive lineman Elijah Simmons played at an above average level as a rookie in limited snaps. Although it is a very small sample size he could provide the Bucs with a strong option off the bench. Linebacker/edge defender Anthony Nelson has looked strong for stretches thus far in the NFL. The Bucs drafted linebacker Josiah Trotter in the 2nd round of the 2026 draft very highly. Edge defender Al-Quadin Muhammad looked very strong last season and has shown glimpses of strong play over the years although lacking consistency. While 2024 2nd round linebacker/edge defender Chris Braswell was drafted quite highly and although he has been consistently below average thus far, he has still shown some promise and has yet to have a chance to come into his own as of yet.
Overall, the Bucs have a front seven with many concerns but still some talent/promise sprinkled in it. Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby are the only reliable front seven players as of now and both are still very good but not great. The Bucs currently have multiple weak links in their starting front seven, as they are starting a rookie, and two other players who might be better suited as backups. While the remaining two currently listed starters are high end backups/borderline starters. The Bucs have a deep front seven however where they have multiple players who could presume starting roles highlighted by three former 1st/2nd rounders who all could start to come into their own next season. A breakdown of the Tampa Bay front seven heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Projected Bucs’ Starting Front Seven
LDE – Elijah Roberts – C as rookie, 2025 5th rounder
NT – Vita Vea – B+
RDE – A’Shawn Robinson – C+ to B-, high ceiling, inconsistent
WLB – Rueben Bain Jr – 2026 1st rounder
LILB – Alex Anzalone – C+ to B-
RILB – Christian Rozeboom – C-
SLB – Yaya Diaby – B to B+
2026 Notable Bucs’ Reserve Front Seven Players
ED – Calijah Kancey – 2023 1st rounder, C to C- so far, perhaps not enough of a chance to prove himself yet
NT – Elijah Simmons – B- in very limited rookie snaps, 2025 UDFA
LB – Anthony Nelson – C+, has shown a high ceiling, very inconsistent
LB – Josiah Trotter – 2026 2nd rounder
LB – Al-Quadin Muhammad – C+ to B-, borderline elite in 2025, very inconsistent
LB – Chris Braswell – 2024 2nd rounder, C so far, could break out next year
