The Bucs are entering a make-or-break year for their head coach + QB duo in the likes of Baker Mayfield/Todd Bowles. Both Mayfield and Bowles or at least one of the two will likely be out if Tampa Bay does not have a successful 2026 season. The offense of the team was elite and one of the best in the sport during the 2024 season under now Jaguars’ head coach Liam Coen as the offensive coordinator of the team. The offense fell off drastically during the 2025 season after Coen departed and he was replaced by a now fired rookie in the role. As the offense went from ranking in the top five in every major category in 2024 to then ranking below average across the board in 2025. The Bucs have since onboarded another young offensive coordinator who this time has a few years of experience as an NFL offensive coordinator to presume the responsibilities. Outside of just the coaching of the team the personnel that the Bucs have on the offensive side of things will also loom large as the 2026 season approaches. Here I will go into detail assessing the offensive line personnel that the team has heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at left tackle is former first rounder Tristan Wirfs who is among the premier left tackles in the sport having made multiple First-Team All-Pros. Wirfs is especially known for being stout in pass protection as he has ranked first in terms of pass blocking efficiency among all qualified tackles on three separate occasions in his career. Wirfs is also effective as a run blocker as well consistently grading above average in terms of run blocking. Wirfs took the next step as a run blocker during the 2025 season where Pro Football Focus graded him as the third best run blocking tackle in the NFL after he was consistently just good but not special in that regard.
Currently listed as the starter at left guard is veteran Ben Bredeson who is a current weak link on the Bucs’ starting offensive front unfortunately. Bredeson has graded in the below average to well below average range among players at his position in every single season he has played thus far in the NFL. Bredeson remains a prime candidate to transition to a reserve role as the season progresses but is still currently listed as the starter.
Set to start at center is 2024 1st rounder Graham Barton who has underwhelmed thus far in the NFL. As a rookie Barton was decent grading in the below average range but being strong as a pass protector ranking above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency among all qualified centers. Barton improved as a run blocker in year 2 but regressed badly in terms of pass protection. Barton was taken very highly and has shown some capabilities thus far in the NFL although really underwhelming for the most part. However, Barton was a rookie during the 2024 season and was going to almost inevitably struggle. Then in year 2 Tampa Bay had subpar offensive circumstances with a rookie offensive coordinator who was in over his head which likely contributed to Barton’s struggles. Perhaps Barton can put it all together in year 3 in the NFL as he won’t be a rookie anymore and the Bucs will have potentially much better offensive circumstances.
2023 2nd rounder Cody Mauch is set to start at the right guard spot and is highly effective. Mauch struggled as a rookie as one would expect him to but then looked great in year 2 in the NFL. Mauch in year 2 ranked in the top five among pass protectors at his position and in the well above average range as a run blocker. Mauch suffered a season ending injury early in the 2025 season and can hopefully bounce back from it next year.
2022 2nd rounder Luke Goedke is set to start at right tackle for the Bucs and is consistently a good if not a very good NFL starter. Goedke in all three seasons outside of his rookie year has graded in the above average to well above average range among qualified players at his position. Goedke played at a borderline elite level during the 2024 season under offensive coordinator Liam Coen and perhaps he can recapture that form under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
From a depth standpoint on the offensive line, Tampa Bay lacks the presence of highly capable backups, and the offensive line is pretty thin as of now. Currently the Bucs do not have a single player in their reserve offensive line unit that strikes me as a high-end backup who is capable of being a starter.
The Bucs have three very good to elite starters on their offensive line but outside of those three, big question marks persist. 2024 1st round pick center Graham Barton has underwhelmed thus far in the NFL and is entering a make-or-break season. So far, Barton has not even proven he is a starting caliber player and certainly not a star like his high draft standing indicates he should be. While starting left guard Ben Bredeson is not a starting caliber player in my estimation who is being forced into a starting role because of the lack of capable players up front for Tampa. The team also lacks any depth on the offensive line as well as they do not have a single backup caliber player who I view as a high-end reserve/potential starter. A breakdown of the Bucs’ offensive line heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Bucs’ Projected Starting Offensive Line
LT – Tristan Wirfs – A to A+
LG – Ben Bredeson – C
C – Graham Barton – C to C+ so far, 2024 1st rounder
RG – Cody Mauch – B+ to A-
RT – Luke Goedke – B to B+
Notable Bucs’ Reserve Offensive Line
T – Justin Skule – C to C+
G – Dan Feeney – C to C+
T – Benjamin Chukwuma – C so far, 2025 UDFA
G – Luke Haggard – C in essential 2025 rookie season, 2023 UDFA
