The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to have assembled one of their best rosters in recent years entering the 2026 season.
The team is, on paper, one of the NFL’s most well-built teams in the trenches. They have one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the league, and they of course have their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield.
There’s plenty to be excited about with this roster, but with the season opener just a week away, there are still three major questions facing the Buccaneers that will be answered quickly when they take the field against Cincinnati.
3 biggest questions facing Tampa Bay Buccaneers entering 2026 season
Will the cornerback room be a weakness?
The Buccaneers ranked No. 27 against the pass last season, and while a revamped pass rush should help, the cornerback room is still a question mark.
Zyon McCollum is coming off an up-and-down year, and the team is counting on him to bounce back and be a quality CB1.
Jacob Parrish, entering his second season, is making the switch from nickel cornerback to outside, so there could be a bit of a learning curve as he adjusts to playing the boundary full time.
Keionte Scott will start at nickel, and while his potential and scheme fit are undeniable, he’s still a rookie that could have some growing pains.
Benjamin Morrison is the first backup at outside cornerback, and while he has second-round pedigree, he’s largely unproven due to injuries limiting him early in his career.
This is a young, promising group, and whether they live up to their potential could make or break the Bucs defense in 2026.
How will Zac Robinson fare as offensive coordinator?
Tampa Bay’s offense was mediocre last year, and they moved on from offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after just one season with the team.
Their new offensive coordinator is Zac Robinson, and expectations are high given how much talent he has to work with.
It’s hard to judge Robinson based off the preseason considering he was calling plays for backups outside of just six snaps with the starters in, but the offense did look vanilla and left a lot to be desired. Predictable third-down screens and poorly-timed runs on second-and-long were just two concerns on display during the preseason.
If Robinson can get the most out of one of the NFL’s most talented offenses, this team could go far. But if he struggles the way Grizzard did, the Bucs could be in trouble.
Can the offensive line stay healthy?
Tampa Bay had nightmarish injury luck along the offensive line last season. They didn’t play one single game with their starting five intact.
When healthy, this is easily one of the best units in the league, but the depth is a major cause for concern.
Tampa Bay’s backup offensive line was awful throughout the preseason, and if they’re forced to count on one or multiple backups for an extended period, it could sink the offense.
The Bucs need their offensive line to stay healthy if they’re going to get the most out of an offense that has potential to be one of the NFL’s best.
Add us as a preferred source on Google