The dust has settled on the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked away with a nearly flawless draft class.
Some within the organization will really benefit from the infusion of talent, but others have found themselves on the hot seat with new competition at their positions.
Winners and losers after Buccaneers finalize draft class
Winner: Todd Bowles
Nobody benefitted more than the head coach himself, Todd Bowles. The Buccaneers needed an infusion of talent on defense, especially at pass rusher and inside linebacker.
They spent their first two picks addressing those needs with edge rusher Rueben Bain and linebacker Josiah Trotter. They also added cornerback Keionte Scott, who was born to play in Bowles’ defense. Later in the draft, they added one of the most athletic defensive tackles in the country in DeMonte Capehart.
Bowles has plenty of new chess pieces to utilize for his scheme, and now the pressure is on for Bowles to make the most of his new talent and get his defense back on track.
Loser: Chris Braswell
Braswell’s job is on the line this preseason. Just two years after drafting Braswell in the second round, the team signed Al-Quadin Muhammad and spent a first-round pick on Rueben Bain Jr.
Between Bain, Muhammad, Diaby, and David Walker, it’s unlikely Braswell sees the field much this season. He’ll likely be competing with Anthony Nelson — a Todd Bowles favorite — for the final roster spot at the position.
Nelson had more production in his career game against the Saints last year than Braswell has had in his entire career, so it’s unlikely Braswell will be able beat out the veteran, and he could be looking for a new team soon.
Winner: Baker Mayfield
The Bucs drafted one of the most explosive wide receivers in the draft in Ted Hurst. He led the FBS in receptions of 20-plus yards over the last two seasons, and 70.9% of his receptions went for a first down or touchdown.
Baker Mayfield already had solid wide receivers to throw to, but after losing Mike Evans, the team did right by their quarterback and added another playmaker.
They also got him some more protection in Notre Dame guard Billy Schrauth. Nobody suffered more than Mayfield last season when injuries ravaged the offensive line. Adding some solid depth up front will be much appreciated by the quarterback.
Loser: SirVocea Dennis
The Buccaneers organization has shown tremendous belief in SirVocea Dennis since drafting him, but he’s yet to prove them right.
Last season was Dennis’ first year as a starter, and he graded as one of the worst linebackers in the league. His coverage grade ranked 84th out of 88 players at the position.
The team brought in Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom this offseason, and they just drafted Josiah Trotter in the second round. Dennis will likely stick around as the No. 4 linebacker, but that’s a steep fall off from the starting job he held last year. He’ll need a strong season in 2026, because another disappointing year could see him pushed off the roster by next offseason.
Winner: Yaya Diaby
Yaya Diaby finally has a player on the opposite side that opposing offenses have to fear.
Diaby was a third-round pick placed under unfair pressure to carry the team’s pass rush efforts. He’s done a great job, leading the team in sacks in two of his three pro seasons.
Having a dynamic pass rusher like Rueben Bain joining the mix will open things up for everybody. The defensive front featuring Diaby, Bain, Vita Vea, A’Shawn Robinson, and Calijah Kancey might be the best Diaby has ever been a part of — and he could have a career year as a result.
Loser: Benjamin Morrison
The Buccaneers spent a second-round pick on Benjamin Morrison back in 2025 hoping he’d step in as the starting outside cornerback of the future.
Injuries plagued his rookie season, as he missed most of his rookie preseason and seven regular season games with a nagging hamstring injury.
The team drafted Keionte Scott this year, who is a perfect fit for Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme. Scott projects as a nickel cornerback, so Morrison will have to compete with Jacob Parrish for the starting cornerback spot opposite Zyon McCollum.
Morrison will still be able to get on the field, but drafting Scott just turned up the temperature and put him on the hot seat. The team didn’t intend for him to be a possible backup entering his second season when they spent a premium draft pick on him last year.
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