4 Buccaneers secret weapons who could become household names in 2026

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite coming off an 8-9 season in 2025, have put together one of the best rosters in the NFL. 

The team has some bonafide stars like Tristan Wirfs, Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea, and Antoine Winfield Jr., but there are some other rising stars that are currently flying under the radar. 

If they perform the way the Bucs expect them to in 2026, these players are well on their way to becoming household names.

3 underrated Bucs who could take the NFL by storm in 2026

Tykee Smith 

Tykee Smith had a standout second season in 2025 after converting from nickel cornerback to safety. 

He finished second on the team with 100 tackles and also recorded two sacks, five quarterback hits, one interception, two fumble recoveries, and a team-leading 13 passes defensed. 

Todd Bowles even said earlier this offseason that Smith was the team’s best defender last season until he injured his shoulder.

If Smith can turn in another strong campaign in 2026, it’ll be hard to leave him off the list of the NFL’s best safeties.

Jacob Parrish 

Another young, promising member of the Tampa Bay secondary, Parrish seems poised to put himself on the national radar entering his second season.

He shined as a rookie recording 76 total tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed. 

He’s not only sticky in coverage, but he’s a willing, reliable tackler in the run game. 

He’s on his way toward earning an even bigger role in 2026 as he competes this offseason for the team’s starting outside cornerback role. His versatility that allows him to effectively move around the secondary is a special element to his game.  

If Parrish builds on the foundation of his strong rookie season, it will be hard to slow down the hype train surrounding him. 

Jalen McMillan 

Jalen McMillan gets lost in the shuffle of a crowded wide receiver room that features Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and standout rookie Ted Hurst.

But McMillan could quietly serve as one of the most important pass catchers for the Bucs in 2026.

He put together an impressive rookie season back in 2024, with a true nose for the end zone that saw him score eight touchdowns, including five consecutive games with a score to end the year.

He suffered a major neck injury last preseason that sidelined him until Week 15, but he wasted no time making his impact upon his return. In a Week 17 showdown that held major playoff implications, McMillan recorded seven receptions for 114 yards. 

Now that he’s fully healthy and taking on a bigger role after the departure of Mike Evans in free agency, McMillan has a chance to become a key weapon for Baker Mayfield and the offense. If he capitalizes on this golden opportunity, he’ll become a breakout star in short order. 

Yaya Diaby 

Yaya Diaby has been the Bucs’ best pass rusher since they drafted him back in 2023. He led the team with 7.5 sacks in his rookie season, and led the team again with 7.0 sacks in 2025.

He hasn’t reached double-digit sacks and catapulted himself into elite status just yet, but 2026 is his best chance to do just that. 

The Bucs made a major investment in their defensive front this offseason. They signed Al-Quadin Muhammad, who’s coming off an 11-sack season with the Detroit Lions. They drafted Rueben Bain Jr. out of Miami, who is coming off a season where he tied the all-time record for QB pressures in the PFF College era. They also signed a big disruptor in defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. 

Diaby will be playing on by far the best defensive line he’s ever been a part of as a Buccaneer, and it’ll give him many more opportunities against a single blocker than he’s had in the last few seasons. 

He also happens to be entering a contract year, and if he takes the next step and reaches double-digit sacks like he’s capable of, he’ll be a household name that fans across the league will be clamoring for their team to sign next offseason.

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