With the departure of Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers and Lavonte David announcing his retirement, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered major losses in on-field production, but locker room leadership as well.
The pair were the franchise's longest-tenured players, with David being drafted in 2012 and Evans in 2014. David had been selected by his teammates as a captain for 12 conseutive seasons while Evans had named a team captain in nine consecutive seasons. With both of these cornerstone players leaving in the same offseason, the locker room desperately needs new voices to step up and fill the leadership void.
Which players will step up as Buccaneers' next team leaders?
Chris Godwin Jr.
In the blink of an eye, Chris Godwin Jr. has become the elder statesman in the Buccaneers locker room. He's now the team's longest-tenured player, drafted bck in 2017.
Godwin has been a Bucs team captain once before, back in the 2023 season. That year, the team named eight captains, but when they cut back to only six captains, Godwin was one of the odd men out.
Now, he'll have a chance to reclaim his leadership role, and the Buccaneers will definitely be counting on the veteran to step up as a leader both on and off the field.
Tykee Smith
Tykee Smith was singled out by Lavonte David himself as a player with the potential to become the leader of the defense.
It could be a number of guys,” David said, via Pewter Report. “A lot of those guys – I wouldn’t take the field if I knew they didn’t have my back and if they didn’t play with the mentality that I had. But you know I love Calijah, Tykee for sure, Yaya – some guys who have played good football for us for a lot of years, but you know I’d probably put my hand up for sure for Tykee.
“Man, that’s like that’s little brother. I took him under my wing. He was one of those guys who – was one of those young dudes who came straight at me, questioning me and grilling me to see how I move and stuff like that.”
On the field, Smith made a major impact, leading all safeties with 13 passes defensed. He was the only player in 2025 to record 100+ tackles, 10-plus passes defensed, and 3-plus takeaways. During his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine, head coach Todd Bowles went as far as to say Smith was the team's best player last season before suffering a shoulder injury.
Smith's elite performance in 2025, paired with David's glowing endorsement, will carry significant weight in the organization, and if Smith responds accordingly this offseason, he'll almost certainly be wearing the 'C' on his chest in 2026.
Alex Anzalone
Alex Anzalone might be a new addition in Tampa Bay, but the savvy veteran has been a proven leader througout his career, being named a team captain for five consecutive years with the Detroit Lions.
Anzalone will be filling David's role on the field as the inside linebacker and will likely wear the "green dot" as the on-field defensive play caller, so it only makes sense that he'll be a serious option for a team captain role in his first season with the team.
Yaya Diaby
Like Tykee Smith, Yaya Diaby was a player that Lavonte David mentioned by name as a potential leader. Diaby already started finding his voice last season, when he expressed frustration with teammates during the frustrating losing stretch, and even after the season when he lobbied the coaching staff to have more physical practices rather than walkthroughs.
Diaby clearly isn't afraid to be vocal and hold people accountable when needed. He has the production to match his leadership, finishing as the team's sack leader twice in his three-year career, including in 2025.
Emeka Egbuka
It might not be in 2026 with Godwin serving as the veteran in the wide receiver room, but Egbuka will absolutely wear the 'C' on his chest at some point in his NFL career. From the moment he entered the organization, coaches and teammates alike were blown away by his maturity and approach. The way he entered the NFL as a rookie with the mentality of a seasoned veteran was the talk of the town in Tampa Bay last offseason.
"He’s the real deal. True professional. Doesn’t play like a rookie. Doesn’t act like a rookie," said quarterback Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers' victory in the season opener,
Egbuka was a team captain for the Ohio State team that won a National Championship in 2024, and in due time, he'll grow into a leadership role in Tampa Bay as well.