Have you ever wondered how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers construct their roster compared to their NFC South rivals?
NFL cap expert and FanSided contributor Josh Queipo is analyzing roster resource allocation across the league via his Substack to determine which teams are investing the most into their on-field product, and which teams are skimping.
Rather than looking at salary cap hits, which can be easily manipulated, Queipo’s methodology relies on examining actual cash spent on player salaries, complete with a model for draft picks on rookie contracts.
The results paint a clear picture on how the Buccaneers philosophize roster building.
Buccaneers’ roster investment stands out in NFC South
The NFC South is one of the cheapest divisions in the NFL based on 2026 total resource commitment, which could explain why it’s been one of the least successful divisions in recent years.
The Panthers lead the way with $414 million in total value. The Buccaneers trail close behind at $407 million. The gap between the top two and the bottom two is significant, with the Saints and Falcons lagging behind at $370 million and a lowly $331 million, respectively.
“Tampa Bay’s cash radar is the most diversified in the division. Six position groups sit between $11M and $58M, with no single extreme spike but no glaring hole either. QB ($42.3M, basically all Mayfield), OL ($57.9M), DL ($37.8M), WR ($23.1M), SEC ($38.1M) all carry real veteran commitments…Tampa Bay is the team most evenly investing across position groups,” wrote Queipo.
Queipo went on to sum up the Bucs’ roster building philosophy to a tee. While a team like the Panthers made their biggest investments this offseason through adding outside free agents including Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd, the Bucs consistently make it a point to draft, develop, and invest in their own homegrown talent long-term — for better or for worse.
“A substantial portion of those cash commitments go to homegrown players who they love to reward with second contracts. Strategically, the Bucs have shown their policy is “spend money on good players regardless of position”. The beauty is in its simplicity. And it has led them to some surprising first-round draft picks that fell outside of the conventional “team need” trope,” wrote Queipo.
“But it has also led them to play whack-a-mole offseason-after-offseason chasing one leaky position group after another. Secondary in 2025, linebacker and defensive line in 2026. And the song plays on.”
Tampa Bay is allocating the most across the division at the quarterback position, with a total of $42 million almost all going toward Baker Mayfield, the only robust veteran contract in the division.
The Panthers (Bryce Young), Saints (Tyler Shough) and Falcons (Michael Penix Jr.) all have quarterbacks on cheap rookie deals. Atlanta did additionally add a veteran quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, but he signed for the vet minimum, which hardly impacts their cash spent on the position.
The Bucs also lead in spending at the wide receiver position, with Chris Godwin Jr. responsible for a big chunk due to his $22M APY. Last year’s first-round pick Emeka Egbuka ($14.7M), adds to the investment. Tampa Bay has one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the entire league, let alone the division, so the significant investment here is no surprise.
The final position group where Tampa Bay leads in spending across the division is in the secondary, and frankly, they’d like to get more bang for their buck. Antoine Winfield Jr. comes at a costly $19.5M, followed by $14.6M for Zyon McCollum, who had a down year immediately after signing his hefty extension last offseason.
The Bucs pass defense ranked 27th in the league last year, by far the worst in the NFC South. The Saints (4th), Falcons (13th), and Panthers (15th) all fared much better against the pass despite less investment in the secondary. The Bucs’ newly revamped pass rush should make life easier for their expensive defensive backs in 2026.
Speaking of that revamped pass rush, Tampa Bay ranks second in the division in their defensive line spending, behind only the Panthers. They’ve allocated $94 million to the defensive line for 2026, spread out among a multitude of players.
Vita Vea ($18M) and A’Shawn Robinson ($10M) lead the way. But they’re also getting great value through rookie contracts via players like Calijah Kancey and rookie Rueben Bain Jr.. Tampa Bay is hoping the defensive front will make good on the organization’s major investment this offseason after several years of an ineffective pass rush holding back Todd Bowles’ defensive unit as a whole.
The only position group where Tampa Bay is allocating the least cash among the NFC South is at running back. For that, the Bucs have found incredible value. The biggest investment comes via Kenny Gainwell, who Tampa Bay signed this offseason in free agency. Bucky Irving is playing on a rookie contract after being drafted in the fourth round back in 2024. Sean Tucker is set to play out 2026 on a one-year, $3.52M tender.
The Bucs might not have a player the caliber of Bijan Robinson or Travis Etienne, but they have a real case for the division’s deepest, most well-rounded running back stable while paying the cheapest price.
Like running back, the Buccaneers are also getting a bargain on their offensive line relative to the rest of the division. Tampa Bay comes in third among offensive line spending, with Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke being the only major veteran investments. Graham Barton and Cody Mauch are on rookie deals, while Ben Bredeson is on a modest deal.
Things could change drastically come next offseason, with Mauch currently entering a contract year and set to enter free agency. If Tampa Bay extends Mauch, their offensive line investment will soar.
Final takeaways from Buccaneers’ roster resource allocation
The key takeaways from Queipo’s deep-dive into the Buccaneers’ cash spending are: Tampa Bay is getting quality return on investment from their hefty quarterback and wide receiver investments. They’re overpaying in the secondary relative to on-field results, but they’re conversely getting a great value at the running back position.
Their spending is the most evenly spread out across the division, which speaks to why they have such a balanced roster that lacks any glaring holes.
Money talks, and the Bucs and Panthers are at the forefront of cash spent among the NFC South, while emerging as the division’s top contenders entering 2026.
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