The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the winners of the 2026 NFL Draft, and, as such, there are players in the current squad who have to be feeling the heat after the Bucs brought in some new talents whom they will feel are immediate upgrades on some of their players.
But on the other side of the coin, some players will feel a little bit more secure about their positions after the Bucs did not draft a competitior - or as high of a competitior - as expected.
3 Buccaneers put on notice after 2026 NFL Draft
WR Chris Godwin
On the one hand, veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr., who is now the No. 1 guy on paper in Tampa Bay, will at least feel relieved that the Bucs didn't spend another first round pick on a wideout like they did last year with the highly impressive Emeka Egbuka. And after Mike Evans's departure to the San Francisco 49ers, there were some fans kicking around that idea.
So while Godwin remains the No. 1 in the Bucs room, his status isn't as strong as some may think. Not only is there Egbuka to compete with along with the underrated Jalen McMillan, but the Bucs added a potential sleeper in small school prospect Ted Hurst in the third round of the NFL Draft. The Bucs are sending a message to Godwin that he is No. 1 on the depth chart, but there is a committee of young voices ready to take over.
CB Zyon McCollum
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also sent a message to Benjamin Morrison with the fourth round steal of Rueben Bain Jr.'s underrated Miami Hurricanes teammate Keionte Scott, but the message will be received the loudest by Zyon McCollum, who is both overpaid and coming off a horrendous season in which he was one of the worst cornebacks in the NFC.
Scott is so good that he is ready to start from Day 1, and he is such a unique player with his tackling ability, speed, and even work as a blitzer that Todd Bowles likely sees him as a key to his defense.
TE Cade Otton
The Buccaneers kept Cade Otton this offseason against conventional wisdom, and they didn't actually draft his replaement. Tampa Bay did draft a tight end with their final pick, snagging LSU grad Bauer Sharp in the sixth round, but they didn't go after Kenyon Sadiq or one of the sleepers in Oscar Delp or Max Klare. So the Bucs message to Otton is simple: You are our guy, but if you don't break out finally this season and Sharp takes the reigns, we will let him.
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