The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ initial 53-man roster is set, and it’s no longer a mystery which players will be suiting up for the Bucs on Sundays this season.
Now, it’s time for the team to select who will repaint them as captains. The Bucs lost two franchise legends in 12-time team captain Lavonte David and nine-time team captain Mike Evans this offseason.
That leaves quite the void in leadership, and some new voices will have to step up this season. So which players are best suited to wear the “C” on their chest for the Buccaneers in 2026?
Predicting Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 team captains
The Buccaneers only had six captains last season, but they’ve had as many as eight during Todd Bowles’ tenure as head coach.
I’ve selected eight team captains for this season, as the team will need plenty of voices to emerge as leaders, and Tampa Bay has no shortage of players capable of stepping into that role.
Chris Godwin Jr.
Godwin has served as a captain once before, during the 2023 season. As the longest-tenured player in Tampa Bay, it’s time for him to serve as a captain once again.
Godwin has always been regarded as a leader and a great teammate, and he’s continuing that trend this offseason. Jalen McMillan told reporters earlier this offseason that Godwin helps the younger receivers with breathing techniques or routines on the JUGS machine, and holds the whole room to a high standard.
He’s the exact type of leader the Buccaneers need to navigate the 2026 season.
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield is the franchise quarterback and the heart and soul of this Bucs team. This will be his fourth consecutive season as a captain for the Buccaneers.
Mayfield leads by example, putting his body on the line and doing what needs to be done to get his teammates to rally around him. He’s even admitted to sliding late to take hits to light a fire under his teammates.
Mayfield is the ultimate competitor, and is the perfect representation of what Bucs football is all about. Every NFL team would love to find 53 players who attack the game the way Mayfield does.
Tristan Wirfs
Wirfs is the best player on the team by a healthy margin and is the anchor of the offensive line. He’s definitely earned the “C” on his chest for the fourth consecutive year. Enough said.
Vita Vea
The Buccaneers were finally able to come to a contract resolution with Vea to put his trade request to bed. Now, he can go back to causing headaches for opposing offenses
Vea is a selfless player and does a lot of dirty work that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet. He takes on constant double teams to create one-on-one assignments for his teammates, and still finds a way to be one of the NFL’s most impactful defenders.
Tampa Bay has the NFL’s best rushing defense since Vea became a full-time starter in 2019. He also leads all nose tackles in sacks in that span with 32. He’s one of the Buccaneers’ most important players, and for that he’s earned his fifth-straight team captain nod.
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield is the type of player that always comes up with a play when the team needs it most. Last season, he saved the Bucs from a disaster in Week 1 with a last-second pass broken up to prevent a potential Falcons’ touchdown in the final seconds. Winfield serves as a reminder to his teammates to never give up on plays and always leads by example with relentless effort.
His clutch gene was on display from the moment he entered the league, when Winfield made a game-changing forced fumble against the Saints to shift the momentum and help the Bucs advance en route to a Super Bowl title.
It’s that proven playmaking ability that has earned him the trust and admiration of his teammates and coaching staff. It’s no wonder he’s been named a team captain three straight years, and he’s aiming for a fourth.
Alex Anzalone
Anzalone was a team captain for all of five of his seasons with the Detroit Lions, and played a key role in their culture change and franchise turnaround.
The seasoned nine-year veteran will be wearing the green dot and calling the defenses, so it’s a virtual guarantee that he’ll be a team captain for the Buccaneers.
Yaya Diaby
Diaby has started to come into his own as a leader. He got increasingly vocal last season, voicing his frustration with the lack of effort from teammates.
Lavonte David even named Diaby as a player that could become a leader for the Buccaneers, and that’s about the best endorsement you can get in Tampa Bay.
Diaby has put up results, leading the team in sacks in two of the last three seasons despite a questionable supporting cast. He’s about to play on the best defensive line of his pro career in 2026, and could be in for a breakout season as a result.
This is a big year for Diaby to cement himself as a cornerstone player for the Bucs’ future.
Buccaneers have plenty more leaders on the roster
Players that don’t get named captains are still able to be important leaders in the locker room.
Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter didn’t make this list as a pair of rookies, but they’re already putting their stamp on this team and there’s no doubt they’ll be team captains in the coming seasons.
A’Shawn Robinson is already one of the unquestioned leaders of this defense, but the team can only have so many captains. Still, he’ll be a staple in the locker room with or without a “C” on his chest.
The same goes for Tykee Smith and Calijah Kancey, who like Diaby, were given the endorsement by Lavonte David as potential captains.
This team has countless great characters capable of providing leadership over the course of the season, which should contribute to a great culture and plenty of success in 2026.
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