Halfway through the season, which Buccaneers are carrying the team the most?

Entering the second half of the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves at 6-2, tied for the best record through eight games in franchise history. Tampa Bay currently holds a strong lead in the NFC South, and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture. 

So which Buccaneers have been the most important contributors toward the team’s success?

MVP: Baker Mayfield

As the Buccaneers have dealt with a devastating injury situation, Mayfield has been asked at times to carry the entire team on his back – and he has done just that. Of Tampa Bay’s six wins, Mayfield has led four game-winning drives. His clutch factor has been the driving force in the Bucs’ success, and one of the main storylines across the NFL this season. 

Mayfield’s ability to continuously overcome adversity and not only keep this Buccaneers team afloat, but position them as one of the league’s best teams, makes him not only the MVP in Tampa Bay, but a legitimate candidate for the MVP of the entire NFL.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka’s production has slowed down in recent weeks, but he got off to one of the best starts in NFL history for a rookie wide receiver. Egbuka currently paces all rookies in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, despite playing one less game than other top rookies including Tetaroia McMillan and Tyler Warren.

With injuries to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan, Egbuka’s emergence has been crucial for Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense. Egbuka has quickly found himself as the No. 1 receiver in Tampa Bay, and the most productive offensive rookie in the entire NFL.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jacob Parrish

Despite drafting cornerback Benjamin Morrison a round earlier in the NFL Draft, it is Parrish who earned an immediate starting job and has been the team’s most impressive defensive rookie halfway through their rookie seasons. Parrish has notched two sacks, 37 total tackles including five tackles for loss, and three passes defended.

He has really shined as a blitzer in Bowles’ scheme, and his immediate impact has been a godsend for Tampa Bay after the teams’ struggles in the secondary a season ago. Parrish has been one of the NFL’s most impressive defensive rookies, and is quietly building the foundation for a long, successful career in red and pewter.

Most Improved Player: YaYa Diaby

Diaby burst onto the scene with 7.5 sacks as a rookie, but regressed in his sophomore season with only four sacks. This season, he has already matched his 2024 total with four sacks and a forced fumble in just eight games.

One of Tampa Bay’s biggest weaknesses a season ago was their lack of a dominant pass rush, and Diaby’s emergence has been a driving force in the defensive unit’s drastic improvement this season.

Comeback Player of the Year: Jamel Dean

Between constant injuries and inconsistent play, the organization's patience with Dean was wearing thin. So thin in fact, that they gave him the option this offseason to either take a significant pay cut and void a year off his contract or be released by Tampa Bay.

After agreeing to take an $8 million pay cut and enter free agency a season early, Dean is playing the best football of his career in 2025. Through eight games, Dean has already set a new career-high with three interceptions, including a pick-six. Entering Week 9, Dean was ranked as the best cornerback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. Yes, you read that correctly.

They say pressure makes diamonds, and Dean had his back against the wall after Tampa Bay drafted two cornerbacks and made it clear they were willing to move on from Dean. He has responded perfectly, and it has paid dividends for the Buccaneers defense and it will pay dividends for Dean this offseason as he enters the free agency market after what is shaping up to be a career year.

Unsung Hero: Tykee Smith

After a strong rookie season as the team’s starting nickel cornerback, Smith transitioned to safety this offseason and took his game to an elite level. 

Through eight games, Smith was the only player in the NFL with 50+ tackles, 5+ passes defended, and two sacks. His do-it-all skillset has shown up in coverage, in run defense, and of course, as a blitzer. 

Smith has proved to be the perfect complement to Antoine Winfield Jr., and the two have formed one of the league’s best duos at safety.

Captain of the Ship: Todd Bowles

This list would be incomplete without giving Bowles his credit for the job he's done this season. Perhaps his best move was having the humility to recognize his shortcomings in clock management and game management in past seasons and hiring Zach Beistline as his Director of Football Research to address these weak points.

Bowles has also had to hire his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons. Byron Leftwich was fired after a disappointing 2022 season, and Dave Canales and Liam Coen both left for head coaching jobs after just one successful season in Tampa Bay. Bowles has made great hires at the position, and the trend is continuing job as Josh Grizzard has done an admirable job as a first-time play caller dealing with the brutal injury situation on offense.

The Buccaneers’ ability to keep finding answers in the face of adversity and climb to an impressive 6-2 record is a testament to how well Bowles and his staff are coaching this team as they look to earn their fifth-straight NFC South title and sixth-straight playoff berth.