It seems that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offseason has focused solely on offense. From Baker Mayfield being the key to re-signing players or rookie Emeka Egbuka showing lots of promise as a receiver, the NFL might fear this offense. However, general manager Jason Licht has said there are two defensive rookies that will take the league by storm.

After selecting Egbuka in the first round, the next two picks were used to reinforce their secondary defense. In the second round, they took cornerback Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame. Next, their third round pick was used on another cornerback, Jacob Parrish from Kansas State.

During an interview with the Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast, Licht said, “It’s been fun to watch. I don’t want to already stamp them, but we feel very, very good about them helping us out a lot this year.” While Licht doesn’t want to jinx them, he is ecstatic to have the rookies ready to go.

The Bucs already have talent on their defense

If Licht is correct about Morrison and Parrish, the Bucs might turn into one of the best passing defenses in the NFL. They already have tons of talent, including a top, kamikaze-style safety in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, if you look at the rest of their defensive backs, there is talent.

The Bucs also have cornerback Zyon McCollum, who blossomed in his third season last year. He has a stellar season with two picks, 17 passes defended and allowed only 57.4% of completions when he was targeted. If you add another two cornerbacks doing well as rookies, the Bucs could be looking to a top unit.

Are the Buccaneers close to a Super Bowl?

Tampa Bay has won four consecutive NFC South titles. Basically, they have their division on lock. Watching the state of the other teams in the division, they should be confident on winning it again. Their battle is with the heavyweights of the NFC, namely the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and other teams with good projects.

If they can stay healthy, the Bucs could easily challenge all teams. They will have an explosive offense with plenty of weapons and Baker Mayfield throwing dimes at them. And, their defense can have a serious improvement if Licht’s words about their rookies come true.

Otton, who stepped up earlier this season amid injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, has caught a career-high 59 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns. His absence removes a reliable option in the passing game for Mayfield. Meanwhile, Winfield, a defensive anchor, has been out since Week 14 with a sprained knee. In nine games this season, he has recorded 60 tackles, defended three passes, and scored a fumble recovery touchdown, earning an elite 79.5 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking eighth among 165 safeties.

With multiple key contributors unavailable, the Buccaneers will rely on rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillian to fill the void in the offense. McMillian has shown promise this season, recording 27 receptions for 336 yards and five touchdowns. His recent streak of touchdown grabs in three consecutive games suggests he’s ready to step up, but the added pressure in a must-win scenario will test his mettle.

Mayfield, who has carried much of the offensive burden this season, must forge a quick connection with McMillian to sustain drives and create scoring opportunities. The coaching staff will need to devise a creative game plan to exploit the Panthers’ defensive weaknesses while compensating for the team’s depleted roster.

Defensive struggles without Winfield

On the defensive side, the absence of Antoine Winfield Jr. compounds the challenges for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have struggled to maintain consistency without their star safety, who has been a critical playmaker in both coverage and the pass rush. The defense will need to step up collectively, with other players filling the leadership void left by Winfield.

Playoff hopes hang in the balance

After a crushing loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15, the Buccaneers’ playoff aspirations took a significant hit. Another defeat, especially against the Panthers, would likely end their postseason ambitions. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Tampa Bay looks to avoid back-to-back losses in critical games.

This season has been defined by adversity for the Buccaneers, from inconsistent performances to an ever-growing injury list. Despite these challenges, the team has an opportunity to prove its resilience and character. For Baker Mayfield, Jalen McMillian, and the rest of the roster, this game is more than just a chance to stay in playoff contention—it’s a defining moment in a tumultuous season.

On the one hand, the speculation exists in part because Brady already changed his mind once. But on the other hand, his previous retirement didn’t last more than a month.

Either way, once again there’s speculation about a potential return to the gridiron. But this time, it’s one of his former teammate’s fault. According to Bucs defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr., the team is still approaching the 7x Super Bowl champ to come back.

Antoine Winfield Jr. believes Bucs want Tom Brady to unretire

“I’m sure we’re still reaching out to him trying to see if he’s trying to come back to the team,” Winfield said on the The Richard Sherman Podcast, via Sports Illustrated. “Hey, it could happen. Anything’s possible. … When he first said he retired, I really thought that he was done. He surprised me when he came back.”

At 45, Brady has insisted he’s finally read to begin his new life off the field, but a hypothetical return has been a topic all these months regardless. This time, it was someone at the Bucs who revived the rumors.