Reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, Hall signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers. Hall played for the Titans in 2024, where he played just four games. He had previous stints with the Chargers and Cowboys.

Hall will be a depth piece, as the Buccaneers saw how their last season was hampered by injuries. He will back up Benjamin Morrison and/or Zyon McCollum. He could also slot in the nickel to back up Jacob Parrish.

Baker is in charge of repairing the offense

The offense was also very injured, including Baker Mayfield who was certainly challenged by his health. Still, he played throughout the season hurt. The task is now to make the offense a fearsome unit once again, even if Mike Evans won’t be there anymore.

Mayfield will use Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka as his primary receivers, with Tez Johnson as a very solid WR4. Add that to a great running game featuring Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, and the tools are there to reignite the offense.

Tampa Bay is facing high pressure

After four seasons of dominance in the NFC South, the Bucs had a losing record and lost the division to the Carolina Panthers. They fired their offensive coordinator, Todd Bowles is in the hot-seat as a head coach, and now they lost the best wideout in franchise history.

Hence, it’s a team that must have a good season, and that needs to go back to win a very achievable division. After all, the NFC South has two teams in rebuilding (Saints, Falcons), a volatile team in the Panthers, and the Bucs, that if they manage to stay healthy, are far and away the best team out of the four.

“The season’s over now, I can talk about it,” David revealed, via JoeBucsFan.com. “Man, Baker was going through a lot, bro. Baker had a lot of injuries that you didn’t expect a quarterback to play through.

“You know what I’m saying? He had the oblique injury, he had the shoulder injury, he had a lot of things. You know, ankle injury, knee injury. . . . He was really trying to push through and really trying to be the player that we needed him to be.”

Mayfield’s performance despite his injuries

Baker Mayfield followed his breakout 2024 campaign with another solid performance in 2025, leading the Buccaneers to an 8-9 record while remaining one of the league’s most productive passers. He finished the season with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, ranking in the top 10 across the NFL in both yards and scoring strikes.

His efficiency was highlighted by a career-high 382 rushing yards and a notable Week 5 performance against the Seahawks, where he completed 87.9% of his passes. Off the field, his leadership was recognized league-wide as he served as the Buccaneers’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Is Mayfield now 100% healthy?

David’s recent statements have raised concerns among both fans and outsiders. However, so far there have been no reports of any injuries that Mayfield might be dealing with, so he is expected to begin his initial practices with teammates as usual.

Buccaneers QB room

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ quarterback room is headlined by starter Baker Mayfield, who remains the undisputed leader of the offense. Behind him, the depth chart features veteran backup Jake Browning, the former Bengals signal-caller known for his poise, and Connor Bazelak, who rounds out the group as they gear up for the 2026 campaign.

The Buccaneers could be facing the loss of a key piece of Mayfield’s offense. Evans’ contract with Tampa Bay has expired, and the star receiver is expected to listen to offers as he explores the open market.

According to Deryk Gilmore, Evans’ agent, the veteran wideout plans to play in 2026, per NFL Media. However, he intends to test free agency to evaluate the best opportunity available — while not ruling out a potential return to Tampa Bay.

Mike Evans could be a highly sought-after free agent

Although his 2025 NFL season was not as productive as usual — largely due to injuries — Evans remains one of the league’s most reliable receivers. That reputation is expected to draw significant interest from multiple teams this offseason.

Evans has spent 12 seasons with the Buccaneers. In his first 11 years, he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in every season, failing to reach that milestone in 2025 after missing 10 games due to a broken collarbone and a hamstring injury.

When healthy, Evans is one of the most dependable wide receivers in the NFL. Still, he will need to assure interested teams that he is fully recovered in order to secure a lucrative contract for the 2026 season.

Which teams could be interested in Mike Evans?

The Buccaneers remain a logical suitor. Evans has been a cornerstone of the franchise despite playing with multiple quarterbacks over the years, and he recently developed strong chemistry with Baker Mayfield.

Beyond Tampa Bay, teams such as the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs could also monitor his situation closely. Ultimately, Evans’ decision may come down to both financial value and the opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl next season.

For more than a decade, Lavonte David has been defending the colors of the Buccaneers, arguably in one of the most physically demanding positions on the field. While the linebacker has stated he feels in peak condition, retirement in the near future cannot be ruled out.

“I feel good,” David recently told the Caps Off podcast via JoeBucsFan.com. “You know, I’m healthy. I’m happy. I’m undecided [on retiring]. I’m genuinely undecided, like I don’t know. I don’t know.

“I still got a lot of football left in me. I know that for sure. I still love the game. I know that for sure. The other side is I want to spend more time with my daughter. She’s in school, so [I’ve been] taking her to school and it’s a good feeling.”

A pillar in Mayfield’s team

Lavonte David stands as the ultimate paragon of consistency and loyalty in Tampa Bay, having started every single one of the 215 regular-season games he has played for the franchise.

Despite a career defined by elite production—earning a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2013 and two Second-Team honors—he remains one of the most underrated defenders in NFL history, evidenced by the fact that he has somehow been voted to the Pro Bowl only once.

As David contemplates the twilight of his career, his potential departure or retirement looms large over the Buccaneers‘ locker room. For Baker Mayfield, losing such a foundational ‘iron man’ would be a devastating blow; David isn’t just a defensive anchor, but the emotional heartbeat of the team, and his absence would leave Mayfield without the veteran leadership that has stabilized the roster during his tenure in Florida.

Mike Evans has been a standout wide receiver for 12 years. However, after several seasons battling injuries and failing to stay fully healthy, his 13th year in the league is now in jeopardy. Nevertheless, Mayfield believes the veteran will return for a key reason: Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

“I don’t have to really plea with it,” Mayfield said. “Mike’s too much of a competitor and cares too much about Tampa to end his career without 1,000 yards, without a division championship, without a playoff run. And that, first of all, speaks to who Mike is but that’s the truth. And you know he doesn’t want to do that. You could just kind of feel it.

“Listen, I don’t have any info. I’ve told Mike, ‘This is your decision. Take your time doing it.’ But, understanding who Mike is, this is my guess, that he didn’t want it to end this way. He knows the potential if we’re able to stay a little bit more healthy. Zac will do great things for us, and we’ll go from there. But Mike’s got more in the tank. You could tell with the energy, the fire he had at the end of the year.”

Age is not just a number

Mike Evans has been a cornerstone of the Buccaneers’ offense for over a decade. Unfortunately, the 32-year-old is beginning to feel the effects of his veteran status, as injuries during the 2025 season sidelined him for much of the year.

The same situation occurred with Chris Godwin. While he has been a reliable target for Baker Mayfield, he has also struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, forcing the team to rely heavily on a younger option for much of the 2025 campaign.

Emeka Egbuka entered the season as the WR3. However, with both Evans and Godwin dealing with injuries, the rookie stepped up as the primary wide receiver, developing strong chemistry with Mayfield and giving fans optimism about a future without the veteran duo.

If Evans ultimately decides to retire, Godwin is expected to take over as WR1, with Egbuka moving into the WR2 role. While the wide receiver group would still be solid, the Buccaneers’ offense would undoubtedly look very different without Evans on the field.

According to multiple reports, Josh Grizzard has been hired as the Eagles’ pass game coordinator. This comes almost immediately after the announcement that Sean Mannion will become the new offensive coordinator.

Grizzard failed to deliver as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. After not being able to work it out with Baker Mayfield, now Grizzard will help Mannion with Jalen Hurts.

This is a known position for Grizzard

Before being an offensive coordinator on the Buccaneers, he had this same exact position of being a pass game coordinator. To be fair, he was great in that role, so much so that he was promoted. Now, it’s back to his bread and butter and with a loaded roster of Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith as the core of the passing game of the Eagles.

Grizzard was also in the mix to be the team’s offensive coordinator. He will now be entering a tough spot. Even though the Eagles have a loaded roster, the fact is that this team has some serious dysfunction. The talent is huge, but so is the drama.

All eyes are on Nick Sirianni

Sirianni is an offensive-minded head coach, and that’s why all eyes are on him. When a team has a QB like Jalen Hurts, a star running back like Saquon Barkley, two star receivers in AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, and a star tight end in Dallas Goedert, you must deliver. Sirianni is not one to call plays, but he can’t trust blindly on his coordinators. That is a boom-or-bust recipe.

Hence, if Mannion and Grizzard don’t work, all the blame will be put on Sirianni this time. Despite going to two Super Bowls and winning one of them in only five years, he might be on the hot seat. The team’s offense was what didn’t click last year, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio kept delivering an elite level of play in his unit.

Todd Bowles was clear on why they chose Zac Robinson as the new OC. “I was very impressed with his plan for getting the most out of the talent we have on that side of the ball. He has a very good understanding of the strengths of our top offensive players,” Todd Bowles said via a team’s statement. He then added, “I am very confident in his ability to teach and develop our young players.”

Robinson knows the Buccaneers’ weapons very well, as he was the Falcons OC in years prior. Hence, he played against Tampa Bay twice a year. He will replace Josh Grizzard, who only had one year and failed to deliver.

Zac Robinson has a lot of pressure

Robinson really needs to bring the heat, as Baker Mayfield is already reigniting beef with Kevin Stefanski, who is the new HC of the Falcons. Also, his reputation is on the line. He had four different first rounders on the Falcons roster, and the offense was still not great. Despite having Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Michael Penix Jr. and three first rounders on the offensive line, the Falcons were still not a feared opponent.

Now, he will have an even more stacked offensive roster to work with. Two of the last three OCs on the Bucs have become head coaches in the NFL. Both Dave Canales and Liam Coen are doing wonderful jobs in their respective teams. Therefore, this is a job were Robinson could use as a trampoline if he provides on the promise of making this offense a powerhouse.

The Bucs offensive weaponry is incredibly elite and deep

There is no reason for Tampa Bay not to have a top five offense in the NFL next year. If healthy, the Bucs only need a decent playcalling and they could absolutely blast any defense in front of him.

• QB: Baker Mayfield
• RB: Bucky Irving
• WR: Mike Evans / Jalen McMillan
• WR: Chris Godwin / Sterling Shepard
• WR: Emeka Egbuka / Tez Johnson
• TE: Cade Otton

And from here on out, we’re set to witness a compelling matchup that has already started to heat up well before the preseason even begins. What’s the story behind it? The NFC South will bring together two familiar faces, as Stefanski is set to square off against Baker Mayfield — a quarterback who doesn’t exactly hold fond memories of his former head coach.

That tension was clearly reflected in the Buccaneers QB’s response to a post from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter, in which the reporter claimed that Stefanski “had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland,” with Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson having both “failed.”

“Failed is quite the reach pal,” Mayfield didn’t hold back in his response. “Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.“

Mayfield’s tenure in Cleveland

Baker Mayfield’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns was a rollercoaster of high expectations and ultimate friction. After arriving as the 2018 top pick and setting a rookie record for passing touchdowns, Mayfield initially thrived despite a revolving door of coaching changes.

The arrival of Kevin Stefanski in 2020 seemed to be the missing piece, as the duo led Cleveland to a historic playoff run. However, the relationship soon soured; the rigid structure of Stefanski’s system never quite meshed with Mayfield’s playstyle.

By 2021, a severe labrum injury further strained the partnership, leading to a breakdown in communication and performance that eventually forced the franchise to trade its former cornerstone to the Carolina Panthers.

Falcons and Bucs will go head-to-head

The upcoming 2026 NFC South race will be defined by two pivotal clashes between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the official NFL schedule is still pending, it is confirmed that the rivalry will split between the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

These matchups carry extra weight this year due to the spicy reunion between Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and his former Browns coach, Kevin Stefanski, who is now leading the Falcons.

The Buccaneers failed to secure their fifth consecutive NFC South title in 2025. The team fell well short of expectations, fueling speculation about whether Todd Bowles would return in 2026—especially after the Ravens fired John Harbaugh.

Despite the rumors, Bowles has now confirmed that he will return as head coach in 2026. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he met with team ownership on Tuesday and secured his position for at least one more season.

The last chance for Todd Bowles

While Todd Bowles has confirmed his return for 2026, it could represent his final opportunity to prove he can deliver postseason success with the Buccaneers. Since taking over as head coach in 2022, he has led Tampa Bay to three NFC South titles, but the organization expects deeper playoff runs.

Under Bowles’ leadership, the Buccaneers have lost twice in the Wild Card round and once in the Divisional round. The roster remains talented, yet the team has lacked the dominance it displayed during its Super Bowl run in 2020 with Tom Brady at quarterback.

The team’s decision to retain Bowles signals strong confidence in him. Nevertheless, many fans believe 2026 could be his final season in Tampa Bay if he fails to reclaim the NFC South and guide the team on a deep playoff run with this talented roster.

Will Baker Mayfield return with the Buccaneers in 2026?

Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of the contract extension he signed with the Buccaneers in 2024, so he is expected to return next season. He has been solid for Tampa Bay, but production alone means little if it does not translate into postseason success.

At 32 years old, Mayfield could be in line for another extension, though it would likely be a short-term deal. The Buccaneers must also begin planning for their long-term future at quarterback to avoid another last-minute transition like the one that followed Tom Brady’s retirement in 2023.

Despite the many doubts about Young as a franchise QB, the Alabama prospect managed to bounce back after a tough rookie year and has established himself as the undisputed starter.

Now, the Panthers could have a chance to fight for the Super Bowl if they defeat the Buccaneers to win the NFC South. However, a loss could derail their postseason hopes.

Are the Panthers out of the playoffs if they lose to Buccaneers?

No. The Carolina Panthers are not out of the playoffs even if they lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this scenario, a win by the Atlanta Falcons over the New Orleans Saints would make the Panthers NFC South champions and earn them a ticket to the postseason.

What happens if the Panthers beat the Buccaneers in Week 18?

If the Carolina Panthers defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18, they will clinch their playoff berth as NFC South champions. That would make them the No. 4 seed in the conference, with a home game in the Wild Card round.

The surprising Falcons’ victory on Monday Night Football over Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams changed the entire outlook, as, in a scenario no one expected, the Bucs no longer fully control their destiny.

When the Week 18 games were announced last Sunday, it seemed that the matchup between Tampa and Carolina would be a “winner goes in, loser goes home” situation. However, in an NFL season full of surprises, the NFC South is headed for a crazy finish.

Are Bucs eliminated from playoffs if they lose to Panthers?

Yes. The Bucs are eliminated from the playoffs if they lose against the Carolina Panthers. In addition to missing out on the division title, they cannot catch the Green Bay Packers in the race for the No. 7 spot in the conference.

Do the Bucs have a chance at the playoffs?

The Bucs have a chance at the playoffs but do not control their destiny. Even if they beat the Carolina Panthers, they need the Falcons to lose to the Saints. If the Atlanta Falcons win that game, regardless of the result between Carolina and Tampa, the Panthers will be NFC South champions.