We’ve already talked about the guys on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense that need to have a good 2026 season. So naturally, it’s time to flip over to the defense.

The Buccaneers defense, as a whole, is looking to rebound in 2026. There’s no debating the debacle that defined 2025 and Todd Bowles’ crew has to get back to its old ways if the Bucs want to even think about sniffing the playoffs.

The following players need to step and ensure they play well in order for that to happen. But it’s not just for team purposes – some of these guys need to have a good year for their own personal gain, as well.

So, with that being said, let’s dive in.

1. S Antoine Winfield Jr.

It’s safe to say Winfield Jr. has not been the same player since inking his $84 million contract back in 2024. Whether injuries or the environment around him have been the culprit, Tampa Bay’s star safety has not produced the numbers nor the impact plays that defined his first few years in the league. Sure, he’s shown up for certain moments, but he just isn’t the all-around game changer Bucs fans have gotten used to seeing.

That’s why 2026 is massive for Winfield. He needs to get back to his impactful ways in order to justify the deal, because the longer he goes without playing at an All-Pro level, the less ideal his contract becomes for the Buccaneers. All the cards are in play for him to have a big year, so he needs to come through on his end.

2. DL Calijah Kancey

The Buccaneers picked up Kancey’s fifth-year option over the offseason, but he still has to deliver. And honestly, if he just stays healthy, he should. Injuries have been the biggest detractor from Kancey’s career so far, as he’s yet to play a full season and has just one healthy offseason under his belt.

Kancey carries the injury-prone label right now and if he wants a future in Tampa Bay beyond 2027, he has to not only make it through the season, but also perform on top of that.

The talent is there. The availability has not been and it has to change. The Buccaneers will have one of the NFL’s scariest defensive lines if Kancey does indeed live up to expectations.

3. EDGE Yaya Diaby

Diaby needs to have a good year because he’s set to hit free agency after this season. He’s going to command anywhere between $20 million to $25 million per year with a good season, and it’s likely the Bucs extend him before the year even begins. Either way, whether Tampa Bay locks him up beforehand or Diaby hits the open market next spring, a strong 2026 campaign will be required of him.

From a team perspective, if Diaby can step up the way the Bucs need him to, the pass rush can take off, especially with first-round pick Reuben Bain Jr. on the other side.

4. CB Zyon McCollum

McCollum is coming off his worst season since his rookie year, one that ended on injured reserve after he hurt his wrist in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons. Even before that, he was not himself after signing his extension ahead of the 2025 season. Whether it was missed assignments, bad reads, or dropped interceptions – his overall play simply was not good.

It’s at the point now where another bad season in 2026 could lead the Bucs to move on from him. Tampa Bay’s secondary was one of the weaker units on the team last year, and while injuries played a role, McCollum has to get back to his normal level of play. The guys around him, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Keionte Scott, and the rest of the depth, are unproven. If McCollum can’t hold up his end, the secondary could be in trouble.

5. CB Benjamin Morrison

Speaking of Morrison, it might seem rushed to put a second-year player on this list, but his situation warrants it. Injuries defined his rookie year and they’ve already popped up again this offseason, with a hamstring issue that caused him to miss mandatory minicamp.

When he was on the field as a rookie, Morrison gave up some big plays against the Bills and the Patriots while also flashing bright spots. The overall picture was up and down, which is expected for a player dealing with injuries and coming off surgery.

At the same time, Morrison has not shown he can perform at a high level on a consistent basis because he’s hurt all the time. If the hamstring continues to be a problem throughout Year 2, well, the cards are already going to be stacked against him going into Year 3.

That’s not the spot he wants to be in, and it’s not the spot the Buccaneers can afford to have him in if this secondary is going to take a step forward.