The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a great offseason, which has taken a bit of pressure off the importance of the 2026 season.

But make no mistake – the Buccaneers may have won the offseason (in their own vacuum), however, they still have to win games at a high level.

There are several key players on offense who need to have good seasons in order for that to happen. And not just for team success reasons, but their own personal career motives.

Whether it be because they’re in a contract year, haven’t played up to par over the last season or two, or whatever, the following Buccaneers players need to make sure they stay healthy and perform this year.

1. G Cody Mauch

Mauch is not only in a contract year, but he’s coming off a torn meniscus injury that cost him all but two games in 2025. He’s fully healthy and says the injury is behind him. We won’t know if he’s back to his old self until training camp and the season kicks off, though.

Mauch is in line for a big extension if he can prove 2025 is behind him and he gets back on track. It should be with the Buccaneers, too, when considering how much they value the offensive line.

2. WR Chris Godwin Jr.

Godwin Jr. started to regain his footing toward the end of last year, making him the top target heading into this season. Especially when considering Mike Evans’ departure.

He’s ready to carry the torch, but just how much does he have left in the tank? Have the major injuries over the last few years sapped his playmaking ability? Even more so when considering he’s now 30 years old?

Godwin’s 2027 contract number add to the importance of a good year. The Buccaneers stand to create $13.702 million in cap space if he were released before the start of the new league year. They would have to eat $16.231 million in dead cap and that’s important to consider, but the path is there if things go horribly wrong for whatever reason.

3. RB Bucky Irving

Irving’s sophomore campaign was the polar opposite of his rookie year and it’s created an interesting scenario heading into Year 3.

The Buccaneers added Kenneth Gainwell into the mix to help limit the injury potential for the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Irving and he’s going to play a big role in the offense. He’s not around for just 2026, either, as he signed a two-year, $14 million deal in March.

Just how do these two work together and how does it affect Irving’s production. Look, as long as both guys are making plays it won’t really matter. But all of a sudden, Irving isn’t the clear-cut No. 1 back like he became in 2024 and was positioned as before his injury.

A good 2026 season would help him return to primary status, even that means as much as a 51/49 split with Gainwell.

4. QB Baker Mayfield

And certainly last but not least, there’s Baker Mayfield.

Look, Mayfield won’t be hurting for work if he has a bad year. He’s done enough over the last three seasons to where plenty of teams will be interested in him, unless 2026 is just an absolute disaster in the worst ways possible.

Therefore, he’s on this list solely for personal gain. Mayfield’s price tag will only get higher and higher the better he plays, assuming he and the Buccaneers don’t reach an agreement on an extension before training camp begins.

If he plays like a top-5 QB, we’re likely looking at a market where he reasonably commands $60 million per year. If he plays like an average QB, he will still probably be in the $50 million range. A bad year will keep him in that $40-$45 million range, but either way, Mayfield’s getting a raise and he’s going to get paid.

It’s easy to see why Mayfield needs to have a good year because he’ll most likely be looking at a historical contract if he does.