The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, and it’s another must-win game. It’s a divisional matchup, and the Bucs badly need a strong start in NFC South play after a rough beginning to the 2026 season.

And ESPN just raised the stakes. Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler teamed up on a list of 25 viable trade candidates ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, and three Buccaneers made the cut. They, along with the Tennessee Titans, had the most players featured with three apiece.

This isn’t a random list, either. It’s built on what Fowler, one of ESPN’s top insiders, is hearing around the league. The rankings reflect how much each player would help an acquiring team, not how likely he is to be moved. Each player also received a trade probability.

But the overall point stands: The Buccaneers aren’t looking to move players right now, as they still have life in the NFC South. A loss to the Falcons, however, could quickly change that.

Let’s dive in and discuss.

Yaya Diaby heads up the latest Buccaneers trade rumors

Edge rusher Yaya Diaby comes in with a 35% chance to be traded, which is one of the highest marks on the entire list. He’s fresh off a 3.0 sack performance against the Carolina Panthers, and he’s Tampa Bay’s best pass rusher. Fowler noted that the rise of David Walker has put Diaby’s future in question.

That makes some sense on paper, especially with Rueben Bain Jr. on a cheap rookie deal. However, Bain has struggled more than people expected coming into the season, and Al-Quadin Muhammad and Anthony Nelson are rotational players. Trading Diaby would leave Walker and Bain as the only pass rushers under contract heading into the 2027 offseason unless the Bucs re-sign Muhammad or Nelson. That would force Tampa Bay to spend cap space and draft capital to rebuild the room.

Using A to Z Sports’ trade simulator, the Chicago Bears, who have been linked to pass rushers, could land Diaby for a third- and a fourth-round pick. That’s tempting, and it would get Diaby’s next contract off the books. He could command north of $20 million per year depending on how the rest of the season goes. Still, draft picks are never guaranteed, and Diaby is a proven player.

I don’t think he gets traded, but again, any Buccaneers trade rumors are on the table if they lose to the Falcons.

A’Shawn Robinson and Chris Godwin aren’t worth the return

Defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson’s inclusion on the list surprised me. Robinson has been excellent, and Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles raved about him a few weeks ago. He has two interceptions, and he eats up space to free up guys like Calijah Kancey and Bowles’ second-level blitzers. Fowler gives him a 30% chance to be traded.

Robinson is a 31-year-old veteran on a one-year deal, so re-signing him next year could get tricky. The Buccaneers are paying him over $10 million this year. The simulator, using the Jacksonville Jaguars as a partner because of their need at defensive tackle, valued him at 115 points. That likely nets a sixth-round pick, maybe with a seventh tacked on. I’m not trading Robinson for a sixth-rounder. It doesn’t clear enough money, and it doesn’t return enough draft capital to replace him.

Wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. carries the lowest probability at 15%, though the Pittsburgh Steelers have come up in trade chatter. His age, his contract (he’s making $22 million in cash this year), his production, and his injury history create a perfect storm that should keep him in Tampa Bay for 2026.

Moving him would put more on Ted Hurst’s plate and on Emeka Egbuka’s once he returns, which is exactly what the Bucs wanted to avoid this year. Tez Johnson is a great special-package player, but he isn’t ready to carry a bigger role consistently.

Against the Steelers, Godwin was valued at 159 points, which projects to a sixth-round pick and possibly a seventh. For a legacy player and someone who still holds value, that’s not worth it.

Everything hinges on the Falcons

So, with all that being said, I don’t expect any of these three to be moved. But a loss changes the conversation. Tampa Bay would fall to 2-6 and 1-1 in the division, Atlanta would climb to 4-4, and the Bucs would head to Chicago for Sunday Night Football in Week 9 before the Week 10 bye.

Only three teams in NFL history have made the playoffs after starting 2-6: the 1970 Bengals, the 2020 Washington Football Team, and the 2022 Jaguars. Washington got in with a losing record, and Jacksonville finished 9-8. A win, on the other hand, would put the Bucs at 3-5 with a 2-0 lead in NFC South play.

The goal is simple and clear: Win against the Falcons and the Buccaneers can continue to build themselves back into playoff contention. Lose, and well, who knows what the next couple of weeks will entail.