Free agency, along with the official start of the 2026 offseason, is right in front of us.

So why not make some predictions regarding what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do in the coming days and next couple of weeks?

From Mike Evans to Lavonte David to finding effective ways to fill voids, Jason Licht has a lot of work to do. Let’s have some fun and try to guess what gets done, or may not get done, during the 2026 version of NFL free agency.

1. Mike Evans’ time in Tampa Bay is over

Do you understand how hard it is to type all of this out? It like, seriously feels dirty.

Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday the Buccaneers have been very aggressive in trying to get a deal done before free agency starts and then Diana Russini later tweeted Evans will indeed test the market.

That tells me the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement because the pay simply wasn’t what Evans is looking for. He’ll look elsewhere to gauge if teams feel differently and offer him more money. The San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots are two contenders with enough cash and cap space to make it happen, too.

If I’m the Buccaneers, I’m doing whatever it takes to keep Evans in Tampa Bay. A two-year deal with some void years tacked on is totally logical and can be done. However, the Buccaneers have other important needs that could sink their 2026 season if they aren’t addressed properly and it makes more sense to prioritize a couple of those (like EDGE and linebacker) before locking down Evans.

And I think a big reason why he’ll walk is because the Buccaneers are going to pour some cash into the defensive side of the ball and just won’t have enough to satisfy his desires.

2. Because the Bucs will sign a top pass rusher in free agency

I’m going to roll a prediction inside a prediction and say the Buccaneers sign Trey Hendrickson.

But if it’s not Hendrickson, it’ll be a Boye Mafe, Odafe Oweh, or one of the other top pass rushers on the market. The Buccaneers have tried to draft and develop pass rushers over the last few years and while Yaya Diaby is a good player, their plan hasn’t produced a true, No. 1 threat on the edge.

They’ve also tried to roll the dice on guys like Haason Reddick and that hasn’t worked, either. There’s a difference between Reddick and the above guys, however, starting with age when comparing him to Mafe and Oweh and then Hendrickson’s overall body of work, abilities, and mindset make him a far better prospect to invest in.

Either way, the Buccaneers know they have to be able to get after the quarterback in 2026 or else the defense will be even worse than it was last year. They’ll be sure they throw everything at the wall in order to make that happen.

3. Jason Licht will restructure Tristan Wirfs’ contract

I wrote about this a while ago, but it was only a discussion, not a prediction. Now that we are on the edge of free agency, it’s time to turn it into a full-blown prediction.

The Buccaneers have holes to fill and their seven draft picks won’t do the trick. They don’t have a ton of cap space, nor do they have a lot of “cut candidates” or contracts that can logically be restructured to create sizable amounts of cap room.

However, Wirfs’ contract can be restructured without kicking the can too far down the road. It makes sense for him because he’s still young, a foundational piece, and he currently has zero void years attached to his deal. That’s the kind of contract/player teams target when looking to redo a deal.

A max restructure would create $18.525 million in cap space, while adding $6.175 million to the salary cap from 2027-2030, which is Wirfs’ age-31 season. Meaning, he’ll likely get another deal before then that helps push the newly-prorated $6.175 million even further down the road, depending on when he signs the new deal.

Luke Goedeke is another guy who could get restructured, but I’m not so sure Licht wants to go that route just one year after he was given a four-year, $90 million extension. Plus, he’s a year older than Wirfs despite the latter having two extra years of NFL experience.

Regardless, bank on Licht restructuring Wirfs’ deal, whether it’s a max restructure or less.

4. The Bucs find a starting linebacker

Even with Sonny Styles out of the picture, the Buccaneers could still draft a linebacker in the first round, whether it be through a trade back or at No. 15 or whatever. There are a few other prospects that could make an immediate impact in their rookie year.

However, when considering the importance and complexity of the linebacker position in Todd Bowles’ defense, the Buccaneers need an experienced veteran who can step right in and lead the way. And no, I’m not talking about Lavonte David, as he is in dire need of a role change after last season.

There are legitimate options on the market, as well. Tremaine Edmunds, Alex Anzalone, Quay Walker, Devin Lloyd, and Devin Bush are the top guys and they can rush the passer, cover, and defend the run at solid levels.

I’d keep an eye on Lloyd, who has a deep connection with Bucs inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell. He was the defensive coordinator for Lloyd’s first two seasons and helped him get on course to where he is today. Edmunds, Anzalone, and Walker make sense, as well.

5. Lavonte David retires

It just seems like it’s over for David based on what we saw last year and the recent reports about his knee. I’m sure he’s waiting to see how he feels once he’s back at 100%, if he’s not already there at this point and will then decide on what to do.

I think he retires and that’s the card I’ll ultimately draw, but I don’t think it’s anywhere close to set in stone. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he comes back for one more year, but that won’t be the case and Bucs fans will have to watch two legends walk away in the same offseason.

It will be brutal, there’s no doubt about that and I honestly don’t know how to provide any optimism outside the fact both guys provided hundreds of memories Buccaneers fans will never forget and both got a ring in Tampa Bay.

Don’t be sad they’re gone – be happy they were here and turned into not only two of the best Bucs of all-time, but future Hall of Famers, as well.

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