Bucs Ranked 19th in CBS Sports' Latest NFL Power Rankings

Tampa Bay loses key players in free agency, raising questions about their 2026 outlook

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:34pm

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In the latest NFL power rankings from CBS Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were ranked 19th overall, falling in the middle of the pack after a disappointing end to the 2025 season. The Bucs lost several key players in free agency, including wide receiver Mike Evans and cornerback Jamel Dean, leading to concerns about their ability to bounce back in 2026 under quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles.

Why it matters

The Buccaneers were one of the top teams in the NFC just a season ago, but their late-season collapse and subsequent free agency losses have raised doubts about their future. As a perennial contender in the NFC South, the Bucs' ranking and outlook will have significant implications for the divisional race and playoff picture in the conference.

The details

According to the CBS Sports analysis, the Buccaneers' ranking of 19th reflects the uncertainty surrounding the team after their 2025 struggles and the departures of Evans and Dean in free agency. While the team was active in adding players like running back Kenneth Gainwell, linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson, and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, there are questions about whether those moves will be enough to offset the loss of a franchise icon like Evans.

  • The Buccaneers started the 2025 season as one of the top teams in the NFC, but ended up losing seven of their final nine games.
  • Mike Evans and Jamel Dean left the Buccaneers in free agency this offseason.

The players

Baker Mayfield

The Buccaneers' starting quarterback, who enters 2026 with his future in Tampa not looking as sturdy as it once did.

Todd Bowles

The Buccaneers' head coach, who also faces questions about his long-term future with the team after their late-season collapse in 2025.

Mike Evans

A longtime Buccaneers wide receiver who departed the team in free agency, with the perception that he believes his chances of winning a title are greater elsewhere than they are with the current Bucs roster.

Jamel Dean

A Buccaneers cornerback who also left the team in free agency this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“It has been a strange start to free agency after last season's collapse. The Buccaneers started the 2025 campaign as dandies but ended it in a morass, losing seven of their final nine games and yielding the NFC South to the 8-9 Panthers. And now WR Mike Evans and CB Jamel Dean have walked in free agency.”

— Eric Edholm, NFL Media Writer

“The team was active when it came to adding players, signing RB Kenneth Gainwell, LB Alex Anzalone, DT A'Shawn Robinson and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. But can we realistically say the Bucs are better? I keep going back to Evans leaving. It's more than a player just chasing a ring elsewhere; to me, it reads like a franchise icon saying (without actually saying) that he believes his chances of winning a title are greater elsewhere than they are with Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles.”

— Eric Edholm, NFL Media Writer

What’s next

The Buccaneers will look to rebound in the 2026 season and prove the doubters wrong, but their ability to do so will depend heavily on how well they can replace the production and leadership of departed stars like Mike Evans.

The takeaway

The Buccaneers' fall in the CBS Sports power rankings highlights the challenges the team faces in rebuilding after a disappointing 2025 season and significant roster turnover. While they made some moves in free agency, the loss of a franchise icon like Mike Evans raises questions about their ability to bounce back and contend in the NFC South in 2026.