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BY IRA KAUFMAN
It’s time to hand out the hardware.
As the Bucs hit a bye week that couldn’t have come at a better time, let’s look back at the performances that defined Tampa Bay’s 6-2 getaway.
In the big picture, Todd Bowles should be in the conversation for NFL Coach of the Year honors while Baker Mayfield isn’t out of contention for the league’s MVP award.
TEAM MVP: Can there be a more legitimate candidate than Mayfield? Of course not. Tampa Bay’s first four wins were marked by late fourth-quarter comebacks engineered by No.6 against the Falcons, Texans, Jets and Seahawks. Mayfield has thrown only two picks in 269 passes (0.7 percent) while averaging 7.2 yards per rushing attempt, gaining 11 first downs with his legs. His intensity and competitive drive rub off on teammates.
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Tykee Smith has flourished since moving to a full-time safety position. He played well as a rookie in the slot but has taken his game to another level in 2025. Smith leads the Bucs with 66 tackles and boasts a team-high 8 passes defended. He also has a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery, rewarding Bowles’ faith in his ability to handle an expanded role.
Emeka Egbuka
BEST ROOKIE: Jacob Parrish has done a nice job in the secondary, but Emeka Egbuka’s production through eight games can’t be denied. The first-round steal out of Ohio State is averaging 70.3 receiving yards per game. He has scored five times and Egbuka is averaging 16.5 yards on his 34 receptions. The Bucs were high on Egbuka from the start … it’s fair to say he has exceeded all expectations.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Jamel Dean entered the season on thin ice, knowing the Bucs cut his salary and used their second-round pick on cornerback Benjamin Morrison. His lack of takeaways and propensity for injury concerned Tampa Bay coaches, but Dean has regained the form that made him an integral part of the 2020 championship team. With three interceptions and six passes defended, Dean appears set to cash in as a free agent in 2026.
MOST IMPROVED: Buc fans were disappointed with YaYa Diaby’s numbers last season, when he started all 17 games and generated only 4 1-2 sacks compared to 7 1/2 takedowns as a rookie. Always a reliable run defender, Diaby currently tops the Bucs with four sacks. He is tied for the team lead with seven tackles for loss and ranks No. 1 on the club with eight QB hits.
UNSUNG STAR: Chase McLaughlin has overcome a rough start to reassert himself into the conversation regarding the league’s premier kickers. Since Week 3, he has converted every extra point and is 16-for-18 on FG attempts, including a 65-yarder against the Eagles that ranks as the longest outdoor FG in league history. Since joining Tampa Bay in 2023, McLaughlin has posted a stunning 90 percent success rate on FG tries.
MOST DISAPPOINTING: Haason Reddick figured to be highly motivated after a lost 2024 season with the Jets. The Bucs gave him $14 million as a free agent and have received little in return — 5 QB hits, 3 tackles for loss and only 1 1/2 sacks. At this point, Reddick won’t be considered a coveted free agent in 2026 as the Bucs continue their annual pursuit of a dynamic edge rusher.
Special Guest Todd Bowles Talks Trade Deadline And A Whole Lot More