[](https://www.joebucsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/irvingright.png)Buccaneers Ring of Honor Jason Licht has put the NFL on notice.
Licht always seems high on all his players. Heck, if he’s not, then who would be? But Licht always has favorites he can’t wait to see on the field.
During a sitdown last week with Kevin Clark of BSPN, Licht was asked to name a Buccaneer “who would make a leap in 2026.”
Licht squirmed and said he couldn’t name just one because “there are a lot.”
Instead, Licht spit out five: receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, running back Bucky Irving, edge rusher YaYa Diaby and safety Tykee Smith. Maybe Licht would have named more but he was interrupted by Clark.
“We’ve got a lot of good young players I feel like that have a lot to prove and will prove a lot of people wrong,” Licht said.
Licht didn’t offer many specifics but said he’s confident Egbuka will build on his strong rookie year, and he called McMillan “a young rising star” and said Irving “is ready to shine again and show what he is.”