League executives, coaches, and scouts will create ESPN’s top-10 rankings of each position. See which Tampa Bay players were recognized and which ones were snubbed.
Which Buccaneers Made ESPN’s Top-10 Rankings — And Who Got Snubbed?
The survey was not kind to the Buccaneers. Only two Tampa Bay players made the list of the top 10 players at their respective positions. Another two Bucs were recognized as honorable mentions.
First, let’s see which players were recognized. Then we’ll discuss the ones who might have been snubbed.
Tristan Wirfs: No. 3 Offensive Tackle
There is no denying that, as it currently stands, Tristan Wirfs is pound for pound the best player on Tampa Bay’s roster.
Wirfs is headed into his seventh NFL season. He’s been a Pro Bowler in each of the past five seasons. He is the first player in NFL history to earn first-team All-Pro honors at both right and left tackle.
Last season, Wirfs missed the first three games and played in only 12 games because of a lingering knee injury.
Still, when Wirfs was on the field, he produced at a high level. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the second-best qualified tackle and the highest-graded left tackle in the league. Wirfs allowed only two sacks in 474 pass-blocking snaps.
However, in last year’s ESPN poll, Wirfs was ranked as the best offensive tackle in the league. Detroit’s Penei Sewell and San Francisco’s Trent Williams passed him this year.
Wirfs’ injury was cited as one reason why he slipped in the rankings.
“When I saw Chase Young beating him off the edge pretty clearly, I was like, ‘That’s new,’” an NFL coordinator said in the piece.
Still, Wirfs is one of the best players in the league, and with him entering the 2026 season healthy, he could be poised to reclaim ESPN’s No. 1 ranking.
Antoine Winfield Jr.: No. 7 Safety
Antoine Winfield Jr. started all 17 of the Bucs’ games last season for just the second time in his career.
The 2025 season was somewhat of a return to form for Winfield. After becoming the league’s highest-paid defensive back following his first-team All-Pro campaign in 2023, he struggled to stay on the field and produce in 2024.
In 2025, Winfield earned his third Pro Bowl selection after recording 93 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups.
“He’s just so well-rounded and a very consistent player when he’s out there,” an AFC executive said. “Can blitz, cover, rare instincts, and always around the ball.”
Winfield was pressed into a different role in 2025, dropping deeper and playing more coverage than he had in years past. He played well in that role, allowing a career-low completion percentage when targeted and posting the second-highest coverage grade on the Bucs, behind only cornerback Jamel Dean.
Winfield has cemented himself as a top-10 safety in the league, and he will look to propel himself back among the NFL’s elite in 2026.
Vita Vea: Honorable Mention (Outside the Top 10)
Vita Vea had a down year by his standards in 2025. He had 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss, all of which were his lowest totals since the 2021 season.
The dip in production led to Vea falling from ninth in ESPN’s defensive tackle rankings to outside the top 10.
Vea still has a strong reputation among league personnel.
“He’s still such a load to deal with, and he played a little lighter last year, which is good for him,” an NFL defensive line coach said.
He will be looking for a big 2026 season as he heads into the final year of his contract. Vea was a “hold-in” at Bucs minicamp and is seeking a pay raise heading into training camp.
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Sue Levine
Baker Mayfield: Honorable Mention (Outside the Top 10)
Baker Mayfield is coming off his worst season as Tampa Bay’s starter. He posted his lowest passing yardage, passing touchdown, completion percentage, and passer rating totals as a Buccaneer in 2025.
Many of those struggles were likely due to the multiple injuries he played through. His drop in production caused him to fall from No. 10 in last year’s ESPN rankings to an honorable mention this year.
Mayfield ranks second in the NFL with 95 passing touchdowns since the start of the 2023 season and third with 12,237 passing yards during that span.
“He’s a winner. [He] can make every throw. Fearless. Teammates seem to love to play for him,” an NFL coordinator said in the survey.
Some notable quarterbacks ranked ahead of Mayfield include Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, and Caleb Williams.
Mayfield is looking for a major boost in production as he heads into the final year of his contract.
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Sue Levine
Which Tampa Bay Player Could Make the List in 2027?
If Tampa Bay is going to have a successful 2026 season, it will likely have a few players break out and land on ESPN’s survey.
Running back Bucky Irving had an injury-marred 2025, but he was extremely effective during his rookie campaign. In 2024, he led all rookies with 1,122 rushing yards and 1,514 scrimmage yards while averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka could be poised for a sophomore breakout. He ranked second among rookies last season with 938 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. With Mike Evans leaving the Bucs in free agency, Egbuka is in line for an even bigger season in 2026.
Safety Tykee Smith had a big year in 2025. He transitioned from nickel to safety and posted 100 tackles, ranking third among all safeties. He also recorded two sacks, one interception, and 13 pass breakups. Smith could become one of the premier safeties in the league in 2026.
Rookie Reuben Bain Jr. has high expectations. The No. 15 overall pick recorded 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss at Miami during the regular season, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. If Bain Jr. produces at that level during his rookie season with the Bucs, he could vault into ESPN’s top 10 ranking for edge rushers.