Tampa Bay Buccaneers' HC Todd Bowles has already secured his legacy as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. Even when his team falls short of expectations overall, Bowles' defense still garners praise.

However, the Bucs' defense in 2025 did not live up to the lofty standards one would expect from a team coached by Bowles. Tampa finished the 2025 season with the league's 19th-ranked defense in yards per game and 20th in points per game. The Bucs were dead last in red-zone touchdown percentage. 

That is not good enough.

The success of Tampa's defense falls squarely on the shoulders of Bowles, who is entering the 2026 season on the hot seat. It doesn't help that Bucs legend Lavonte David announced his retirement after 14 seasons with Tampa. The Bucs poured a lot of resources into improving their defense this offseason, both in free agency and the draft.

After last season's collapse, Bowles is staking his career in Tampa on the success of this offseason's defensive additions.  

Bucs Wanted To Get Nastier and Edgier

The Bucs went into free agency with a clear goal for their defense: to get nastier and edgier. After signing Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and A'Shawn Robinson, GM Jason Licht believes they accomplished that goal.

"We've never said that we don't want those types of players," said Licht. "We've stressed some high character, football character, but that doesn't mean we don't want some nasty a* when they get on the field. But when we have a chance to get guys like [them] – and Anzalone's also [one] – to get those kinds of guys and the energy that they have…when we had A'Shawn and Muhammad in the building it definitely raised the level of intensity. It's going to be a lot of fun, I think, because they definitely are nasty [jerks on the field]. I'm looking forward to that. It was a bonus.

"We have made a little bit of an effort, concerted effort, to try to find the right blend of high character when it comes to team and being teammates and football character, but also edgy."

Bucs Went Heavy On Defense During Draft

The defensive additions the Bucs made in free agency didn't stop them from going heavy on defense during the draft. Tampa went for a defender with four of its first five picks.

The selections of Rueben Bain Jr. in round one and Keionte Scott in round four have been lauded as two of the best picks in the entire draft. Bain is already receiving rave reviews from the coaching staff.

LB Josiah Trotter, selected with pick 46, has also been making his coaches happy, with Larry Foote saying,

"He is mean. I don't think since we've been here we had that true Mike linebacker."

Fifth-round DT DeMonte Capehart has even impressed enough to possibly earn meaningful snaps in Week 1.

Bowles Has No Excuses In 2026

With all of the effort the Bucs made to improve their defense, Bowles has no excuses in 2026. Nothing short of winning the NFC South should be acceptable this season. Bowles, and his coaching staff, have been given all the weapons needed to field a top-10 defense.

For Bowles to silence his critics, and remain in Tampa beyond this season, he must work his magic with his new defensive toys. A great defensive mind like Bowles should be able to mold the 2026 Bucs' defense into a dominant one.

If he can't, he may find himself looking for a new job in 2027.

Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.

Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!