A year ago at about this time, I combined with Staff Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix to publish an article entitled, "Point-Counterpoint: 2025 Statistical Prediction." We were inspired by the leap the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rushing attack took from the 2023 season to the 2024 season. Specifically, the Buccaneers went from last in the NFL in rushing yards per game in '23 to fourth in '24, averaging a whopping 149.2 yards per contest. The Bucs' improvement from 3.44 yards per carry one season to 5.25 the next was the second-largest year-over-year leap in the NFL since 1932. 1932!

Predicting a leap such as that in writing and having it actually happen would have led to somepretty solid bragging rights. As such, Brianna and I decided to make a couple of bold predictions of our own regarding statistical achievements in the Buccaneers' 2025 season, hoping that this year we would have a real reason to brag.

Neither of us is bragging right now. My prediction was that Calijah Kancey would be the first interior defensive lineman to deliver a 10-sack campaign for the Buccaneers in a quarter century. Bri went even bolder, predicting that the Buccaneers would finish the season with the NFL's top-ranked offense for the first time in franchise history. Those two things decidedly did not happen.

I still think Kancey has a 10-sack season coming at some point in his campaign, but he waslimited to just three games in 2025 due to a torn pectoral muscle and did not record one sack, let alone 10. As for Bri's prediction, maybe we can go with "never wrong, just early," but Tampa Bay's offense actually declined from third (in terms of yards) in 2024 to 21st in 2025. Again, injuries had a lot to do with that, but a prediction is a prediction and we both whiffed.

But we are undeterred! Not only are we back to throw some more predictions at the wall but we've invited Buccaneers.com Contributor Gabriel Kahaian to join in as well. Might as well spread the embarrassment around.

This is the last of the weekly offseason Roundtable discussions that Bri, Gabe and I have been engaging in during the leadup to the start of the new league year. We have both looked back at some of the prime topics from the 2025 season and looked ahead at what could happen for the Buccaneers in 2026. Here's the whole schedule of the series, with links to the ones we've already completed:

• Monday, January 12: What was your most pleasant surprise regarding the Buccaneers' 2025 season?

• Monday, January 19: Who was the Buccaneers 2025 MVP (non-quarterback division)?

• Monday, January 26: What was the Bucs’ single most exciting play of the 2025 season?

• Monday, February 2: Who is your most intriguing under-the-radar player on the 2026 roster?

• Monday, February 9: What is the most pressing roster need the Bucs' need to address in the offseason?

• Monday, February 16: If the Buccaneers were to make a big free agency splurge, who would you want?

• Monday, February 23: What position would you like to see Tampa Bay target in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?

• Monday, March 2: Give us one specific statistical prediction for the Bucs' 2026 season.

This prompt is meant to be wide open. The prediction could be about the performance of one specific player, like the one about Kancey I made last year, about a specific position on the team or about a team-wide accomplishment. Anything, really, as long as it at least a little bit bold. (Bri might want to go a little less bold than last year.)

Since we're not duplicating selections and the order we pick is therefore potentially significant, we have been rotating that order from week to week. This time around, Gabe is up first, I'll go second and Bri will wrap up this entire Roundtable exercise with her final prediction.

Gabriel Kahaian: Two Buccaneer Wide Receivers Eclipse 1,000 Yards

After thinking about this prompt for a bit, l became pretty passionate about an optimistic outlook regarding the passing game in 2026. There are a couple big factors I think will result in the Bucs having two 1,000-yard receivers next season.

Tampa Bay is no stranger to this benchmark. Since 2019, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. have accomplished the feat four times (most recently in 2023). However, over the past two seasons, the Buccaneers' second-leading receiver has totaled 600 yards or fewer, something new Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson is looking to change.

If you look at Robinson's time in Atlanta in 2024 and 2025, you will see a few promising statistics. First, Drake London improved and firmly established himself as a true WR1, posting his two best campaigns as a professional. In 2024, Robinson got the most out of Darnell Mooney, as the wideout totaled 992 receiving yards and totaled a career-high five touchdowns. The play-caller also helped Kyle Pitts finish as Atlanta's leading receiver last season with 928 yards, a major factor in the team's decision to place the franchise tag on him this offseason. I did not even mention Bijan Robinson's 820 receiving yards in the 2025 campaign. The Bucs' new offensive architect was able to scheme all of that with a less-than-stable situation at quarterback.

Let's take a look at what Robinson will inherit in Tampa Bay. Of course, Baker Mayfield is a highly-capable quarterback accustomed to new systems. Then, Robinson has some serious weapons at his disposal. Evans is currently slated to test free agency, but General Manager Jason Licht stressed at the Combine that the organization would love to see Evans back while notingthat he has "earned the right" to see what his options are. Godwin should be back and better thanever with a full offseason to recover from any lingering injuries. Then, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan are primed to capitalize on the successful starts to their respective careers. With a fully healthy offensive line and the threats the Bucs boast at wideout, I expect Tampa Bay to produce two 1,000-yard pass catchers this season.

Scott Smith: Tykee Smith Will Have At Least Three Each of Interceptions, Sacks and Forced Fumbles

I know that might not sound very bold. You probably see the number three and yawn. But I promise you it is bold! You know how many players in Buccaneers history have accomplished that combination of statistics in a single season? One! Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2023. (To be fair to Winfield, he had SIX sacks and SIX forced fumbles and I'm not expecting Tykee Smith to match that.) In the last 10 years, only five players have done it, most recently Winfield.

So I'm asking a lot of the third-year player, but it's worth noting that he had two interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2024 and 2.0 sacks last year. Put that together and we're almost there! I believe Smith to be an ascending player, so there's reason to expect him to top his previous statistical outputs. During his time at the NFL Scouting Combine podium last Tuesday, Head Coach Todd Bowles said Smith was the Bucs' best defensive player in 2025 for about three quarters of the season before he suffered a shoulder injury.

Smith is just a playmaker, in the mold of his fellow safety, Winfield. He's a good blitzer, so the sacks should come if he is giving enough opportunities to blitz the quarterback. He can line up all over the field, but so can Winfield, which means there will also be plenty of times when Smith is the one in deep coverage, where a safety is most likely to get his interception opportunities. And he's a hard hitter, so he should dislodge a football from its owner on occasion. With good health through 17 games, I think he's got a chance to hit all three of those benchmarks.

Brianna Dix: Bucky Irving to Average Over Five Yards Per Carry

Bucky Irving's encore campaign following his breakout 2024 rookie season was cut short by injuries. Irving suffered foot and shoulder injuries in Week Four against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the shoulder ailment keeping him sidelined for a significant portion of the 2025 season. He returned in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals and totaled 588 yards on 173 carries this past season.

The Bucs' offense will enter the 2026 slate under the direction of new Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson. Robinson became the Falcons' OC in 2024 and that year, Atlanta posted a top-10rushing unit and eclipsed the 100-yard marker in 12 games. Bijan Robinson posted a career-high 304 rushes for 1,456 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. The play-caller maximized personnel and although he comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree with an emphasis on wide zone runs, Robinson will add in new wrinkles and tailor the system around Irving's strengths.

Shuffling along the offensive line due to injuries in 2025, including nine different starting combinations, attributed to a drop in the Bucs' ground output. In 2026 with a clean bill of health for both Irving and the men in the trenches, I expect a jump in production from No. 7. Irving makes defenders miss with sensational lateral cuts and superb panoramic vision. With elusiveness, the ability to redirect on a dime, pass-catching upside and downhill charge, Irving will help ignite the rushing attack in 2026. After averaging 5.4 yards per tote in 2024, he fell to 3.4 last season. Come fall, I predict Irving will operate at peak form and average over five yards a carry to spur Tampa Bay's offense, opening up play-action.