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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Looming Preseason Opener Means First Bucs Depth Chart of 2026

The Buccaneers' 2026 depth chart remains a work in progress as the team proceeds through training camp and the preseason, but the upcoming game against the Jets requires the release of a first draft

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open up their 2026 preseason slate on Saturday with a game against the New York Jets in the Meadowlands. It will likely be contested by younger players and those battling for the last spots on the regular season roster. As such, it probably will not provide many clues as to how the depth chart is shaking out. Still, the NFL requires teams to release a depth chart prior to their preseason openers, even though many of the battles for spots on that chart are still being waged.

Thus, we have the Buccaneers' first official – if not exactly set in stone – depth chart of 2026, which was published on Monday as part of the game release distributed by the team's Communications Department. The listed starters are not exactly surprising; the Buccaneers are returning a high percentage of their starters from last season, particularly on offense.

There are some listings of note on this work-in-progress depth chart. First-round draft pick Rueben Bain Jr. is the only rookie listed among the starters, though several of his teammates from the 2026 draft class are expected to earn significant roles. With Mike Evans not on the squad for the first time in 13 years, the listed starters at wide receiver are Jalen McMillan, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka. Second-year cornerback Jacob Parrish has been running with the first team defense as an outside corner for the duration of training camp, and that's indicated here with his listing as a starter opposite Zyon McCollum. Incumbent starter SirVocea Dennis is one of the two linebackers listed as starters but he is getting significant competition for that job from rookie Josiah Trotter. Again, however, these are all developing situations.

Here's the first listing of the 22 starters on offense and defense for the 2026 Buccaneers:

View the best photos of the full 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 90-Man Roster.

OFFENSE:

WR: Jalen McMillan

WR: Chris Godwin

LT: Tristan Wirfs *

LG: Ben Bredeson

C: Graham Barton

RG: Cody Mauch

RT: Luke Goedeke

WR: Emeka Egbuka

TE: Cade Otton

QB: Baker Mayfield

RB: Bucky Irving

* Currently not practicing due to injury

DEFENSE:

DL: Calijah Kancey

NT: Vita Vea *

DL: A'Shawn Robinson

OLB: Yaya Diaby

ILB: SirVocea Dennis

ILB: Alex Anzalone

OLB: Rueben Bain Jr. ^

CB: Jacob Parrish

CB: Zyon McCollum

S: Antoine Winfield Jr.

S: Tykee Smith

* Currently not practicing due to injury

^ Rookie

Click here to view the Buccaneers' entire first depth chart of 2026.

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