Just one NFC team has appeared in each of the past five postseasons: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And after a fourth straight NFC South title, pundits around the league are catching on to the fact that the Buccaneers have become a playoff mainstay.

Read the various league-wide rankings that have come to dominate the offseason news cycle, and you're likely to see plenty of red and pewter. Some members of the media have named the team among the top contenders in the NFC.

The Bucs return every starter from an offense that scored the fourth-most points in the league last year. After adding a two-time Pro Bowler in linebacker Haason Reddick to the defense and another weapon for quarterback Baker Mayfield in first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, some pundits expect head coach Todd Bowles' team to establish itself among the league's very best this season.

With the preseason right around the corner, here's what analysts around the league are saying.

Bucs picked to win NFC?

While it wasn't quite a prediction, The Athletic's Jacob Robinson said his “hot take” for the upcoming season (story is behind a paywall) is that the Buccaneers will win the NFC. Robinson points out that the Bucs beat the conference's top two seeds last year, the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, in the regular season.

Robinson cited the addition of Egbuka as a reason the offense could improve this year, while he claims the defense is primed for a breakout year with Reddick, rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison and a healthy Antoine Winfield Jr. in the fold.

"If [Chris] Godwin returns healthy, Reddick brings Pro Bowl pass rush production, and the turnover variable swings back in Tampa Bay's favor, this team could be taking the field at Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026," Robinson wrote.

PFF ranks Buccaneers offensive line No. 6 in the league

With All-Pro Tristan Wirfs anchoring the offensive line, it's no surprise that the Bucs have one of the best units in the league. Pro Football Focus ranked the offensive lines of all 32 teams ahead of the season, with the Bucs landing at No. 6.

But the team's strong offensive line play goes beyond its star left tackle. PFF highlighted the strong play of right tackle Luke Goedeke and guard Cody Mauch as well.

At the other guard spot, Ben Bredeson started all 17 games last season and his play earned him a new three-year contract in the offseason. Center Graham Barton started 16 games last year as a rookie after being taken in the first round out of Duke.

The unit paved the way for the fourth-leading rushing attack in the league last year.

Buccaneers defense named one of five breakout candidates

While the Bucs' offense scored more points than all but three teams last year, the defense ranked in the middle of the pack in both scoring and yards. That could change this year, though.

The Athletic's Ted Nguyen named the Buccaneers one of five teams (story behind a paywall) poised for a breakout performance on defense in 2025. Nguyen believes the team's young pass rush is set to take a step forward this year, while the addition of Reddick gives the group a proven veteran. Nguyen said that both defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby have shown promise and can have strong seasons in 2025.

"Bowles will always have the urge to blitz, but if the Bucs' young pass rushers develop and Reddick bounces back, he won't have to blitz out of necessity," Nguyen wrote. "They can confuse defenses with some simulated pressures or show blitz and drop into coverage, which would help out their defensive backs."

Egbuka named Rookie of the Year contender

First-round pick Emeka Egbuka joins a wide receiver room that includes a pair of former Pro Bowlers in Godwin and Mike Evans. But that isn't expected to stop him from making an immediate impact as a rookie.

NFL.com named Egbuka to its list of the top contenders for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

"With the other weapons commanding attention from defenses, Egbuka could consistently find himself in favorable matchups," wrote NFL.com's Dan Parr. "He has the football IQ, toughness and ball-tracking ability to make the most of those situations."

The Ohio State product posted 2,868 yards over his four years in Columbus, helping the Buckeyes claim the national title in his senior season before being selected No. 19 overall in April's draft. Just weeks into training camp, the receiver is already turning heads with his performances.

Three Bucs among PFF's top 50 players

In mid-July, Pro Football Focus released its annual ranking of the 50 best players in the NFL.

The list featured three Buccaneers, a group that was headlined by Wirfs at No. 13. The former Iowa Hawkeye led all lineman in PFF pass-blocking grade last year. PFF credits him with allowing just one hit on the quarterback all season and not giving up a single sack.

Winfield was the next Buccaneer to feature on the list, coming in at No. 42. PFF touted his ability to line up both at free safety and in the box, calling his 2023 season, in which he led all safeties with a 90.7 PFF grade, worthy of Defensive Player of the Year consideration. His PFF grade dropped during an injury-shortened 2024, but the website expects Winfield to return to form in 2025.

The final Buccaneer to make the PFF50 was Evans, who earned the No. 48 spot. Evans, who will turn 32 later this month, earned a 90.2 PFF grade in 2024, the second-highest of his career. The six-time Pro Bowler recorded 1,004 receiving yards last year, tying Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards in league history with 11.

The Bucs were one of eight teams with at least three players on the list.

ESPN ranks six Buccaneers in top ten at their position

Earlier this offseason, ESPN polled coaches, scouts and executives across the league to come up with a top-ten list for each position. Six Buccaneers made the cut: Wirfs, Evans, Winfield, Mayfield, linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Vita Vea.

Most notably, Wirfs was ranked as the top offensive tackle in the league.

"He can handle whatever you want out there and won't look particularly stressed doing it. Rare combination of size and athleticism," said one NFC executive who ESPN quoted anonymously.

Winfield and David were both ranked No. 7 at their respective positions, while Vea and Evans came in at No. 9.

Mayfield was the tenth-ranked quarterback, coming off of a year in which he threw for a career-high 4,500 yards, the third most in the league, and 41 touchdowns, tied for second-most. According to ESPN, one personnel evaluator called him "fearless as a thrower and a runner," adding that "he's got on-field leadership where teammates want to support him."