3 Buccaneers Bounce-Back Candidates Who Could Change the Team's Trajectory
3 Buccaneers Bounce-Back Candidates Who Could Change the Team's Trajectory
These Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the come-up could make a big impact. River Wells|
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Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers have brought in a new crop of free agents and draft picks to make their team better heading into 2026 — but they also have plenty of players that have already been in the building to rely on, too.
If the Bucs want to climb back atop the NFC South and make the playoffs again, a few players who had down years (either due to a lapse in play or to injury) will have to step up. The Bucs were marred with tons of injuries last year, and that affected everyone's play from the top down. The Bucs look healthy heading into training camp at the end of July, however, and a few players could be ready to make a big impact.
If these three players can have a big year, Tampa Bay might win a lot of football games. Here are the three most important bounce-back players for the Bucs in 2026:
WR Chris Godwin
Godwin signed a new contract at the beginning of the 2025 season on a deal worth $22 million APY, but he was also recovering from a brutal ankle dislocation he suffered midway through 2024. As a result, it was hard for him to stay on the field, and he only played in nine games in 2025, putting up 360 yards and two touchdowns.
If Godwin is healthy, he'll have to be a huge part of this Buccaneers offense. He's set to play out of the slot where he works best, and new offensive Zac Robinson will certainly have plans for him after seeing the way one of his best friends, Liam Coen, used him in Tampa Bay. Godwin is one of the longest tenured Buccaneers on the roster, and he might be the leading candidate in the building to be the team's WR1 this season.
If Godwin can play like he was playing in 2024 before his injury? The Bucs could have a lethal passing attack.
RB Bucky Irving
A shoulder injury very early in the year against the Philadelphia Eagles sidelined Bucky Irving for most of the year, and he played in just 10 games in 2025. He put up four total touchdowns but ran for just 173 yards after running for 1,122 the season prior.
Irving was used as a bell cow back, and with his frame, that may not have been the best idea. Now, though, the Bucs have signed Kenny Gainwell from the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, and a 50-50 split (or maybe even 60-40) could keep Irving healthy and allow him to do what he does best on the football field. Irving may not be a bell cow in Tampa Bay, but he should be very important to this Buccaneers offense, especially given how often Robinson utilized his running backs in Atlanta last year.
DT Calijah Kancey
Calijah Kancey can be a frustrating player — he's shown immense potential, but he's very frequently injured. Kancey has played just 29 games in three seasons in Tampa Bay, but he has one 7.5-sack season in 2024 to show that he can really get after the quarterback with his explosive skillset.
Kancey's main goal will be to stay healthy. He had 17 QB hits in that 2024 season to go along with his sacks, and he only played in 14 games. If Kancey could potentially play all 17 games of an NFL season and stay healthy while doing so, Tampa Bay's pass rush could be absolutely lethal with its new additions to the front seven.
Pass rushers like Rueben Bain Jr. and Al-Quadin Muhammad will certainly help Tampa Bay's pass rush, but none of them could potentially unlock it like Kancey could.
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Published 4 hours ago
RIVER WELLSRiver Wells is a sports journalist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2023. He graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
