The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ decision to bring back head coach Todd Bowles drew a strong reaction from ESPN analyst Booger McFarland.
He made it clear that the Bucs current defensive roster is not good enough and changes must be made for Bowles to succeed in 2026.
“Good for Todd Bowles. He deserves to be back,” McFarland said.
“Jason has to get him some edge rushers and another linebacker. The young secondary is promising, but they need pressure on the passer.”
McFarland didn’t stop there.
He floated a bold solution to Tampa Bay’s biggest defensive issue, a potential trade for Maxx Crosby.
Crosby’s future with the Las Vegas Raiders has become increasingly uncertain.
With league insiders now openly speculating about Crosby’s availability, the Buccaneers are being framed as a logical and aggressive landing spot.
Crosby Fits Bucs Biggest Defensive Need
The numbers back up Booger’s concern.
While Tampa Bay’s defense showed promise early in the season, the unit faded badly over the second half of the season.
Through Week 8, the Buccaneers ranked near the top of the league in defensive efficiency, posting strong DVOA marks against both the pass and run.
After their Week 9 bye, however, the drop-off was dramatic.
By late December, Tampa Bay ranked 27th against the pass and 22nd against the run, with their pass-rush win rate falling to 35.3%.
The team struggled to generate consistent pressure, finishing 22nd in the NFL with a pressure rate around 19.1%.
The defense as a whole failed to close games and allowed multiple late game collapses.
The lone bright spot edge rusher Yaya Diaby who led the team with seven sacks and posted a solid individual pressure rate during stretches,
Pairing Crosby with Diaby could create a great one-two punch.
Why Raiders Could Actually Move Maxx Crosby
From the Raiders’ perspective, trading Crosby would be a huge decision as he has been the face of their franchise for years.
But one league executives believe is at least possible.
According to ESPN reporting, one rival personnel executive said Crosby is “done in Vegas.”
He pointed to rising tension after the team shut him down late in the season with a knee injury that will require surgery.
Crosby reportedly “vehemently disagreed” with the decision, fueling speculation that the relationship has strained.
Crosby is under contract through 2029.
At only 28, he remains one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL and a premium “win-now” trade asset.
One creative mechanism could make a deal more feasible:
Las Vegas could pay out a significant portion of Crosby’s 2026 salary as a bonus before trading him.
This could help the Raiders meet spending thresholds while making Crosby’s contract more appealing to teams like the Bucs.
For Tampa Bay, it’s pretty simple.
The decision to bring back Bowles has sparked outrage amongst fans.
If expectations fall short again in 2026 for Bowles, he will be gone.
With pressure mounting, Bowles’ defense needs a true game-wrecker, and Crosby checks every box.
He would immediately raise the culture in Tampa Bay and help reset the standard after a very disappointing end to the 2025 season.
ESPN Insider Floats Buccaneers Trade Idea Targeting Elite Pass Rusher Amid Raiders Drama