TAMPA, Fla. — You could never really count on an explosive offense.

You could not count on double-digit victories, reaching the playoffs or winning a division title.

As a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, there were a lot of seasons when you could not count on much of anything.

Except for this:

Future immortality.

It’s true, Tampa Bay still has the worst winning percentage of any active team in the NFL but the Bucs have had a fair number of Hall of Fame players. Depending on whether you count Ron Wolf (who was the team’s first de facto general manager from 1976-78 but achieved most of his fame in Oakland and Green Bay) the Bucs have had seven Hall of Famers (Wolf, Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy, John Lynch, Ronde Barber). If you throw in a few others with brief stints at the beginning or end of their careers, you could boost that number to 12.

And, if you believe Mike Evans is a surefire Hall of Famer, you end up with this pretty remarkable factoid:

The Bucs had at least one Hall of Famer on their roster every season from 1993 to 2025.

Which brings us to today’s topic:

Who might continue the tradition in 2026?

With Evans leaving for San Francisco and Lavonte David choosing retirement, the Bucs are a little thin on legends. They don’t have a lot of names on the NFL’s active leaderboards and not a lot of standing invitations to the Pro Bowl. They didn’t bring in any big-name free agents and they waved goodbye to a lot of their older players after 2025.

With all of that in mind, here’s an entirely off-the-cuff breakdown of the odds of any current Bucs making the Hall of Fame:

Rueben Bain Jr.

It’s a little odd to consider a player who’s yet to step into an NFL huddle, but Tampa Bay’s first-round draft pick has a couple of factors in his favor. No. 1, he’s immensely talented and No. 2, he plays a position that is popular among Hall of Fame voters. In the last 16 inductions classes, there have been 12 defensive ends elected. Still, it’s a long way from potential to podium. Hall of Fame chances: 6%.

Baker Mayfield

The highest-paid and most recognizable player on the roster, Mayfield has almost no chance of wearing a gold jacket. At least, not without winning a Super Bowl or two. Of the 21 quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame who played during the Super Bowl era, 15 won the big game. The only QBs who made it without a Super Bowl ring (Dan Fouts, Sonny Jurgensen, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Fran Tarkenton) were all considered ground-breaking in one way or another. At 31, Mayfield is running out of time to reach that level. Hall of Fame chances: 10%.

Chris Godwin

The veteran receiver is one of the few players on the roster among the active NFL leaders at his position. Godwin is 15th among current players in receptions and 18th in receiving yards. Modern era receivers typically need 13,000-14,000 yards to earn Hall consideration. With 7,626 yards at age 30, Godwin has some heavy lifting ahead. It might have been a different story if he had not missed nearly 30 games with injuries in his career, the equivalent of almost two full seasons. Hall of Fame chances: 12%.

Vita Vea

This candidacy is all about reputation. As an interior lineman, Vea has never had eye-popping numbers. Eight years into his career, he has 35 sacks. For comparison’s sake, Warren Sapp had 72 at this point in his career. The best thing Vea has going for him is the respect of opponents who routinely double-team him, which is the crux of Todd Bowles’ defense. Hall of Fame chances: 15%.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Different position, but a similar trajectory with Ronde Barber. A defensive back who creates turnovers, rushes the passer and averages 90 tackles a season. At 27, Winfield could still have six to eight productive years ahead of him. It’s unfair to expect another season like 2023 when he had six sacks and six forced fumbles and was first-team All-Pro, but it’s the splash plays that endure on highlight reels and can influence voters. Hall of Fame chances: 30%.

Tristan Wirfs

Here is Tampa Bay’s best chance to keep the Canton train running. Think it’s too early to anoint Wirfs as a likely Hall of Famer? Consider that Jacksonville left tackle Tony Boselli was elected in 2022. Boselli started 90 games in the NFL, made five Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro three times. Wirfs has started 91 games, made five Pro Bowls, and has been first-team All-Pro two times and second-team once. Wirfs has also won a Super Bowl and is the only player in modern history to be All-Pro at both right and left tackle. Also, he’s just 27. Hall of Fame chances: 65%.

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