Can Tykee Smith Take Another Leap, Earn Bucs Captaincy In 2026?

The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Right now, we’re:

49 days away from Bucs regular season kickoff
19 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff
3 days away from Bucs training camp

In the lead-up to training camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams will be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who will be crucial to the Bucs’ success in 2026.

Today, the series continues with safety Tykee Smith. 

26 For ‘26: Tykee Smith Bucs Storylines In 2026

Does Tykee Smith Have An Even Higher Level, And What Does That Look Like?

Between a productive rookie season in 2024 and a 2025 season that saw him take on a larger role in the Bucs defense; Smith has put together a strong start to his NFL career. He started off primarily as Tampa Bay’s nickel cornerback as a rookie, playing in 13 games and starting six on his way to 54 tackles (38 solo), four tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven passes defensed and three forced fumbles.

In 2025, Smith got the bigger role he wanted, moving full time to safety. Over 16 games (all starts), the former West Virginia Mountaineer and Georgia Bulldog totaled 100 tackles (61 solo), two sacks, five quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, an interception, 13 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. He was one of the best and most consistent defenders for a Bucs defense that had a lot of holes.

So, what’s next for Smith as he heads into Year 3? There’s no position switch this offseason, so he should be feeling right at home as one of the Bucs’ safeties, forming a formidable duo with Antoine Winfield Jr. on the back end of the defense. But if there was a leap from his rookie season to Year 2 – even with the adjustment to being a full-time safety again – is there another leap coming in Year 3? Can the 2024 third-round pick ascend to a Pro Bowl-caliber level? If so, what does that look like?

On one hand, it’s more of the same, steady play Smith put together last year. It’s being in position to make plays against the run, getting his hands on the football to the tune of double-digit passes defensed and being in the right spot to scoop up loose footballs like he did last year with those two fumble recoveries. But beyond that, it’s also a little bit of the ball-hawking he showed from the slot as a rookie. You’d like to see him come up with more than one interception, and a couple of forced fumbles would be nice, too.

Smith could also stand to take a step up in coverage, as his PFF grade in that department slipped to a 56.8 last year and he allowed a 71.1% completion percentage for 382 yards (14.1 avg.) and three touchdowns. He should have some more help this year thanks to Winfield presumably getting to move around a little bit more after spending so much time as the deep, centerfield man last year. Winfield will be in position to make more plays, and that could allow Smith to do the same. The two may be able to work as the complementary duo the Bucs envisioned last year, and that would help No. 23 take yet another step in his development.

How Much Will The Bucs Ask Tykee Smith To Move Around In 2026?

Speaking of Antoine Winfield Jr. potentially moving around and getting to showcase his versatility more in 2026 than he did in 2025, what does that mean for his partner on the back end of the Buccaneer defense? Will Tykee Smith also be used as one of Todd Bowles’ versatile chess pieces? It has to be on the table and considering how much Bowles values players who have different aspects to their games and the fact that he loves to have options, you’d imagine Smith will move around as needed this season.

It’ll be interesting to see how that materializes and how defined of a role Smith has in this Bowles defense. Because the Bucs know he’s someone who can handle responsibilities at nickel cornerback, and they’ve now seen him handle the safety role at a high level as well. He has that blend of coverage ability, ball skills and physicality that will serve him well wherever he is. But what will the split be like? How much will Smith actually move around?

Looking at his rookie season in which he primarily played as the team’s nickel, he spent 589 snaps in the slot, 60 in the box, 18 on the line, four at free safety and one at outside corner. His role changed in 2025, so it’s no surprise that his snap splits changed, too. Last year, he played 390 snaps at free safety, 318 in the box, 108 in the slot, 53 on the line and 23 at outside corner.

Bowles said early this offseason that Smith’s safety is at future, which comes as no surprise. He had strong words for the way his second-year defensive back adapted to the role he played in 2025, saying they thought he was their best player and tone-setter on defense. But with the head coach and defensive play-caller’s level of confidence in Smith and how interchangeable he and Winfield can be within the defense, does a Winfield who is freed up in 2026 also mean a lot of movement for Smith, too?

The key is that he gives Bowles and the Bucs options. His football I.Q. is elite, and that has shown from very early on in the offseason heading into his rookie campaign. So, he’ll do whatever is asked at him, presumably at a high level. That’s huge for the Tampa Bay defense on a week-in, week-out basis, for one, but it also gives the unit some coverage in the event of an injury.

Is Tykee Smith In Line To Be A First-Time Bucs Captain In 2026?

When Lavonte David retired this offseason, he left behind a massive void. Not only did he establish himself as one of the best players in Buccaneer history throughout his 14-year career, but he was a longtime captain. David was someone who stood out as an obvious choice every year when it came time for the Bucs to pick their team captains. He was a shoe-in. So, now that he’s retired, who fills that vacancy? If you ask David himself, look no further than Tykee Smith.

When he retired, David said Smith, Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby could all be in the mix to step up as a captain in his absence. But then he went further and said he’d put his hand up for Smith, who he took under his wing like a “little brother” over the last couple of years. That’s quite the vote of confidence for the third-year safety, but there’s more to his candidacy than that. Smith is a guy who plays with an edge and sets the tone, giving him the right temperament to wear the captain’s “C” on his jersey.

Smith’s aforementioned football I.Q. works in his favor, too, as does the fact that his level of play backs it all up. He led all safeties in 2025 with 13 passes defensed and ranked fifth among safeties with 30+ targets with a hawk percentage (interceptions plus passes defensed) of 26.3. Not only that, but he was the only player last year with 100+ tackles, 10+ passes defensed and 3+ takeaways.

Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield Jr. have both been captains alongside David, so they may remain as two-thirds of what is likely to be a trio of defensive captains in 2026. Does Smith get that third spot? He’ll get heavy consideration, as will Diaby, a fourth-year defender and leader in his own right. David mentioned Kancey, too, but with the defensive tackle’s injury issues, he may not be one of the favorites. Veteran inside linebacker Alex Anzalone was a multi-year captain with the Lions and while he’s new, he may warrant consideration and could get the “C” on his chest.

However it works out, expect Smith to be one of the key leaders of the Buccaneer defense in 2026. Because as he’s already shown in the way he set the tone for Tampa Bay last year, you don’t need that captain’s patch on your jersey to step up and be a leader for the other guys in your unit and within the locker room. Smith will play the captain’s role whether he has it as an official title or not, really.

And that may be all the evidence needed that he deserves to step in and be David’s successor as a captain on this Bucs defense in 2026.

Catch Up On Previous Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Series

OFFENSE:

Baker Mayfield
Bucky Irving
Kenny Gainwell
Chris Godwin Jr.
Emeka Egbuka
Jalen McMillan
Cade Otton
Tristan Wirfs
Ben Bredeson
Graham Barton
Cody Mauch
Luke Goedeke

DEFENSE:

Yaya Diaby
Rueben Bain Jr.
A’Shawn Robinson
Calijah Kancey
Vita Vea
Alex Anzalone
Josiah Trotter
Zyon McCollum
Benjamin Morrison
Jacob Parrish
Antoine Winfield Jr.