Caleb SkinnerSep 8, 2026
Skinner hands out 2026 team superlatives for the Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield as team MVP returning to their 2024 form, Emeka Egbuka as offensive player of the year with a first 1,000-yard season, Antoine Winfield Jr. bouncing back defensively, Jalen McMillan breaking out with a career-best statistical year, Calijah Kancey as comeback player, Rueben Bain Jr. as the team's top rookie, and Zyon McCollum stepping up as Tampa Bay's CB1.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Caleb Skinner said
Egbuka should eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the first time as a pro and be the one leading the charge for one of the NFL's more electrifying offenses.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Predicting Buccaneers' 2026 MVP, Rookie of the Year and More
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Player Season Numbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 7 award picks, 1 depth chart call and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Award Picks7 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Emeka Egbuka to win Team Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player of the Year: WR Emeka Egbuka”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zyon McCollum to win Team Most Improved Player
“Most Improved Player: CB Zyon McCollum ... He will do that in 2026, giving him the best chance to come away as the most improved player for the team.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Calijah Kancey to win Team Comeback Player of the Year
“Comeback Player of the Year: DT Calijah Kancey”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Antoine Winfield Jr. to win Team Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive Player of the Year: S Antoine Winfield Jr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rueben Bain to win Team Rookie of the Year
“Rookie of the Year: OLB Rueben Bain Jr. ... Bain will separate himself as the rookie of the year for the Bucs.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Baker Mayfield to win Team Most Valuable Player
“Most Valuable Player: QB Baker Mayfield ... Mayfield will be the MVP of the team in 2026 without a doubt.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jalen McMillan to win Team Breakout Player of the Year
“Breakout Player of the Year: WR Jalen McMillan”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Player Season Numbers1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Emeka Egbuka to record 1,000 receiving yards
“Egbuka should eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the first time as a pro”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Zyon McCollum to be 1st on the depth chart
“McCollum will now be CB1 for Tampa Bay after the departure of Jamel Dean”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Brandon Carney · Trade and Signing Calls · Mike Evans · Miss 0
Carney predicts Geno Smith signs with the Vikings and starts for them, that at least four of the fringe veteran quarterbacks (Tua, Kyler, Cousins, Fields, Geno) will be starters next season, and that Mike Evans stays with Tampa Bay. They also rank their top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values.Dalton Feely · Trade and Signing Calls · Chris Godwin Jr. · Hit 100
Feenie predicted Chris Godwin stays in Tampa Bay, Josh Sweat reunites with Jonathan Gannon in Arizona, Ronnie Stanley signs with New England, Jevon Holland lands in Indianapolis, Khalil Mack joins Washington, Asante Samuel Jr. goes to San Francisco, Najee Harris to the Raiders and Bobby Wagner to Dallas.Eric Mangini · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as their upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated their Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. They also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.Donte Johnson · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams.Zac Cornelius · Score Predictions · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 29
Zach projected the Buccaneers to beat the Bears 24-12.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Willie Colon · Award Picks · Sam Darnold · Miss 0
Colon picked the Seahawks to win 24-14 with Sam Darnold as Super Bowl MVP.Danny Parkins · Award Picks · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Miss 0
Parkins picked Seattle to win 27-16 with Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Super Bowl MVP.