Pewter Report’s High 50 All-Time Bucs: 6-10
The Bucs are coming into their fiftieth season since first donning the Bucco Bruce helmet and creamsicle uniforms in 1976. So it’s solely becoming that Pewter Report unveils its High 50 All-Time Bucs record.
The Buccaneers requested yours actually, Scott Reynolds, to offer my High 50 record to the group for his or her media ballot and I’ve determined to launch my rankings to you over the following two weeks within the type of 10 articles – every with 5 Bucs greats. My record comprises 25 Tremendous Bowl champions – both from the 2002 or 2020 groups – in addition to 9 members of the 2025 group.
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 11-15
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 16-20
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 21-25
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 26-30
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 31-35
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 36-40
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 41-45
High 50 All-Time Bucs: 46-50
So let’s proceed with the following 5 gamers who make up the High 50 All-Time Bucs and we’ll end with the highest 5 on the finish of this collection.
All-Time Bucs: 6-10
No. 6 – SS John Lynch
Lynch Mob: How No. 47 Introduced Ache, Picks, And Status To The Bucs Protection
Earlier than he was a Corridor of Famer, John Lynch was the hammer in Tampa Bay’s legendary protection. He was a heady, hard-hitting sturdy security who made receivers suppose twice about crossing the center.
Lynch joined the Bucs as a third-round decide in 1993, and whereas it took a couple of years to crack the lineup full-time, as soon as he did, he turned the enforcer of a protection that might go down as one of many NFL’s all-time greats. Enjoying alongside Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber, Lynch was the brainy brawler who patrolled the again finish with menace and a knack for making massive performs.
Former Bucs security John Lynch – Photograph by: USA At the moment
In 11 seasons with the Bucs (1993–2003), Lynch totaled 973 tackles, 23 interceptions, and 7 pressured fumbles. He earned 5 Professional Bowl nods in Tampa Bay and added 4 extra after transferring on to Denver. He was named First-Workforce All-Professional twice (1999, 2000) and helped anchor the protection that delivered the franchise’s first Tremendous Bowl title in 2002.
However stats don’t absolutely seize Lynch’s affect. He was a tone-setter, whether or not launching right into a ball provider or dissecting a play pre-snap. Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin trusted him to be the sector normal in a system constructed on velocity and smarts, and Lynch delivered time and time once more.
Opposing offenses feared him. Teammates revered him. And in 2021, soccer lastly rewarded him, enshrining Lynch within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame the place he joined Sapp and Brooks. Lynch performed with a spotlight and a fierceness, and all the time in the best place in Monte Kiffin’s Tampa 2 protection. He introduced an enforcer’s edge to the Bucs secondary that the sport of soccer allowed on the time.
No. 7 – LB Lavonte David
Tampa Bay’s Underrated Tackling Titan
When Lavonte David arrived in Tampa Bay in 2012 as a second‑spherical pick of Nebraska, he instantly made his presence felt in main the group with 139 tackles as a rookie and by no means wanting again. Over 13 seasons and 198 video games, David turned the center of the protection, piling up a staggering 1,602 mixed tackles (1,111 solo), 39 sacks, 169 tackles for loss, 31 pressured fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 13 interceptions, and 70 passes defensed.
David has proved to be a mannequin of consistency and excellence for properly over a decade as he enters his 14th season within the NFL at age 35. He ranks second in Bucs historical past in complete tackles, leads the franchise in each pressured fumbles and fumble recoveries, and is tied for sixth in sacks. In 2024 alone, he posted 122 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one INT, and three pressured fumbles over 17 video games.
Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photograph by: USA At the moment
He excelled in massive moments with 4 seasons with 100+ tackles and 15+ tackles for loss, which is probably the most within the NFL since 2008. In 2013, he turned one in all simply two defenders since 1982 to document seven sacks and 5 interceptions in a single season. His postseason presence echoed his common‑season reliability. And after not making the playoffs for the primary eight years of his profession David helped lead the Bucs to a Tremendous Bowl LV championship over Kansas Metropolis in Tampa Bay by erasing All-Professional tight finish Travis Kelce that night time.
David has had a Corridor of Fame profession, however because of the Bucs dropping for practically a decade in the course of the first stretch of his time in Tampa Bay he by no means bought the popularity he deserved. David has had only one All‑Professional honor (2013) and one Professional Bowl berth (2015) and he’s been criminally underrated.
Whether or not he makes it to Canton, Ohio or not, David is a lock to make the Bucs Ring of Honor attributable to his stellar play, unwavering management, sturdiness, insanely excessive soccer IQ, and playmaking skill. He defines what it means to be a Buccaneer, and David is the second-best linebacker in Tampa Bay historical past behind legendary Corridor of Famer Derrick Brooks.
No. 8 – OT Tristan Wirfs
The Best Offensive Lineman In Bucs Historical past
Tristan Wirfs’ excellence was on show throughout his rookie season – the one 12 months he has not made the Professional Bowl. But in shutting down the likes of Bucs nemesis Cameron Jordan in New Orleans in Week 1 to profitable Tremendous Bowl LV on the finish of the season, Wirfs performed like a Professional Bowler. And he’s solely gotten higher with time.
Drafted Thirteenth total out of Iowa in 2020, Wirfs has been all the things a group desires of in an offensive sort out: highly effective, constant, sturdy, athletic and dominant. Since 2021 when he helped the Bucs win a franchise-best 13 video games, Wirfs turned a Professional Bowl mainstay and earned first-team All‑Professional honors in 2021 and once more in 2024.
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs and Eagles LB Zach Baun – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
He has additionally secured his place in NFL historical past by turning into the one participant to each win an All-Professional honor at two positions. Wirfs started his profession at proper sort out, however he was moved to left sort out in 2023 to exchange Donovan Smith. Very quickly, Wirfs mastered taking part in left sort out simply as he did taking part in proper sort out. He’s so dominant that he makes cross blocking look straightforward.
Regardless of lacking a sport and a half attributable to a minor knee damage, his 2024 season was arguably his finest. Wirfs allowed zero sacks whereas taking part in greater than 1,000 snaps. And he allowed only a single QB hit, and had a ridiculous Professional Soccer Focus pass-block grade of 93.7, which was one of the best within the league.
Behind Wirfs, the Bucs offense has thrived, scoring at or close to 30 factors per sport in 2020, 2021 and 2024. Since his arrival, Tampa Bay’s allowed one of many lowest sack charges within the league (fewest per cross try at 4.3%) and their offense has ranked high‑5 in scoring, complete yards, passing, speeding, first downs, and third‑down conversion fee.
The Bucs rewarded Wirfs’ dominance with a record-breaking 5‑12 months, $140M deal in 2024, making him one of many highest-paid offensive linemen in NFL historical past. Professional Soccer Focus had him rated the No. 2 offensive sort out heading into 2025 and the Thirteenth-best participant within the NFL total.
Wirfs has solely performed 5 seasons in Tampa Bay and is simply 26 years outdated, however he deserves his place within the High 10 All-Time Bucs gamers. This rating isn’t untimely. Wirfs is a legend within the making.
He’s made the Professional Bowl in 4 out of his 5 years within the league, has received a Tremendous Bowl and 4 straight NFC South championships and is one of the best and most adorned offensive lineman in franchise historical past. Wirfs is presently one of the best and most gifted participant on Tampa Bay’s group coming into 2025 and he’s on a Corridor of Fame trajectory.
No. 9 – FB Mike Alstott
Bucs Rode The A-Practice To Tremendous Bowl XXXVII
When you watched the Bucs within the late Nineties and early 2000s, you didn’t simply know Mike Alstott. You felt Mike Alstott. The bruising fullback wasn’t only a fan favourite in Tampa Bay, he was a logo of all the things the Bucs wished to be: robust, relentless, and rattling close to unstoppable.
Nicknamed “The A-Practice,” Alstott was drafted within the second spherical in 1996 out of Purdue. Alstott was a unicorn. A 6-foot, 240-pound fullback with the agility of a tailback and the fingers of a premier huge receiver. Whereas most groups used their fullbacks to dam, the Bucs handed Alstott the rock and let him go to work. Alstott wasn’t only a fullback – he was a weapon.
Former Bucs FB Mike Alstott – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
In 11 seasons with the Bucs (1996–2006), Alstott rushed for five,088 yards and scored 58 speeding touchdowns, whereas including one other 2,284 receiving yards and 13 TDs by way of the air. His 71 complete touchdowns had been probably the most in franchise historical past by a mile till the legendary Mike Evans broke Alstott’s document.
However statistics solely inform a part of The A-Practice’s story. Alstott’s punishing runs, truck-stick stiff arms, and dive-for-the-pylon grit turned the heartbeat of each Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden’s offenses. He made six Professional Bowls, was named first-team All-Professional 3 times, and performed a pivotal function within the Bucs’ 2002 Tremendous Bowl run.
After back-to-back playoff losses in Philadelphia in 2000 and 2001 during which Tampa Bay’s offense struggled to attain, Alstott’s first half landing towards the Eagles within the 2002 NFC Championship Sport proved to be the arrogance enhance the group wanted to win and advance to Tremendous Bowl XXXVII. Then per week later, Alstott scored the primary Tremendous Bowl landing in Bucs historical past.
Alstott’s blue collar, tackle-breaking operating type bought followers out of their seats with regularity at Raymond James Stadium. He even made among the most dramatic, uncanny short-yardage runs look straightforward. With A-Practice whistles blaring by way of the stadium, each time Alstott touched the ball, it felt just like the stadium held its breath – ready for an additional pile-driving spotlight.
Alstott retired in 2007 after a neck damage, and he entered the Bucs Ring of Honor shortly thereafter and has had his jersey retired. Tampa Bay hasn’t had a participant fairly like Mike Alstott ever since. No. 40 was actually one in all a sort.
No. 10 – DE Simeon Rice
The “Sackmasta” Was Bucs’ Lacking Ingredient On Protection
Simeon Rice was a pass-rushing freak who helped outline the Bucs’ golden period protection and nonetheless doesn’t get sufficient credit score. Rice arrived in Tampa Bay in 2001 as a free agent from Arizona and instantly remodeled an already elite unit into one thing downright terrifying. Teaming up with future Corridor of Famers Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber, Rice was the sting presence the Bucs had been lacking. He introduced juice, swagger, and most significantly – sacks and a cross rush from the surface.
In six seasons with the Bucs (2001–2006), Rice racked up 69.5 sacks, which is third-most in franchise historical past behind Lee Roy Selmon and Sapp, and 19 pressured fumbles. He posted double-digit sacks in every of his first 5 seasons in pewter and crimson, together with 15.5 in 2002, the 12 months Tampa Bay’s protection carried the group to its first Tremendous Bowl title.
Former Bucs DE Simeon Rice – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Nicknamed “The Sackmasta,” Rice routinely blew previous left tackles along with his freakish speed-bend combo, and was a nightmare in apparent passing conditions. In Tremendous Bowl XXXVII, Rice notched two sacks of Wealthy Gannon and performed a key function in harassing the NFL MVP into 5 interceptions in Tampa Bay’s victory.
From 1996 to 2005, solely Corridor of Famer Michael Strahan had extra sacks than Rice. But Rice someway by no means made an All-Decade group and nonetheless isn’t within the Corridor of Fame. With 122 profession sacks, Rice deserves to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
Accidents shortened his profession, and his Tampa Bay tenure ended quietly attributable to a nasty shoulder in 2006. However ask anybody who has adopted the Buccaneers they usually’ll inform you: Rice was probably the most dominant edge rusher Tampa Bay has ever had not named Selmon.
