news-engine

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a storied tradition with outstanding players on both sides of the ball. The Buccaneers’ Best Defensive Rankings find three players at the top: Derrick Brooks, Lee Roy Selmon, and Warren Sapp. Brooks was named the top Buccaneer all-time by Buccaneers.com, and close behind were Warren Sapp and Lee Roy Selmon. Who are the best Buccaneers at each defensive position? Let’s take a closer look. Buccaneers Best Defensive Rankings All-Time Defensive Ends / Edge Rushers - Lee Roy Selmon – Selmon is Mr. Buccaneer, awarded All-Pro honors in five of his nine seasons in the league, all as a Buc. Voted the Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. - Simeon Rice – Rice had 29.5 sacks and two All-Pro team berths in his six seasons in Tampa Bay. - Shaq Barrett – Barrett’s six seasons in Tampa Bay saw him pick up 45 sacks, including a league-leading 19.5 sacks in 2019. - Greg Spires – Spires collected 26 sacks in his six seasons as a Buccaneer. - Chidi Ahanotu earned 31 sacks in eight seasons for Tampa Bay. Lee Roy Selmon was the first draft pick in Buccaneers history, Selmon became their foundation overnight. He wasn’t flashy — he was relentless. Elite first step, heavy hands, perfect leverage. He collapsed pockets, destroyed run schemes, and commanded double teams. Selmon didn’t… pic.twitter.com/VHaKYqB2ZU — NFLHuddle 🏈 (@NFLHuddleUp) December 13, 2025 Defensive Tackles - Warren Sapp – The difference maker collected 77 sacks in his eight seasons for the Buccaneers. He was awarded Pro Bowl honors in seven seasons for Tampa and earned All-Pro status in six seasons. Sapp was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1999 and was voted third in 2000. - Gerald McCoy – 54.5 sacks in nine seasons with Tampa Bay, earning six Pro Bowl berths, and was named to the All-Pro team in three seasons. - Booger McFarland – McFarland had 20 sacks in eight seasons as a Buc. - Vita Vea – Eight seasons as a Buc, 35 sacks, and the run-stopper isn’t slowing down. Vea can easily move up the charts past McFarland before he retires. - Brad Culpepper – Six seasons in Tampa Bay and 33 sacks. If you could bring back ONE former #Buccaneers player, who would it be: Warren Sapp or Derrick Brooks? 👀#WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/edvy3WkXFq — SleeperBucs (@SleeperTBBUCS) May 25, 2026 Linebackers - Derrick Brooks – Brooks earned Pro Bowl honors in 11 seasons, was named All-Pro 9 times, and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. 14 years in the league, Brooks also received the Walter Payton Award in 2000 and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. - Lavonte David – 14 years in the league, all with Tampa. Earned 42.5 sacks and was named All-Pro in four seasons. - Hardy Nickerson – Seven seasons as a Buccaneer, Nickerson was voted to the Pro Bowl five times, receiving All-Pro honors four times. - Devin White – White played six seasons in Tampa, collecting 22 sacks. - Shelton Quarles – Quarles’ 10-year career, all in Tampa, saw the Vanderbilt grad collect 23 sacks. Cornerbacks - Ronde Barber – Easily Tampa’s best defensive back all-time, picking up eight interceptions in 16 seasons as a lifelong Buc. Barber was named to the Pro Bowl five times and received All-Pro honors in six seasons.’ - Antoine Winfield – He has already been named All-Pro twice and has two Pro Bowl nods in his first six seasons in Tampa. - Donnie Abraham – Nine seasons as a Buc, steady influence in the secondary. - Carlton Davis III – Six seasons in Tampa Bay. - Mike Washington – Washington’s nine seasons as a Buccaneer saw him start 97 of 100 games for the Bucs. Ronde Barber in the 2003 NFC Championship vs. PHI: 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 sack, 3 tackles, 4 PD 💪🏽pic.twitter.com/leUqnkXXDI https://t.co/NRePjJa8LY — Nosebleed Baseball (@Baseball_NBS) February 9, 2026 Safeties - John Lynch – The Hall of Famer nabbed 23 interceptions in his eleven seasons in Tampa, garnering five Pro Bowl berths and being named to four All-Pro teams. - Cedric Brown – Brown collected 29 interceptions in his nine-year career, all in Tampa Bay. - Antoine Winfield Jr. – His first six seasons in the league have seen Winfield Jr. net nine interceptions, two Pro Bowl berths, and a pair of All-Pro honors. - Mark Cotney – Nine years as a Buccaneer saw Cotney collect 17 interceptions. - Jermaine Phillips – Eight years in the league, all with the Bucs, saw the Georgia alum collect eleven interceptions. Special Teams - Martin Gramatica, Kicker – Earned a Pro Bowl trip with Tampa, kicker on the team’s first Super Bowl win. - Josh Bidwell, Punter – Punted for six seasons with the Buccaneers, earning one Pro Bowl berth. - Karl Williams, Punt returner – In his nine seasons in Tampa Bay, Williams averaged 10.1 yards per return on 255 returns. The Last Word When it comes to the best in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, the eyes focus on the defense. Any argument for the top five in team history clearly has three defensive players in the team’s top four: Lee Roy Selmon, Derrick Brooks, and Warren Sapp. Wide receiver Mike Evans is the fourth of the bunch, and the fifth player would be another defender, either John Lynch or Ronde Barber. Tampa Bay’s history has been that of a standout defense, plain and simple.