2026 Bucs free agent preview: Safety Christian Izien

· Yahoo Sports

As we move closer to the next stage of the offseason, we want to ensure there is a complete preview of the Bucs heading into 2026. So to achieve that, we will be doing free agent previews for notable players the team will have on the market in the coming weeks. 

In this piece, we will be previewing defensive back Christian Izien.

The Bucs' free agency will be both interesting and pivotal to their success in 2026. As Jason Licht has shown, he can be aggressive, but it is not like him to spend a lot in free agency. However, he does tend to like to retain Tampa Bay talent that he has seen develop properly, or arrive and make a splash.

So with the table set, here is a free agent preview. 

Background

  • College: Rutgers
  • Year Drafted: 2023 (undrafted)
  • Notable Achievements: N/A

Notable 2025 Statistics

  • 16 Tackles
  • 1 Forced Fumble

Projected Contract Value

Player Summary

Christian Izien has proven to be valuable to the Bucs with his hybrid use on both defense and special teams. What makes things tough for Izien is the youth movement in the secondary, which may force him out. Not that he isn't a part of that, but if the team keeps drafting more pieces, he is going to be looking elsewhere for a fresh start. He has a role in some defense; it is just a matter of where.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2026 Bucs free agent preview: DB Christian Izien