Tykee Smith: The New Leader in Tampa Bay

0:00It's April 22nd. Welcome to NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Lavante David just hung up his cleats with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving a big leadership void heading into 2026 and beyond. The future Hall of Famer already spotted some young guns ready to fill that spot, and one name he dropped early is Safety Tike Smith. Smith is only in his third NFL season, but he's stepping up fast as a vocal presence in the locker room. David was always the guy who read offenses like a book, and now it looks like he reads the team just as well from retirement. Fans and teammates see Smith as an old soul type, quit to rally everyone and keep the defense sharp. His impact is already shifting how the squad vibes day to day. This week, Smith chatted with reporters and owned that leadership role David handed him, saying he's all in for the next chapter. The Bucks are banking on guys like him to carry the torch. With David watching from the sidelines, Smith's rise feels like the perfect handoff to keep Tampa Bay rolling strong.