Buccaneers Roster Projection For The 2025 Season

Training camp is underway for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s an exciting time for the Bucs as they prepare for a Super Bowl run this season. However, it makes for a semi boring camp.

This is an established roster who has won the NFC South for four consecutive seasons. We really know who basically all the starters will be as well as most of the backups. There shouldn’t be too many surprises with this team.

With that said, there are a few key battles to watch. Players fighting for a roster spot on this team. Here in my Buccaneers roster projection for the 2025 season.

Quarterback: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, Michael Pratt

Not much mystery here. The Bucs have an established franchise quarterback in Mayfield and a veteran backup in Trask who they just re-signed. The team likes Pratt, despite him being injured thus far into training camp. I doubt the team ends up liking any of these camp arms enough to replace him.

Running Back: Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker

I gave some thought to keeping a fourth running back here. However, I felt there were too many touches to distribute between these three without adding another player in the mix. Unless someone else stands out as a special teams player, I doubt we see any surprises here.

Wide Receiver: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Tez Johnson

This was the first position where it wasn’t totally sure who would fill out the room. With the top four of Evans, Godwin, Egbuka and McMillan set in stone it was only a question of who the last two guys would be.

I liked Palmer because of his blazing speed and the emphasis of throwing the ball down field more. He is also more of an outside receiver and I think the Bucs need more of that on the roster. I also like Johnson as a gadget and special teams player.

Tight End: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Devin Culp, Ko Kieft 

This is a group where everybody has their niche. Otton is the well rounded starter, Durham is the blocking red zone threat, Culp is the athletic pass catcher and Kieft is essentially a full back.

I had initial doubts as if the Bucs would keep a full back type with the new Grizzard offense, but based on what the Miami Dolphins did when Grizzard was there I believe they will stick with a full back this year.

Offensive Line: Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, Charlie Heck, Elijah Klein, Sua Opeta, Luke Haggard

The Buccaneers return all five starters from last year, so the starting five are a lock. I also feel confident with Heck and Klein and depth at offensive tackle and the interior offensive line. It’s the last two spots that are up for grabs.

I like Opeta the most of the remaining depth options, but he is still recovering from his season ending injury from last training camp. Someone like undrafted rookie Jake Majors or newly signed Mike Jordan could easily take that spot.

I’d also want a second offensive tackle option on the roster, especially with Wirfs injured to start the season. I view this competition as wide open between Haggard, undrafted rookie Benjamin Chukwuma and newly signed Tyler McLellan. I went with Haggard because he’s been with the team the longest, but I have no strong feeling at this point as to who will win this job.

Defensive Line: Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, Elijah Roberts

This group feels set in stone. The starters of Kancey and Vea will get the majority of the snaps, but there will be a healthy prostration with Hall, Gaines and Roberts. Very clear cut group.

EDGE: Yaya Diaby, Haason Reddick, Chris Braswell, Anthony Nelson, Markees Watts

Another group where the top guys are very clear. Diaby and Reddick will start with a rotation of Nelson and Braswell behind them. It’s a group that is deep and talented, especially if Braswell takes a step forward in his development in year two.

The fifth spot would have surely gone to rookie David Walker if not for his season ending injury. Now it will be an open competition for his roster spot. I like Watts as a situational pass rusher in this group.

Linebacker: Lavonte David, SirVocea Dennis, Anthony Walker, Deion Jones

Todd Bowles has spoken glowingly about the depth of this linebacker room. Obviously a future Hall of Famer like David headlined this group. However, the return of a healthy Dennis might be the biggest difference in this defense with his coverage skills over then middle.

Walker is a veteran free agent the team added in the offseason. He brings more mobility than what they had in KJ Britt last year. Jones emerged towards the end of last season and played well in limited action.

Cornerback: Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Bryce Hall, Kindel Vildor

The Bucs made a lot of investments in this group over the offseason. They return both starters with Dean and McCollum. However, the rest are basically brand new.

Morrison and Parrish are both rookies who will compete to start. Morrison, the second round pick, has excellent coverage ability and ball skills on the outside. Parrish, the third round pick, will likely be the starting nickel.

Hall was with the team last year, but suffered a season ending injury in the first game of the season. Vildor signed with the Buccaneers after playing with the Detroit Lions the last few years. He’s a scrappy, do it all corner who can play special teams.

Safety: Antoine Winfield Jr, Tykee Smith, Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather, JJ Roberts

I’m concerned about the depth and inexperience at this position. Obviously Winfield is one of the best safeties in the NFL. After that, there are questions.

Smith is entering his second season in the NFL and will move from nickel to safety this year. I expect that to be a fairly smooth transition, but there could be some growing pains. Izien is a good depth piece who can play both safety and nickel.

Merriweather has been with the team a few years after being an undrafted free agent in 2023. Robert was an undrafted free agent this year. Both need to provide something on special teams and prove they can provide something on defense when called upon.

Specialists: Chase McLaughlin, Riley Dixon, Evan Deckers

McLaughlin is one of the better kickers in the NFL, so there is no doubt that he’ll be on the team. Dixon is also a lock after the Buccaneers signed him in the offseason to stabilize their punting situation. Deckers is the incumbent to this job, so I have no reason to think he won’t be on the team going into the season.