SR’s FAB 5: Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction – FINAL

Running Backs – 3

RB Bucky Irving
RB Kenny Gainwell
RB Josh Williams

ANALYSIS: Irving has added some size in the weight room and looks to have a bounce-back year after offseason shoulder surgery. He’s looked great in camp along with Gainwell, who could lead the Bucs this year in all-purpose yardage. The real issue comes down to whether the team wants to – or can – keep four running backs. And if Tampa Bay only keeps three, is the third back Sean Tucker or Williams? I’m going with Williams as Tucker has a pricey $3.52 million salary as a restricted free agent, whereas Williams makes about half of that.

Both Tucker and Williams are equally effective – just in different ways. Tucker has great speed while Williams is a forceful, tackle-breaking runner who excels at following his blockers to the second level. Both can catch the ball and both can return kicks. The difference is that Tucker will be an unrestricted free agent next year and will leave to go elsewhere whereas Williams will have two more years on his rookie deal.

Wide Receivers – 7

WR Chris Godwin Jr.
WR Emeka Egbuka
WR Jalen McMillan
WR Ted Hurst III
WR Tez Johnson
WR Kam Johnson
WR Dean Patterson IV

ANALYSIS: The reason the Bucs only keep two quarterbacks and three running backs is to help bolster the receiver position. With training camp injuries to Egbuka (toe) and McMillan (knee), the team’s depth at receiver has been tested in August. Tez Johnson has also battled a groin injury. Tampa Bay’s receiving corps has been riddled with injuries over the past two years, so keeping seven receivers to start the season makes a lot of sense. Godwin has been the best and most consistent receiver in camp and has stayed injury-free, while Hurst has been the most dynamic receiver and looks like a star in the making.

Kam Johnson makes the team due to his ability to return kicks and punts, which is a role he won last year and has earned again this August. Patterson edges out David Sills V for the seventh and final roster spot because all the Tampa Bay native does is get open and catch the ball. Patterson has good size and is a good blocker in the Godwin mold. The 30-year old Sills, who has battled a leg injury in camp and missed the first preseason game, winds up on the practice squad.

Tight Ends – 4

TE Cade Otton
TE Payne Durham
TE Bauer Sharp
TE Ko Kieft

ANALYSIS: Otton is coming off a great camp and is ready to earn every penny of his new contract, which pays him $10 million per year. Durham is a trusted blocker on offense and is entering a contract year. Sharp, the team’s sixth-round pick, has impressed as a receiver, a blocker and on special teams. He could wind up as TE2 by the end of the season, surpassing Durham, who is limited as a receiver.

Kieft’s return from a broken leg should help Tampa Bay’s special teams, which missed his physical presence and headhunting style last year. He’s a solid blocker and perhaps has gotten better as a receiver. Kieft beats out Devin Culp, a former seventh-round pick, who failed to develop as a blocker and as a trustworthy receiver. Culp, who is known more as a receiving tight end, dropped too many passes in camp.

Offensive Line – 9

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Ben Bredeson
C Graham Barton
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke
C-G Dan Feeney
OT Justin Skule
OT Ben Chukwuma
G-T Luke Haggard

ANALYSIS: When the Bucs’ starting offensive line is healthy, it has the capability of being one of the top 3 units in football with Wirfs, an All-Pro, leading the way. Now healthy from a hamstring injury and weighing a rock-solid 345 pounds, Wirfs will be ready to go for Week 1. Mauch had a successful camp in his return from a season-ending knee injury and is entering a very important contract year. With the starters set, the real battle in camp has been for backup spots on the depth chart.

Skule and Chukwuma stick for different reasons, and both have been very streaky in training camp and both have battled injuries. Skule has plenty of NFL experience and can play both tackle spots. Chukwuma lacks experience, but has plenty of athletic upside and he’s learning how to play both as well. With both Wirfs and Goedeke missing time last year due to injuries, having two capable swing tackles on board is wise in case disaster strikes.

Feeney beats out Elijah Klein and Ben Scott for the backup center-guard duties due to his experience, while Haggard beats out the rest of the guard candidates due to his size and experience. He’s had a good camp and has stayed healthy. The Bucs might entertain the idea of keeping Billy Schrauth, the team’s fifth-round pick, on the 53 and cutting Skule because he’s a vested veteran and his 2026 salary would be fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster in Week 1.

But Skule only makes $1.215 million, which is very reasonable to begin with. Look for Schrauth, who dealt with injuries in college and has battled an injury in camp and missed the first two preseason games, to wind up on the practice squad. The Bucs can’t afford to deal with oft-injured players along the offensive line after what happened to the unit last year.

Defensive Tackles – 6

DT Vita Vea
DT Calijah Kancey
DT A’Shawn Robinson
DT Elijah Roberts
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DT DeMonte Capehart

ANALYSIS: The first five spots on the depth chart seem pretty much set. Vea, who is fresh off a lucrative, one-year contract extension, will team with Kancey, who is really come on lately, and Robinson as the starters. Roberts enters his second year in Tampa Bay with 20 pounds of added size and muscle and has been outstanding as a 4i/5-technique and backup 3-technique defensive tackle. The real questions begin at DT5.

While the Bucs value the experience and energy the 33-year old Nunez-Roches brings, he was only signed to a one-year, $1.3 million with just $300,000 in guaranteed money. Could Tampa Bay cut him and try to sign him to the practice squad where he could still bring the energy to practice and the sideline – just not dressing on game days? The Bucs have a few young, intriguing defensive tackles that might be better players right now – or at least have a bigger upside.

Due to his fifth-round draft status and his athletic profile, Capehart makes the roster as a developmental defensive tackle capable of playing the nose or 4i/5-technique spots. The 6-foot-1, 336-pound Elijah Simmons has really turned some heads in camp and could challenge Nunez-Roches for a roster spot. I have the veteran winning and Simmons going on the practice squad, but this one could go either way.

Outside Linebackers – 5

OLB Yaya Diaby
OLB Rueben Bain Jr.
OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad
OLB David Walker
OLB Anthony Nelson

ANALYSIS: This training camp battle was over before it began. Diaby and Bain were going to be the clear-cut starters with the newly-signed Muhammad and Nelson offering experienced, quality depth. But then Walker burst on the scene with daily sacks in practice and that hasn’t stopped. Walker could be anywhere from OLB3 to OLB5 on the depth chart depending on what Todd Bowles thinks.

Chris Braswell, a former second-round pick, has done nothing to warrant a roster spot and has been a bust. He’s hurt and will miss the Jaguars preseason game, so he might be waived injured. Mo Kamara would be the next player to make the roster if the Bucs decided to keep six outside linebackers. At the very least, he’s making the practice squad if he makes it through waivers. Despite a two-sack effort vs. the Jets, Jack Pyburn doesn’t make the team, but could make the practice squad if he doesn’t return to college football.

Inside Linebackers – 4

ILB Alex Anzalone
ILB Josiah Trotter
ILB Christian Rozeboom
ILB Caden Fordham

ANALYSIS: Anzalone and Trotter will be the starters this year with Rozeboom, a newcomer, as the first inside linebacker off the bench. Trotter has beaten out SirVocea Dennis for the starting role at Mike linebacker and Dennis being hurt and missing the entire preseason with a groin injury hasn’t helped his cause  This is where it gets really interesting. The Bucs really only have room for four inside linebackers. Does Dennis, who is entering a contract year and is injured, make the team as ILB4?

The Bucs have already drafted his replacement in Trotter after Dennis started all 17 games last year at Mike. Does the team just want to move on from him now and keep a younger inside ‘backer with perhaps a greater upside? And is that player John Bullock or Fordham, an undrafted free agent, who is third on the team in tackles this preseason? That could be determined on Friday night in Jacksonville with the loser going on the practice squad. I’ll predict Fordham to the 53.

Cornerbacks – 6

CB Jacob Parrish
CB Zyon McCollum
CB Benjamin Morrison
CB Keionte Scott
CB Ayden Garnes
CB Pepe Williams

ANALYSIS: Parrish and McCollum are the starters and Scott, the fourth-round pick, likely starts as the team’s nickelback. Morrison, who will see his first preseason action on Friday night at Jacksonville, will likely be the first reserve off the bench due to his second-round draft status from a year ago and his 10 games worth of experience during his rookie season.

But Garnes, an undrafted free agent, has also been very dependable from a health standpoint and a playmaking standpoint. He’s good for a pass breakup or two every practice it seems and has played well in the preseason. He’s making the 53. Where it gets interesting is that Williams beats out Josh Hayes for the CB6 role. Hayes was exclusively kept in previous years due to his special teams prowess, but he’ll be replaced by newcomer Miles Killebrew in that capacity.

But will Williams make enough of an impression to stick on the 53 or will the Bucs be tempted to replace him with another cornerback from another team from the waiver wire once roster cuts take place?

Safeties – 4

S Antoine Winfield Jr.
S Tykee Smith
S Ifeatu Melifonwu
S Miles Killebrew

ANALYSIS: The Bucs have two really good starters in Winfield and Smith, but the reserve safety spot is shaky. Melifonwu is a keeper due to his size (6-3, 210) and NFL experience. He’s had a good camp and seems like a good fit in Todd Bowles’ scheme. Killebrew makes the roster due to special teams. Rashad Wisdom is also worthy of a roster spot but the Bucs are out of room. So he’s back on the practice squad again this year – but he’s also a better version of himself because of a very good camp. JJ Roberts just hasn’t been healthy enough to make the 53 man roster and will be a practice squader.

Special Teams – 3

K Chase McLaughlin
P Riley Dixon
LS Eric Deckers

ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay’s special teams battery remains unchanged from a year ago with McLaughlin, who is entering a contract year, is a very reliable kicker and a real weapon from beyond 50 yards. Dixon is good for now at punter, and hopefully he has better blocking in front of him than he had last year because he has such a slow wind-up. Deckers returns as a capable long snapper for the Bucs.

Bucs Practice Squad Prediction

QB Jake Browning
WR David Sills V
WR Garrett Greene
TE Devin Culp
OL Ben Scott
OL Elijah Klein
OL Billy Schrauth
OT Paul Rubelt (International Pathway Program roster exemption)
DL Elijah Simmons
DL Jayson Jones
ILB John Bullock
ILB Nick Jackson
OLB Mo Kamara
CB Josh Hayes
CB Roman Parodie
S JJ Roberts
S Rashad Wisdom