Bucs Mandatory Minicamp: Predictions and questions, battles, injury updates, notes, practice dates and times
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 23 other NFL teams will hold mandatory minicamp this week, marking the point of the offseason where practice and such really matter.The Bucs are in a very good spot heading into camp: They return all 11 starters from last year's riveting offense and they made some key moves that should […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 23 other NFL teams will hold mandatory minicamp this week, marking the point of the offseason where practice and such really matter.
The Bucs are in a very good spot heading into camp: They return all 11 starters from last year's riveting offense and they made some key moves that should help the defense get back to the Top-10 form people are used to seeing.
Still, as with every other squad, there are questions that need to be answered/figured out and it all starts this week. So with that being said, let's go ahead and dive into some of the top questions facing the Bucs as they head into mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 10-12.
6 burning questions heading into Bucs mandatory minicamp with predictions
1. Can the Bucs continue to turn up the heat on the takeaways?
This has been discussed for a while now but it bears repeating: Todd Bowles wants to force turnovers in 2025 and he wants a lot of them.
So far, we've heard of guys like rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish and linebacker Deion Jones get their hands on the ball for interceptions and then we've had plenty of guys get their hands on the ball, but not finish the play.
Finishing will be key this year, but the fact the Bucs are breaking up passes is still a good sign, as they finished with the eighth-lowest amount of PBUs in 2024 (62). And while takeaways are volatile and largely a product of being in the right place at the right time, it's still crucial the Bucs figure out how to finish on the practice field so they can take it over to when it matters for real.
Quick prediction: We'll see. I hate to bail on the first question, but this is a definitive wait-and-see scenario.
2. Who stands out at EDGE?
Yes, it's still t-shirts and shorts, which means we won't know anything concrete about both sides of the trenches until August. At the same time, however, we can glean something about the pecking order of these positions and who's practicing with who and when.
We can also "rank" guys based off how they look in drills. You don't have to have pads on to tell if a guy has a better bend than another or if their get-off is quicker.
And, if a guy is getting more reps against Tristan Wirfs than Charlie Heck or vice-versa, then it's fair to say the former is currently ahead of the latter on the depth chart.
Right now, it'd be fair to assume this is the "hierarchy" ahead of camp: Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby are the primary pass rushers/starters and then it's Anthony Nelson, Chris Braswell, David Walker, Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts, and Warren Peeples.
The Bucs' EDGE room is a crowded one, but not an established one. Especially once you get past Reddick and Diaby. There are guys who should take the lead role this year, but nothing is currently written in stone, leaving plenty of opportunity for everyone involved.
Quick prediction: If Walker is healthy, I expect him to make some noise. If not, then I'm going to go with Diaby, who is as hungry as ever.
3. What's going on at the nickel position?
Tykee Smith is working at safety, yet Bowles says the second-year defensive back is still a nickel at heart, essentially. While he probably won't be in the mix much, he's still a guy that can plug in and play the spot when needed.
It's looking like third-year DB Christian Izien and the rookie third-rounder Parrish will lobby for the starter's share of reps during camp. Veterans Kindle Vildor and Bryce Hall are perimeter guys, as is everyone else for the most part. When accounting for Smith at safety, Izien and Parrish are certainly the two "more natural" nickels, so to speak.
Outside of those guys, it'll be interesting to see who gets thrown into the mix. Nickel is a tough position to play both mentally and physically, so having quality depth there is paramount toward defensive success as a whole.
And speaking of the cornerback room, the Bucs have some action on the outside, as well…
Quick prediction: Izien will start it off and keep a hold on things and then we'll see what happens in training camp.
4. Will Benjamin Morrison officially begin the push for Jamel Dean's job?
No one is saying Morrison takes Dean's job during minicamp or even before the regular season. Despite the inconsistencies with Dean, he knows the Bucs defense like the back of his hand and he's a very good corner when it's all said and done. Outside injury, it's going to take a lot for Morrison to unseat Dean and that's fine.
This is definitely the time where he can begin to make the push for Dean's job, though. We're talking more big-picture, here, as the veteran still has two years left on his contract, but every step matters and each one taken is another closer to starting on the perimeter.
So far, Morrison's recovery from hip surgery hasn't slowed him down and he's been making plays. He's doing all the right things and it'll have him in an excellent spot going into training camp if he can keep it up over the next few days.
Quick prediction: Morrison has a strong camp, but he'll have a ways to go before replacing Dean is a plausible reality.
5. What does Chris Godwin's workload look like?
The star receiver is making his comeback from the ankle injury that ended his 2024 campaign early and we've yet to see him on the practice field. Regardless of reason, it moves Godwin into the "must-see" category during minicamp.
Nothing definitive can or will be taken away from Godwin's workload/participation, but it will be a good indicator of where he is in the recovery. I don't think anyone is expecting him to come out and work his ass off at full speed and whatnot, but at the same time it's fair to hope for some kind of on-field participation outside of stretching and warm-ups.
Whatever happens will act as an informal precursor leading up to training camp, which is when we'll really get a good idea of where Godwin's recovery stands. My gut tells me he'll do very light work while Egbuka gets a ton of snaps across the Bucs offense due to his versatility, but we'll see.
Quick prediction: Very light. Egbuka's versatility will help the Bucs feel comfortable in allowing Godwin to take it slow with his recovery and we'll see that this week.
6. Who and what are some of the lowkey players and positions to keep tabs on?
The depth on the offensive line is definitely something to keep tabs on. Again, it's pads, but we can get a small idea of the pecking order this week. The swing tackle position with Charlie Heck, Ben Chukwuma, and others and then the backup center job highlighted by another UDFA in Jake Majors should provide some updates.
On defense, where rookie fifth-round defensive lineman Elijah Roberts lines up will be fun to watch. He's a very versatile player and his skillset should allow him to make some noise during the summer. And then, where veteran corners Bryce Hall and Kindle Vildor slot in after the draft selections of Parrish and Morrison. All of a sudden, the Bucs have a very crowded cornerback room and it can't hold everyone.
And of course, there's special teams. Tez Johnson is looking to provide a spark in the return game – can he make that happen as quickly as June?
Bucs injury outlooks and other pre-minicamp notes
Notable OTA absences and players nursing/recovering from injuries heading into camp
Guys like Haason Reddick, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin weren't at OTAs. Obviously, Evans and Godwin are franchise stalwarts who will certainly be at mandatory minicamp, but Reddick is different.
Yes, the odds are far more likely than not that he shows up to camp, however, one can't discount the mess between him and the Jets. While there's blame to be had on both sides, Reddick's motives and process were highly questionable and it makes you wonder where his head is at all times. He has a lot to prove in 2025 and the future of his career hangs on what he accomplishes – or doesn't accomplish.
We've already discussed Godwin's workload as he recovers from last year's awful ankle injury. Rookie fourth-rounder David Walker didn't participate in the most recent OTA session made available to the media, so it'll be interesting to see what he does over the next few days.
Then there's guys like Sua Opeta, Bryce Hall, and SirVocea Dennis returning from season-ending injuries. Dennis is already making plays and Hall and Opeta are taking reps on the practice field, which is a good sign. In all, these are the top names to monitor when it comes to injuries.
Bucs offense looks to build off a historical year
It's hard to argue against the idea that last year's iteration of the Bucs offense is the best in franchise history. 2020 and 2021 are the only two units that belong in the conversation and there are plenty of reasons to take the Liam Coen Show over the others, but that's a different topic for another time.
The wild part about the last paragraph is it could be a moot point by this time next year and that's because 2025 has a very good shot to end up as the best Bucs offense of all-time, without question. As we know, the team returns all 11 starters, added Emeka Egbuka in the draft, and basically retained Coen's offense despite his decision to bolt for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching job.
The Bucs pulled that off by promoting Josh Grizzard, who was last year's passing game coordinator. There's a lot of potential with Grizzard, but one also has to heavily consider the fact it's his first year as a play-caller at any level of football. What he's able to do in Year 1 holds massive ramifications in regards to what the Bucs ultimately do on offense.
But if all goes well, we're sitting here talking about another monstrous year for Baker Mayfield and Co.
Bucs' defensive success boils down to 3 things in 2025
Bowles' crew has to find an outside pass rush, it has to force more takeaways, and it has to stay healthy if it wants to get back to its annual Top-10 status.
I know the last one is basically out of their control, but I can't sit here and say "the secondary has to play well" if it's led by Morrison, Izien, and Kaevon Merriweather because Dean, Jacob Parrish, and Antoine Winfield Jr. are hurt. The same goes for the inside linebacker position if it's Deion Jones out there or the EDGE group if Nelson's heading the charge.
Last year's health issues should be an anomaly, but if there's anything consistent in football it's the fact no player is safe from getting hurt. The Bucs have improved the depth over the last several months but another rash of key injuries would put the group in the same situation it was in last year.
But if the above list comes to fruition then there's little question the Bucs defense will get back to what everyone is used to seeing when they watch the pewter and red.
Bucs minicamp info
As mentioned at the beginning, the Bucs will hold mandatory minicamp from June 10-Jun 12. Practice begins at 9:15 a.m. ET and all three practices will be open to the media. Bowles, along with various players, will speak with the media after practice.
The team usually broadcasts its pressers live on YouTube and/or Buccaneers.com. If it doesn't, an upload usually comes through an hour or so afterward.
