Bucs' way-too-early 53-man roster projection: Tampa Bay's rookie class holds the key to unlocking the team's full potential
On paper, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put together another draft class that has the potential to make an immediate impact in Year 1. Last year showed us what that can do for a roster via Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, Tykee Smith, and Graham Barton. It's safe to say the sky is the limit if the […]
On paper, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put together another draft class that has the potential to make an immediate impact in Year 1. Last year showed us what that can do for a roster via Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, Tykee Smith, and Graham Barton. It's safe to say the sky is the limit if the Bucs receive similar contributions, this year.
The draft class doesn't leave much room for questions when it comes to projecting the 53-man roster, either. Sure, it's extremely early to put anything in stone, but the Bucs' roster is a lot more clear and less-interrogative than most teams in the NFL. So, let's go ahead and try to break it down.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
OUT: Michael Pratt, Connor Bazelak**
The skinny: Pratt might be able to convince the Bucs to carry three quarterbacks, but I'd bet "no" right now. They've always had confidence in Trask and backed it up, yet again, by re-signing him to a one-year deal during free agency. Bazelak is a practice squad guy, with all due respect, at best.
Running back (3)
IN: Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker
OUT: D.J. Williams, Josh Williams**
The skinny: The trade smoke around White never made sense and it's highly unlikely anything comes of it for the rest of the year. That being said, the Bucs have their main guys carved out in the running back room. While Irving and Tucker need to improve in pass pro, all three of them can run and catch, making it an extremely valuable room that will be leaned upon during the season.
Wide receiver (6)
IN: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka*, Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson*
OUT: Kameron Johnson, Trey Palmer, Marquez Callaway, Dennis Houston, Rakim Jarrett, Ryan Miller, Tanner Knue, Will Sheppard**, Garrett Greene**
The skinny: The Bucs have an embarrassment of riches at receiver and they'll have the best room in the NFL in Egbuka and Johnson can have positive impacts in Year 1. Hell, it's fair to argue this is the best room on paper, already. Regardless, defenses are going to have nightmares when it comes to figuring out how to stop the passing attack, especially considering the entire offensive line returns for another year and the running game that comes with it.
Tight end (4)
IN: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Devin Culp
OUT: Tanner Taula
The skinny: Kieft is the name to watch, as it looks like he's hit his ceiling with the Bucs. That doesn't take away from anything he's done or what he can still do – that's just the trend after recording zero catches and playing a career-low 104 offensive snaps in 2024. He still provides value on special teams, though, which makes him safe entering OTAs and minicamp.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Tristan Wirfs (LT), Ben Bredeson (LG), Graham Barton (C), Cody Mauch (RG), Luke Goedeke (RT), Charlie Heck, Elijah Klein, Sua Opeta, Silas Dzansi, Ben Chukwuma**
OUT: Garrett Greenfield, Luke Haggard, Lorenz Metz, Raiqwon O'Neal, Ben Scott**, Jake Majors**
The skinny: The Bucs don't have a true backup center, but have a couple of guys that can slide over in Bredeson and Klein and they feel good about those scenarios, right now. Adding Majors as a UDFA is a lowkey move that could come in handy down the line. It would've been nice to see the Bucs bring in more competition at swing tackle for Heck, but they still have a guy like Dzansi who can give him a run if he's healthy enough. Chukwuma makes the cut because the Bucs gave him $300k guaranteed – there's clearly big-time interest, there.
Defensive line (5)
IN: Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, Elijah Roberts*
OUT: Mike Greene, Adam Gotsis, C.J. Brewer, Desmond Watson**
The skinny: Roberts is going to be fun to keep track of during the summer. The Bucs talked about how they can use him in just about every way possible, from standing up on the edge, to kicking inside with his hand in the dirt on obvious passing downs. Fifth-round picks aren't usually roster locks, but he's as close as they come and that'll push guys like Greene and Brewer off the 53 and onto the practice squad. What happens with Watson will be almost as fun to monitor, as well.
Linebacker (4)
IN: Lavonte David, SirVocea Dennis, Anthony Walker, Deion Jones
OUT: Antonio Grier Jr., Deion Jennings, John Bullock**
The skinny: The Bucs didn't address linebacker during the draft and it makes sense why: The medicals on Jihaad Campbell DQ'd him and the rest of the class simply wasn't up to stuff when putting it next to the Bucs' picks. LVD is still a good player, Dennis has shown flashes that he can handle his own, and then Walker and Jones are veterans who should be able to provide some OK depth. If those two can be even average depth guys, this is a good room.
EDGE/Outside Linebacker (6)
IN: Yaya Diaby, Haason Reddick, Anthony Nelson, Chris Braswell, David Walker*, Jose Ramirez
OUT: Markeese Watts, Daniel Grzesiak
The skinny: This is a deep room, but it's without an established alpha who can close out games. Sure, Diaby has the potential to do that and Reddick has done that in the past, but the former has to prove he can do it to begin with and the latter has to show he still has it in him after a really bad year in New York. Nelson is who he is and that's fine – he's a solid depth player. Braswell and Walker are absolute wildcards and if they can make an impact then we should see some dramatic improvement from last year's group.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison*, Jacob Parrish*, Bryce Hall, Kindle Vildor
OUT: Tyrek Funderburk, Josh Hayes, Dallis Flowers, J.J. Roberts**, Roman Parodie**
The skinny: The Bucs' cornerback room looks entirely different than last year and that's a very good thing. If Morrison and Parrish can hit the ground running then the group is in great shape regarding the short and long term. Hall and Vildor add solid veteran experience as depth players in case Morrison and Parrish hit speed bumps in Year 1. In fact, how much success this room has rests on their shoulders. How's that for added pressure?
Safety (4)
IN: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather
OUT: Marcus Banks, Rashad Wisdom, Shilo Sanders**
The skinny: The selection of Parrish signals two things to me: Smith is officially moving to safety and Izien will tag along with him. It was initially thought that Izien would be the team's nickel, but that's not as apparent with Parrish in the mix. Unless the rookie gets off to a rough start in OTAs/minicamp, I think the Bucs are going to give him the head start on the job simply because his ceiling and abilities are so much greater than Izien's. Izzy's versatility makes him valuable, but I see him moving back to more of a safety role in 2025. Merriweather played well enough last year to snag the final safety spot.
Specialists (3)
IN: Chase McLaughlin (K), Riley Dixon (P), Evan Deckers (LS)
OUT: Jake Julien, Ryan Coe**
The skinny: Dixon was added in the offseason and unless McLaughlin has a Jake Camarda-like fallout over the summer, this room is set and ready to go.
Final Word
The Bucs added major depth to the offense in the form of Egbuka and Johnson, making that side of the ball more than good to go. Even if Mike Evans or Chris Godwin were to go down with injuries, there is now plenty of talent to help the Bucs get through.
On defense, it's all about what the rookies can do. If Morrsion, Parrish, and Walker can make sizable impacts off the bat then the Bucs will be in really good shape when it comes to moving toward the NFC's elite tier. A middling impact will basically leave things where they are now and little-to-no impact could easily mean a step back.
In other words: How far the Bucs go largely hinges on what this rookie class does in 2025. Tampa Bay has the right pieces in the right places, but it's going to need the youngsters to pull their share if it wants to show the NFL it belongs at the top with teams like the Eagles, Lions, Chiefs, etc.
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