Recent draft pick headlines three Buccaneers players on the bubble heading into mandatory minicamp
As training camp approaches, the next key step in the offseason process is mandatory minicamp. This is where the team gets together, officially, for the first time as a complete, 90-man roster and everyone gets a crack to show what they've got.Some guys have a lot more to prove than others, however, and that's what […]
As training camp approaches, the next key step in the offseason process is mandatory minicamp. This is where the team gets together, officially, for the first time as a complete, 90-man roster and everyone gets a crack to show what they've got.
Some guys have a lot more to prove than others, however, and that's what we're here to talk about today: three Tampa Bay Buccaneers players on the bubble heading into minicamp.
So, let's not waste any more time and dive right in.
1. OL Brandon Walton
Walton saw solid action in 2022 as an injury replacement, but proceeded to log just a total of 16 snaps in 2023 and those came on special teams.
He played tackle in 2022, but the team decided to move him inside in 2023. Either way, he's in a crowded room, whether he's a guard or tackle.
Teams typically don't carry more than three tackles on a roster – two of which are the starting left and right tackles. The Bucs seem content with Justin Skule as their swing tackle, too, which would leave Walton on the outside-looking-in at the position.
When it comes to the interior offensive line, there is a ton of competition, as well. Regardless of who wins the starting center or left guard spot.
Right now, it's safe to say Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Elijah Klein, and Sua Opeta would all have a leg-up on Walton. If you're bad at math like I am, that's six more names on top of Skule, Luke Goedeke, and Tristan Wirfs.
The Bucs could certainly carry 10 offensive linemen, but it's doubtful. Therefore, Walton needs to start minicamp with his hair on fire. Even if the trenches are a tough eval, right now.
2. RB Sean Tucker
Bucs general manager Jason Licht said before the draft that Tucker needs to "take a big step" in 2024 and then he proceed to draft Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bucs were never going to hand Tucker anything and that's even more apparent, now. The fact that Irving, Rachaad White, and Chase Edmonds can all catch, as well as run, adds another rung to the ladder Tucker is climbing.
The kid has the traits to succeed at the NFL level or else the team wouldn't have given him the nickname "Baby Nick Chubb". However, the mental part of the game, on top of a heart issue that held Tucker out of offseason workouts, last year, have played a large role in where he's at, now.
Tucker doesn't have much room for error and he needs to show the staff that he's ready to hit the ground running – no pun intended.
3. CB Josh Hayes
Like Walton, it's a numbers game for Hayes, who figures to enter minicamp as the sixth cornerback behind Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall, Christian Izien, and Tavierre Thomas.
There's also the versatility of Antoine Winfield Jr. and rookie Tykee Smith to account for. Five cornerbacks and four safeties in the mold of the aforementioned two, along with Jordan Whitehead and Kaevon Merriweather, is a pretty good -and deep- secondary, on paper.
Hayes was mostly a special teams player in 2023, where he played the third-most snaps on the team. As a result, he finished with the second-most special teams tackles (7), but also the most missed tackles (5), per Pro Football Focus. He also tied for a team-high two flags and if you're into grades, he graded out as the 43rd best (or seventh-worst) player on the Bucs' special teams.
So, it's easy to see why Hayes has an uphill battle entering minicamp. He's going to not only have to show improvement on teams, but as a defender, as well. Or else nothing is guaranteed come final cuts.
