The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially one week into training camp after last Wednesday’s start, and a few padded practices are in the books.

That means it’s time to start drilling into observations and evaluations from the field. From edge rushers to undrafted free agent gems, several Buccaneers players have seen their stock rise over the first week of camp.

Let’s not waste any more time and dive right on in.

1 (and 2). EDGEs David Walker and Rueben Bain Jr.

Rueben Bain Jr. is obviously the gem of the Buccaneers’ offseason, and he has been nothing but impressive since the team drafted him with the 15th overall pick. He shone during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, so the next question became whether it would carry over into training camp and how he’d look once the pads came on.

Suffice to say, Bain has held his ground and looks like one of the best pass rushers on the field, which is exactly what Tampa Bay needs. However, David Walker has been just as impressive. Walker at one point recorded a sack in five straight camp practices and has been very effective against the Buccaneers’ offensive tackles and offensive line as a whole.

This is huge. If the Buccaneers can get this kind of effort out of Walker and Bain during the regular season, they’ll have a viable 3-man pass rush rotation that Tampa Bay simply hasn’t had since Todd Bowles has been here.

3. Cornerback Ayden Garnes

The Buccaneers need to find viable depth at cornerback, and let’s just be real: when everything first kicked off, not many people had undrafted free agent rookie Ayden Garnes as a guy who could become said depth. Garnes has been all over the place during training camp, making several plays. Bowles also praised his efforts the other day when he talked to the media.

Now it’s just about continuing that momentum and pushing forward. It won’t be a surprise if Garnes makes the roster, honestly, because the Buccaneers have been good at finding UDFAs over the last few years. Guys like Sean Tucker and Christian Izien are a couple of names at the top of the list who have carved out formidable roles on this team. Will Garnes be the next on the list? We’ll just have to see.

4. Offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma

Speaking of undrafted free agents, Ben Chukwuma has been performing well in training camp while subbing in for Tristan Wirfs, per reports. That’s big because Chukwuma will likely be the Bucs’ top swing tackle in 2026, and that’s an important piece to have, especially with the recent injuries Wirfs has been dealing with.

Let’s not forget Luke Goedeke, either. He hasn’t been the premium embodiment of health over the last couple of years. Regardless, Chukwuma, another former undrafted free agent, is holding his own for the most part, and that can really help the Buccaneers down the line whenever they need him.

5. Linebacker Josiah Trotter

The rookie linebacker has been on fire the last couple of training camp practices, making plays in the backfield and bringing that intensity and strength you saw him provide at Missouri. He’s been feisty, too. Alex Anzalone had to cool him down the other night at practice after Trotter started chirping at the offensive line following a big play in the backfield.

The Buccaneers need this kind of fire and intensity from the linebacker position. It reminds you a lot of Devin White when he was playing well in his heyday. And while there’s plenty you can say about White, you can’t deny that for a couple of years he was a very good player, making plays in the backfield and getting after the quarterback. That really helped the Buccaneers’ defense overall.

Let’s hope Josiah Trotter can continue this improvement, because the second level of Bowles’ defense is absolutely integral for the entire unit to work.

6. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Last but not least, per Bowles, this is the best offseason Antoine Winfield Jr. has had in his career. For somebody who can do the things Winfield can do on the field, that’s a big deal. He’s the linchpin of the secondary. It’s only going to go as far as he can take it.

Tampa Bay is getting back to moving him around a lot like they did in 2023 when he became an All-Pro. If he’s making plays from different spots, that obviously helps the whole defense. It’s good to see Winfield getting back to that All-Pro form that made him the best safety in the NFL at one point.