Bucs 53-Man Roster Analysis

The Bucs have not officially released their 53-man roster yet, but the team did whittle its roster down to 53 by Tuesday morning, releasing a total of 36 players with plans to put center Ryan Jensen on season-ending injured reserve. Head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht have a roster that features 26 defensive players, 24 offensive players and three specialists.

Perhaps most notable is the fact that the Bucs are keeping 13 rookies on the team, including seven of the team’s eight draft picks this year. Every draft pick except for outside linebacker Jose Ramirez, who was Tampa Bay’s final pick in the sixth round, made the initial 53-man roster.

Additionally, the Bucs are keeping six undrafted free agents this year, the most ever on a roster that Bowles or Licht has presided over. Four of those undrafted free agents are on defense, with three of them playing in the secondary.

A year after being one of the oldest teams in the NFL, the Bucs have undergone a youth movement in 2023. Tampa Bay now has just six players on the 53-man roster age 30 or older – linebacker Lavonte David (33), long snapper Zach Triner (32), defensive lineman Will Gholston (32), guard Matt Feiler (31), outside linebacker Shaq Barrett (30) and wide receiver Mike Evans (30).

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds analyzes the current Bucs 53-man roster. Keep in mind that the Bucs could make some roster changes based upon which players from other teams are available on the waiver wire within the next 24 hours.

Bucs 53-Man Roster

QUARTERBACKS – 2

QB Baker Mayfield
QB Kyle Trask
 
Analysis: No surprise here. Baker Mayfield is the starter after a nearly flawless showing in the preseason. A much-improved Kyle Trask is the backup and the Bucs feel better about him stepping on the field in case of injury to or ineffectiveness from Mayfield after a very good preseason performance.

As predicted, the Bucs kept just two quarterbacks on the active roster with veteran third-stringer John Wolford being cut and then added to the practice squad in the same way that Ryan Griffin was the team’s veteran No. 3 QB last season.

RUNNING BACKS – 4

RB Rachaad White
RB Chase Edmonds
RB Sean Tucker
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
 
Analysis: The Bucs had to keep four running backs due to Edmonds’ current injured status. He missed the last two preseason games and might be questionable for the season opener at Minnesota. White is the clear-cut starter, while Tucker flashed enough in the preseason to make the roster.

Vaughn making the team was helped by Edmonds’ injury, as well as his ability to play on special teams coverage units. He can play multiples positions on coverage, including gunner on punts.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 5

WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Trey Palmer
WR Deven Thompkins
WR Rakim Jarrett

Analysis: The Bucs wound up keeping five receivers because the team believes that veteran David Moore can clear waivers and make it to the practice squad. Palmer and Jarrett shined as receivers in the preseason and will see plenty of playing time on offense. Thompkins brings versatility to the offense as a gadget player, plus he’s the leading returner for kicks and punts with Palmer backing him up.

Ryan Miller seems destined to return to the practice squad and join Moore if he clears waivers. The Bucs might also bring back another receiver they cut, perhaps Cephus Johnson due to his 6-foot-4, 224-pound size.

TIGHT ENDS – 4

Bucs WRs Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins and TE Payne Durham – Photo by: USA Today

TE Cade Otton
TE David Wells
TE Ko Kieft
TE Payne Durham
 
Analysis: No surprises here as Otton and Wells will see significant playing time due to their ability to catch and block, while Kieft returns as a primary blocker and special teams contributor. Durham did enough as a receiver to make the team as the fourth tight end. His fifth-round draft status was likely a factor too.

Tanner Taula or Dominique Dafney – or both – could return on the practice squad.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – 9

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Matt Feiler
C Robert Hainsey
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke
C-G Nick Leverett
OT Justin Skule
G-T Brandon Walton
G Aaron Stinnie
 
Analysis: The starting offensive line has been set since the OTAs. Skule won the job as the swing tackle, replacing Josh Wells. Walton has the versatility to play either tackle position, as well as guard in a pinch. Leverett returns as the backup center and possibly the first guard off the bench. Despite lacking versatility, Stinnie won out as a backup guard due to his experience.

Undrafted free agent rookie tackles Silas Dzansi and Raiqwon O’Neil could wind up on the practice squad, in addition to fellow rookie Luke Haggard.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN – 6

Bucs DT Mike Greene – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

DT Calijah Kancey
NT Vita Vea
DT Logan Hall
NT Greg Gaines
DT Will Gholston
DT Mike Greene

Analysis: The Bucs’ starting defensive line features three top picks in Kancey, Vea and Hall. Gaines replaces Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the backup nose tackle with Gholston, who had a great camp and preseason, returning for depth.

Perhaps the biggest surprise cut was long-time reserve and special teams ace Pat O’Connor, who got replaced by Greene, a former practice-squadder. Greene had a great preseason and has more upside and potential. O’Connor might return on the practice squad if he goes unclaimed.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 6

OLB Shaq Barrett
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
OLB Anthony Nelson
OLB YaYa Diaby
OLB Markees Watts
OLB Cam Gill

Analysis: When Todd Bowles said that the outside linebacker position would be one of the hardest spots to cut, he wasn’t kidding. The Bucs wound up keeping not five, but six outside linebackers. The first four were set with Barrett and Tryon-Shoyinka as starters, and Nelson and Diaby as backups. But Tampa Bay couldn’t decide between Gill and Watts, an undrafted free agent, so the team kept both. Gill and Watts will also star on special teams.

Charles Snowden had a sack and a forced fumble in the preseason and could return on the practice squad, in addition to Jose Ramirez, a sixth-round pick who battled an injury in the preseason.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 4

Bucs NCB Christian Izien and ILB KJ Britt – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ILB Lavonte David
ILB Devin White
ILB SirVocea Dennis
ILB K.J. Britt

Analysis: David and White are the obvious starters along with Dennis and Britt as the backups. But it was a bit surprising to see the Bucs cut J.J. Russell, the team’s leading tackler in the preseason, especially when he had an interception and forced a fumble.

What makes the move even more curious is that Dennis and Britt missed the last preseason game due to injuries and their status for the season opener at Minnesota is in question. Russell should return to the practice squad if he clears waivers and could be called up to the game day roster if needed for depth in Week 1.

CORNERBACKS – 6

CB Carlton Davis III
CB Jamel Dean
CB Zyon McCollum
NCB Dee Delaney
NCB Josh Hayes
CB Derrek Pitts

Analysis: The Bucs have a very good starting duo at cornerback with Davis and Dean. McCollum showed improvement in the preseason and is the first outside cornerback off the bench if needed. Delaney has the versatility to play either safety spot, as well as outside cornerback. But he’s best in the slot, where he’ll be the backup to rookie Christian Izien unless he’s called on to start in Week 1 at free safety in place of the injured starter Antoine Winfield Jr., as he did in the preseason finale.

Hayes, a sixth-round pick, has the versatility to play nickelback as well as outside cornerback, and was regarded as a better special teams player than Keenan Isaac, whom he and Derrek Pitts beat out for the final roster spot. Isaac, who is primarily an outside cornerback, will be back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

SAFETIES – 4

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

FS Antoine Winfield Jr.
SS Ryan Neal
NCB/S Chris Izien
SS Kaevon Merriweather

Analysis: No surprises here, as this was the quartet most thought the Bucs would keep. Izien won the starting nickelback job in the slot, but can also play both safety positions. Merriweather impressed enough to stick, while Nolan Turner could return on the practice squad.

SPECIALISTS – 3

K Chase McLaughlin
P Jake Camarda
LS Zach Triner

Analysis: The Bucs’ specialists have already been decided with the release of kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after his two misses against the Jets. Chase McLaughlin, who was perfect on field goals and extra points in the preseason, will be the place kicker, while Jake Camarda will handle punts, kickoffs and serve as the holder. Zach Triner returns as the long snapper.

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