The Bucs have relatively few starting jobs up for grabs entering training camp, but several young players still have plenty to prove. Whether it’s earning a larger role, solidifying a roster spot, or taking the next step toward becoming long-term contributors, these five players need strong summers.

In the first of a two-part series examining both sides of the football, here are five offensive Bucs who must ball out before the season begins.

RB Sean Tucker

It is no secret that with Kenny Gainwell joining Bucky Irving in the backfield that the two running backs will eat up much of the volume. That leaves Sean Tucker in a precarious position entering his fourth season. It is almost hard to believe Tucker has been in the league that long. There is no getting around the fact he has had to earn his playing time coming in as an undrafted free agent. He has not had consistent playing time throughout an entire season, evidenced by his 151 carries across three seasons. Tucker’s numbers point to a productive back, but he once again has to put that on display for another new offensive coordinator.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker and T Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Tucker is coming off a career year, one with 86 carries for 320 yards and seven touchdowns. Any team will take that from a third-string running back. The problem is that he more often than not looks like someone deserving of more touches. Dave Canales, Liam Coen, and Josh Grizzard have all struggled to make that happen, which puts pressure on him impressing in front of Zac Robinson.

He displays impressive traits, from his dynamic acceleration to simply finding the right holes and bursting right through them. Given he is the most physically imposing of the trio, that pencils him in to receive goal line work and short-yardage situations. That might not be the best for him, however, as he is better in space than running through bigger defensive linemen.

When it comes to Tucker, there is little questioning the intrigue of the player he can be. Time is running out, and after four seasons, he could look elsewhere at a fresh start. It would be hard to stifle him should he shine in training camp, making it critical for him to work his way into the mix this season.

WR Ted Hurst

Of all the wide receivers that could be mentioned here, why bring up Ted Hurst?

Bucs WR Ted Hurst – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

All indications are that Hurst has impressed from the start of rookie mini-camp, which carried over into OTAs and mandatory mini-camp. He gives Tampa Bay a true vertical X receiver with size that nobody else on the roster possesses after Mike Evans’ departure. At 6-foot-4 with 4.42 speed, the third-round pick has game-changing traits that will help him see the field. Despite all of this being true, Hurst cannot afford to have a slow training camp. The room he shares with the likes of Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson will make it difficult for him to record consistent targets.

From the start, that limits him from being a full-time player to someone who comes in on specific packages. Every snap Hurst earns means taking one away from an established receiver. It is a tricky picture, one that Zac Robinson might not have fully outlined. What will make it easier for everyone involved is if Hurst shows that he really is the real deal.

One way of looking at it is that Hurst has the potential to shape the whole offense. Robinson has a lot on his plate in overhauling his schematic tendencies from his days calling plays with the Falcons across the board. Will there be more 11 or 12 personnel? Which players will fit in specific alignments? Can he and Baker Mayfield rely on and trust a rookie from Georgia State to come up big in key moments? Signs of these questions being answered start in training camp, when everyone is fighting for playing time and a bigger role.

TE Payne Durham

There are two tight ends I want to mention in a room that is filled with uncertainty. Beyond Cade Otton, there are four tight ends vying for playing time. Being the backup behind Otton could prove to be a valuable role that gets to see the field in two tight end sets. Whether that second option will once again be Payne Durham is worth monitoring.

Durham was drafted to be a complementary piece in the room, but he has yet to do much statistically and has not been as dominant of a blocker as one would have hoped. Rather than excel as a blocker and flash as a big-bodied target, he has flashed as a blocker and all but disappeared as an option in the passing game.

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Across 17 games (10 starts), it is inexcusable that Durham recorded just one catch for 11 yards last season. His career stat line pales in comparison to what he accomplished in college, and one has to wonder if being a blocker is all he is. Changing the narrative starts with making further strides as a blocker, using every bit of his 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame to be a “human battering ram” at the line of scrimmage.

Outside of that, there has to be significant growth as a receiver. Glimpses of it have surfaced in the past, but it is needed even more with the passing offense limited in true red-zone threats. Even if he never becomes a starter, Durham can remain a key part of the offense. A solid training camp will only solidify his standing in a crowded and competitive group to create more opportunities.

TE Bauer Sharp

Bauer Sharp is the new Bucs tight end to be on the lookout for this summer. Listening to his first couple of press conferences, Sharp already checks out as a character fit for the locker room, but it will soon be time for him to show that he can have the same fit within the offense. Compared to other players at his position, the sixth-round pick needs further development, but he also seems more well-rounded and can become more than just a niche player. The same cannot be said for Devin Culp or Ko Kieft at this point, and that is Sharp’s competitive advantage — should he be able to harness it.

Bucs TE Bauer Sharp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There is a reason Sharp was highly thought of by Tampa Bay’s front office, enough to trade up to secure him. He has an impressive athletic profile, and given his newness to the position, the feeling is that his potential is high. Yet, that is what can be said about many players. For as much optimism as one might have, the fact remains that he is a late Day 3 pick fighting for playing time in one of the weaker tight end rooms around. The numbers back it up. Tampa Bay’s tight ends finished 32nd in receptions (61) and in receiving yards (589) while being tied for 31st in touchdowns (2) in 2025.

Few players are fighting for more of a chance than Sharp. For him, it is not about just making the 53-man roster. It is about making an impact. That comes with a higher level of variance, as he could either be a practice squad player or the second or third tight end. Training camp will be the vital measuring stick in determining his fate.

C Graham Barton

The Bucs’ offensive line is in seemingly great shape entering 2026. Two bookend tackles and two healthy guards provide hope in the unit getting back to its previous heights. Even so, the interior offensive line needs Graham Barton to hold down the middle and look the part of an above-average center. That was the expectation of Barton when Tampa Bay made him its first-round pick in 2024.

Primarily a college left tackle, he was thought of highly in making the switch to NFL center, given his cerebral qualities and sneaky athleticism. That elicited thoughts of being the next Jason Kelce as Barton aimed to be one of the league’s best players at the position; yet, it has not worked out that way.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Instead of blossoming into a premier center, Barton has settled into the middle of the pack at the pivot spot the past two seasons. There have been flashes of him proving capable of doing things few can, such as him springing to the sideline on a screen pass to reach the second level or moving back to left tackle to start last season. Those are rare qualities, but what has held him back to an extent is his play strength.

Seeing him get outmuscled by Vita Vea is one thing, but seeing that happen against opposing defensive linemen during the year is another. For Barton to truly reach his ceiling, he has to have more than just an average training camp. He does not need to become an All-Pro overnight. Entering his third season, he must leave training camp convincing everyone who watches that the best is yet to come.