Bucs head coach Bruce Arians had some interesting things to say during Monday’s press conference with the media. The most intriguing was Arians prediction of roster numbers on the defensive side of the ball. Arians indicated the team would keep 10 linebackers or 10 defensive backs, depending on special teams impact.

“Inside ‘backer, outside ‘backer, safety or corner,” Arians said. “There are going to be 10 of them one way or another, whether there’s 10 DBs or 10 linebackers. Special teams is still going to decide all that.”

So who would make the roster if they went 10 at either position? Looking at how the roster is currently constructed it’s easier to see a path to 10 defensive backs than 10 linebackers.

Off-Ball & Outside Linebackers

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs currently have six off-ball linebackers and seven outside linebackers on the roster. Six of those spots are locked in with Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on the outside, and Lavonte David, Devin White and Kevin Minter off-the-ball.

I feel confident saying Anthony Nelson will make the team as the fourth outside linebacker as well. That would leave three spots left to reach the 10 Arians mentioned. Out of those three spots, another inside linebacker will most certainly round out that group. Veteran Joe Jones and rookies K.J. Britt and Grant Stuard are all fighting for that last spot. Cam Gill, who has been injured most of camp, Elijah Ponder and Ladarius Hamilton are left to compete for a potential fifth outside linebacker spot.

Off-Ball Linebackers

At off-ball linebacker, Britt looks to have the inside track after running with the second unit in both preseason games and the majority of camp. Jones was a consistent special teamer over his four-year career with the Broncos, but might be losing ground in Tampa Bay. Recently it’s been Stuard who has drawn praise from Arians. If the Bucs decide to keep a fifth inside linebacker on the roster, Mr. Irrelevant might have the upper hand.

Outside Linebackers

Bucs OLB Cam Gill – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gill is the biggest question mark in this group. A core special teamer for the club last season, Gill has been injured throughout most of camp. The Bucs could decide to keep him through cuts to place him on the short term IR and bring him back once healthy. That seems like the most likely scenario at this point, although that would subject another player on the roster to waivers.

The other caveat is that Elijah Ponder, the college defensive tackle, has really impressed throughout camp. While learning new position, Ponder has flashed good instincts and physicality. Hamilton is a long shot at making the team after playing limited snaps on defense or teams in the Titans game.

The most likely outcome is the Bucs placing Gill on IR once the season starts and potentially keeping Jones or Ponder to round out the linebacking core at ten. The team would likely keep six interior defensive linemen and nine defensive backs in this scenario.

Defensive Backs

In the secondary, the Bucs have eight cornerbacks and five safeties currently on the roster. Much like the linebacker group, the top seven are locked in. Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean and Ross Cockrell round out the group at corner. Jordan Whitehead, Mike Edwards and Antoine Winfield Jr. are the locks at safety.

Cockrell has been training at free safety all summer. That kind of flexibility gives the Bucs a lot of options when deciding how to construct the roster.

Cornerback

Bucs CB Herb Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With four cornerbacks spots locked down and Cockrell’s flexibility to play safety, this is the spot to watch for a potential sixth corner. Herb Miller, Dee Delaney, Antonio Hamilton and Chris Wilcox are battling for the final one or two spots. Out of the group, Hamilton has the most experience with five years in the league, including 20 games with the Chiefs last season. His special teams ability makes him a strong consideration for that fifth spot on the roster. Hamilton has also been a standout in the slot during preseason action.

Miller has the most tenure with the organization, but has been inconsistent in camp. However, Miller played more defensive snaps and special teams snaps than Hamilton in Saturday’s loss to the Titans. Hamilton looked good when he was on the field, and the snap count total could have just been Arians wanting to see more from less-proven corners.

Then there’s Delaney, whose praises Arians has been singing at any opportunity he can. Delaney led all defensive players in snaps on Saturday night with 49, adding 12 more on special teams.

Safety

At safety, Javon Hagan and Chris Cooper are vying for the final spot. Hagan has been in the driver’s seat all camp, running with the second team since Whitehead went down. He showed up big in the first preseason game, adding an interception and three tackles-for-loss. Hagan then tied for the team lead in tackles in Week 2, while playing significant snaps on defense and special teams. The first-year safety has the flexibility to play both safety positions and contribute on multiple specials teams units.

Bucs S Javon Hagan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

However, after Saturday’s game against the Titans, it was Cooper who drew praise from Arians.

“Chris Cooper showed up a little bit on special teams, and that was a nice thing to see,” Arians told the media.

When asked about the depth at safety on Sunday, Arians added, “That’s where Chris Cooper kind of stepped up a little bit last night.”

The Bucs could keep five corners and five safeties on the roster, as special teams will ultimately determine their roles. But with Cockrell’s flexibility, it makes more sense to have an extra corner if the plan is to keep 10 defensive backs. With what we’ve seen so far this summer, Hamilton and Delaney would be most likely to stick at corner, and Hagan at safety.

Prediction:

Right now, the competition in the Bucs secondary is better than the competition in the linebacker group. If Arians is really trying to keep 10 players at one position or the other, I would think Bucs would keep Hamilton and Delaney at corner and Hagan at safety.

Knowing Arians though, this could all be talk and the Bucs could build this team without keeping ten at either position. I personally believe they’ll keep seven interior defensive linemen, eight linebackers (with Gill on short term IR) and nine defensive backs. We have less than a week until rosters need to be at 53 players.