The Bucs did well to fill some of their bigger needs through the 2023 NFL Draft while also managing to take a best-player-available approach for the majority of the weekend. They got their guys, and the team’s decision-makers are happy with the haul they came away with.

But the Bucs roster is still far from perfect, and there are still some needs they need to address before the season rolls around in September. Pewter Report’s JC Allen recently put together a great position-by-position overview of the team with his Post-Draft Roster Reset.

But what did that reset tell us about the needs Tampa Bay still has? Let’s take a look.

Bucs’ Post-Draft Needs

Here are some of the potential holes the Bucs may still need to fill in the coming months now that the draft is over:

Veteran WR Presence

Nebraska WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs’ wide receiver room is top-heavy at the moment, and it could use another veteran to bridge the gap as the team figures out how much of an impact sixth-round pick Trey Palmer can make right away. As it stands, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage lead the way, but there is a lot of uncertainty behind them.

Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger Sr. were training camp standouts last year, and Thompkins saw a bit more action as the 2022 season went on, especially in the return game. But between them and Palmer, there’s a lot of unproven depth at the position. Tampa Bay may be wise to add a veteran receiver on a one-year deal to replace Julio Jones give its quarterback another proven target to work with.

An Answer At Both Tackle Spots

This is not necessarily a need in the sense that the Bucs have to go out and add another player. If a clear-cut starting option at either left or right tackle presents itself at a reasonable price, then sure, the team should jump on that. But with the way things are right now, this need is more about figuring out the answers with the pieces that already exist on the roster.

It seemed clear after the draft that All-Pro Tristan Wirfs would be shifting from right tackle to left tackle while 2022 second-round pick Luke Goedeke gets the first crack at filling the right tackle spot. But Bucs general manager Jason Licht said a few days later that such a move isn’t necessarily set in stone.

What’s the plan, then? Perhaps Licht is simply keeping his options open, but Tampa Bay will have to make a decision soon so the reps at each spot can be distributed properly.

More Veterans On Defense?

Bucs DT Will Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs wanted to get younger and faster in all areas this offseason, and they’ve done a pretty great job of doing just that. But as great as it is to have those young pieces, having veterans as bridges or safety nets can only help. While wide receiver is one position where that could be true for Tampa Bay, the defensive line and safety room in particular could benefit from an added veteran.

These needs very well could be filled with familiar faces. The defensive line could possibly do with Will Gholston returning on a one-year deal so the team has someone it can rely on in the event that Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey aren’t guys they can thrust into major roles just get. Greg Gaines will help with that, too, to be fair.

In the secondary, a return for Logan Ryan might be helpful to a safety room that is young and needing a fourth member. There are some intriguing undrafted free agents who will vie for that fourth safety spot, but bringing a veteran in couldn’t hurt.

Cornerback Depth

Tampa Bay has its starting cornerbacks in Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean — a formidable duo. It also has Zyon McCollum, who is looking to take the next step in year two, and Dee Delaney, who has been a reliable fill-in when needed. Add in nickel/safety Josh Hayes, a sixth-round pick who will get a shot at filling that slot role, and you almost have a complete cornerback room.

But the Bucs could possibly use another corner who has been there and done that. Whether that’s someone who is more of a CB4 type than Delaney or a player who can replace Anthony Chesley or Don Gardner depends on who is available. But getting another cornerback in the room may be in the cards for the team in the coming months.