Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that features five things that are on my mind. SR’s Fab 5 is now a quicker read, but still packs a punch. Enjoy!

The Bucs are wrapping up their first week of training camp on Friday morning. After a day off, the pads come on for Sunday morning’s practice. Let’s take an look at what the Bucs’ 53-man roster could look like with this early prediction ahead of the preseason games.

FAB 1. Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction: Skill Positions

Bucs QBs Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

All eyes are on the quarterback battle in training camp, but there are plenty of spots on the depth chart available at running back, wide receiver and tight end. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be the primary weapons in the play-action passing game that Dave Canales brought with him from the Seahawks.

Cade Otton will have the chance to show he can work the middle of the field in the passing attack, while Rachaad White will be an every-down back in Canales’ offense due to his ability to run and catch the ball. But the Bucs will need the right trigger man to make this offense go, and must make the right call between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask.

QUARTERBACKS – 2

QB Baker Mayfield
QB Kyle Trask
 
Analysis: Unless he turns into a turnover machine in August, Mayfield will be the Bucs’ starting quarterback. Do you think Todd Bowles is going to head into a must-win season with a brand-new offensive coordinator and an inexperienced quarterback with only nine career passes in the NFL? Nope. Mayfield’s leadership ability and experience will give him the edge in the QB battle.

Trask will make strides in camp and the preseason and be a solid backup. The guess here is that Mayfield may not make it through a 17-game season due to injury and that Trask will see the field at some point. John Wolford heads to the practice squad as the veteran No. 3 QB, replacing Ryan Griffin.

RUNNING BACKS – 4

RB Rachaad White
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
RB Sean Tucker
RB Chase Edmonds
 
Analysis: The Bucs keep four backs, led by White, who gets a chance to be RB1 this year. He’ll have a shot at 1,000 yards or close to it. Vaughn is one of the most improved players on offense and is in a contract year. He’ll likely start the season as RB2, but that might change during the season if Tucker makes a strong charge up the depth chart.

Edmonds gets the final running back spot if he contributes favorably on special teams and shows more in the games than he does in practice. Otherwise, it’s up for grabs between Ronnie Brown and Patrick Laird.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 6

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

Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: Tampa Bay keeps six receivers, as the top three are starters and the bottom three will contribute on special teams. Evans and Godwin are both capable of 1,000-yard seasons this year, just like D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett last year in Seattle. Gage has to get healthy – and stay healthy – to keep the WR3 role.

The Bucs are high on a pair of rookies in Palmer and Jarrett, both of whom can play in the slot. Thompkins is a blur on offense and as a return specialist. His special speed and instant acceleration will be used creatively by Dave Canales. Taye Barber, Kaylon Geiger and/or Kade Warner all have a shot at the practice squad – or the 53-man roster if there is an injury.

TIGHT ENDS – 4

TE Cade Otton
TE David Wells
TE Ko Kieft
TE Payne Durham
 
Analysis: Otton has the chance to make a big jump in production and yards after catch this year as the starter. Wells has been a pleasant surprise and has seen action as the No. 2 tight end early in camp. After Otton and Kieft, who is still a primary blocker and special teams stud, the tight end depth will be determined by blocking when the pads come on and special teams play.

Durham gets the nod over Tanner Taula for the final spot on the depth chart at tight end. Taula likely beats out Dominique Dafney for a practice squad spot.

FAB 2. Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction: Trenches

Bucs OL Robert Hainsey and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs underwhelmed in the trenches last year on both sides of the ball after their offensive and defensive lines were team strengths in 2020 and 2021. A new mid-zone and wide-zone blocking scheme imported from Seattle should aid Tampa Bay’s revamped running game. The Bucs’ O-line, anchored by Tristan Wirfs, features a different starter at all five spots than the team fielded in 2022.

Tampa Bay’s defensive line features a stud up front in Vita Vea, who had a career-high 6.5 sacks last year. The Bucs didn’t re-sign Akiem Hicks and only brought Will Gholston back for experienced depth. Athletic, undersized youngsters in Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall will get the chance to be first-time starters. Todd Bowles hopes the speed of Kancey and Hall will aid the pass rush and stop the run before it gets started.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – 9

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Matt Feiler
C Ryan Jensen
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke
C-G Robert Hainsey
C-G Nick Leverett
OT Justin Skule
G-T Brandon Walton
 
Analysis: Barring any injury or sudden decline, the starting five offensive linemen are locked in and have been set since the OTAs. Wirfs has the talent to be a Pro Bowler in his first year at left tackle after playing right tackle for the first three years of his career. Feiler is looking to have a bounce-back year in new surroundings, while Jensen is trying to regain his Pro Bowl form. Mauch and Goedeke are young, but strong and athletic.

The Bucs have good depth because Hainsey, Leverett and Walton all got some playing time last year. Hainsey started every game at center during the regular season and he’s a lock to make the team. Leverett has the ability to play either guard or center, and tackle in a pinch. Skule will likely replace Josh Wells as the swing tackle and either Walton or rookie Silas Dzansi claims the final spot. Dzansi could land on the practice squad with center-guard John Molchon.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN – 6

DT Calijah Kancey
NT Vita Vea
DT Logan Hall
NT Greg Gaines
DT Will Gholston
DT Pat O’Connor

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: USA Today

Analysis: The Bucs will be pushing Kancey, their first-round defensive tackle, to start and he has the speed and talent to do it. He’s special enough to play all three downs next to Vea, who will be playing more nose tackle this season. Hall has made big strides in the weight room and the film room and will be a starter when the Bucs are in a 3-4 front.

Gaines replaces Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the backup nose tackle, while Gholston returns for depth and will play in mostly short yardage and goal line situations to give the Bucs some beef inside. O’Connor has gotten bigger and stronger this offseason. He’ll still star on special teams, but will earn more reps as a situational nickel rusher with his quickness. Deadrin Senat could land on the practice squad.

FAB 3. Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction: Linebackers

It’s a big year for all four starters – Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka outside, Lavonte David and Devin White on the inside. Barrett must rebound from the tragic loss of his daughter and a torn Achilles to prove he’s still worth $18 million per year at age 31. Tryon-Shoyinka isn’t a bust, but the former first-rounder needs to show he can get more than four sacks.

White is in a contract year and wants to be among the highest-paid linebackers, while David is fighting Father Time at age 33 after taking a massive pay reduction to re-sign with the Bucs. There is some promise in the Bucs’ rookie class, which produced future starters in edge rusher YaYa Diaby in the third round, and inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis in the fifth.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

OLB Shaq Barrett
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
OLB Anthony Nelson
OLB YaYa Diaby
OLB Jose Ramirez

Bucs OLBs YaYa Diaby and Jose Ramirez – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: The Bucs wind up keeping five outside linebackers to help their edge rush as well as their special teams units. Barrett has been the surprise of camp so far with how quickly he’s returned to action. Tryon-Shoyinka needs a big year or he’ll surrender snaps to the wily Nelson or Diaby, a rookie whom the team likes due to his combination of speed and power.

The final spot on the depth chart is up for grabs between Ramirez, veteran Cam Gill, Charles Snowden and undrafted free agent Markees Watts, who is a camp sleeper. Ramirez might get the nod due to draft status, providing he can perform well on special teams and show promise rushing the passer. The others are practice squad candidates.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 4

ILB Lavonte David
ILB Devin White
ILB SirVocea Dennis
ILB KJ Britt

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and Devin White and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: David and White comprise an athletic, dynamic duo. David isn’t slowing down at age 33, while White appears to be focused on playing for a new deal and must be more consistent. Dennis has dazzled with his football I.Q. and playmaking ability and is a future starter. He’ll pass Britt, a core special teams player, for the ILB3 role on the depth chart in the preseason.

There is a chance the Bucs could keep five inside linebackers due to special teams, but that would leave another position short a player. Tampa Bay likely will keep five unless J.J. Russell or Ulysees Gilbert really show up on special teams and either makes the team as the 53rd Buccaneer.

FAB 4. Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction: Secondary

Tampa Bay’s secondary features four veteran stars in their prime in cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal. Davis and Dean just got paid, while Winfield and Neal are in contract years.

But behind that fantastic four is a slew of young, inexperienced – yet talented – defensive backs. The Bucs will likely keep 10 DBs on their roster and must choose wisely in early September.

CORNERBACKS – 6

CB Carlton Davis III
CB Jamel Dean
NCB Dee Delaney
CB Zyon McCollum
CB Keenan Isaac
NCB Josh Hayes

Bucs CBs Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: The Bucs are young after the terrific tandem of Davis and Dean. Both veterans are highly-paid and must come up with more interceptions while staying healthy this season. McCollum is expected to make big strides this preseason and will either be CB3 or in contention for the nickelback role.

Delaney, a veteran, is the current starter in the slot, but could be pushed by Hayes, who must either win the starting job or shine on special teams. The 6-foot-2, Isaac is a long, promising, developmental outside cornerback. He has the talent to make the roster or at least the practice squad, as the Bucs will keep either five or six cornerbacks depending on special teams.

SAFETIES – 4

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

Bucs S Chris Izien – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: Winfield and Neal have the chance at being one of the league’s best duos at safety. Winfield will play more center field in Cover 1 and Cover 3 with the hope of creating more interceptions. Neal is on a one-year, prove-it deal and aims to show that last season in Seattle was no fluke, and that he’s a great, young safety.

Merriweather is a physical force that could develop into a future starter in time. The team is high on his potential. Izien gets the nod over Nolan Turner due to his speed, athleticism and ability to play nickel as well as both safety spots. Turner likely lands on the practice squad again unless he turns into a turnover machine in camp and the preseason.

FAB 5. Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction: Specialists

Tampa Bay’s coverage units have the talent to be among the league’s better squads. But the return game has faltered for several years under Keith Armstong’s tutelage. Can Deven Thompkins make a big leap, or will someone else take his place as the returner?

Tampa Bay has a promising punter in Jake Camarda, who also handles kickoffs. But the team must find an accurate kicker – and one with range – to replace Ryan Succop, who helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV.

SPECIALISTS – 3

K Rodrigo Blankenship and P Jake Camarda – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

K Rodrigo Blankenship
P Jake Camarda
LS Zach Triner
KR Trey Palmer
PR Deven Thompkins

Analysis: The guess here is that Blankenship gets the nod at kicker, but this could go either way and Chase McLaughlin could also win the job. It’s too early to tell, but perhaps Blankenship is inspired to kick with Camarda, a fellow Georgia Bulldog, and an up-and-coming star punter. Triner is back as the team’s long snapper, and he’s a damn good one.

Another guess, but Palmer’s straight-line speed and toughness make him an ideal player to handle kick returns. Although Thompkins could retain the kick return duties again while serving as an elusive punt returner. His blazing speed and agility makes him an ideal return specialist.