As the calendar flips to the offseason for the Bucs,  they have started to ensure that they will have several reserve players under contract for next season heading into OTAs, mini-camp and training camp. Tampa Bay announced on Tuesday that they have signed 17 players to futures contracts.

Here is the list of players that have signed with Tampa Bay.

Bucs Players That Have Signed A Future Contract 

S  Marcus Banks

WR Marquez Callaway

CB  Dallis Flowers

DL Mike Greene

OL Garret Greenfield

LB Antonio Grier Jr.

LB Daniel Grzesiak

Bucs QB Michael Pratt – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

OL Luke Haggard

WR  Dennis Houston

LB  Deion Jones

WR Tanner Knue

OL Lorenz Metz

OL Raiqwon O’Neal

QB Michael Pratt

TE Tanner Taula

RB DJ Williams

S Rashad Wisdom

Observations About Signings From Bucs

These were all practice squad players from last season so it pretty much comes as formality at this point of the year. Given the amount of injuries have had, several of these players were elevated to the roster in one way or another.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask, C Graham Barton and OL Robert Hainsey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’ll be very intriguing how it all shakes out for quarterback Michael Pratt next season. Pratt was signed by the Bucs after getting let go from the Packers after training camp. The Bucs had their eye on Pratt during the draft and wanted to take him before Green Bay swooped in. Pewter Report had linked Pratt to the Bucs on several occasions, especially after the attending the Senior Bowl.

With Kyle Trask no longer under contract there is not guarantee that he will be back in the red and pewter this offseason. Trask, a second round pick in 2021 was the third string quarterback behind Tom Brady and Blaine Gabbert during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His best opportunity came in 2023 when he was in a quarterback competition with Baker Mayfield in training camp, which Mayfield ultimately won.

Trask continued was the primary back then and for the 2024 season, hardly ever getting NFL snaps in games. Trask has appeared in seven total NFL games, completing four throws on 11 attempts for 28 total yards in his carer. There haven’t been many opportunities, but it also doesn’t make him a sought after free agent, either.

If the Bucs decide to move on from Trask, that makes Pratt the only other quarterback on the roster besides Mayfield. Then Tampa Bay would have to figure out if they like Pratt to be the second string guy or will they draft another quarterback or find a veteran in free agency. There’s several options that Tampa Bay could go with it.

Bucs ILB Deion Jones – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The other standout signing is the veteran inside linebacker Deion Jones. Signed in December to the practice squad, Jones ended up playing in two regular season games along with the Wildcard round postseason game. While only on special teams during the regular season Jones recorded a tackle, but in the playoffs he played 18 defensive snaps, recorded two tackles and has a pass breakup. Of course the pass deflection was a dropped interception, but he was solid in his role given the amount of playing time he was in for.

By no means should Jones be the answer for the Bucs heading into the 2025 season, but as a fourth or fifth string veteran presence, it’s worth a shot. Tampa Bay’s inside linebacker room is pretty vacant at the moment. There’s no certainty that Lavonte David wants to keep playing. He very well could retire off into the sunset, going into the Bucs Ring of Honor one day and hopefully the Pro Football Hall of Fame. K.J. Britt is an unrestricted free agent, but it would be surprising if he returns.

SirVocea Dennis seems like the only sure thing at inside linebacker, but he’s coming off missing all but four games last seaosn and has been injury prone. J.J. Russell is a restricted free agent who will likely be fighting for a spot in training camp. The odds are that the Bucs will try to find linebackers in free agency and the draft. Having Jones around could help with the newer and younger talent that team has as a group.