Bucs GM Jason Licht, WR Emeka Egbuka and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

INTRO: Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams and Matt Matera have compiled our Bucs Camp Insider stories for the first two weeks of training camp. Now, it’s my turn to offer up my observations from Buccaneers training camp, especially from this past week when the pads have come on. Enjoy!

FAB 1. Bucs Offensive Skill Player Camp Notes

Baker Mayfield has had a good start to training camp. Has he been perfect? No. But he’s made his share of plays, and the interceptions he’s thrown – only four – haven’t been the result of poor decisions. Mostly just tighter coverage from the secondary, which is what head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles wants to see.

Mayfield has a firm grasp of the playbook and his chemistry with Mike Evans is as strong as ever. When the two connect, it’s so fun to watch.

Kyle Trask has had a solid camp. It’s been disappointing that Michael Pratt has been out with a back injury he suffered in April because I – and the team – wanted to see that training camp battle for QB2 play out. Now it’s Trask’s by default.

Running back Rachaad White is lighter – down from 220 to 212 pounds – and he’s a tick quicker as a result. White is still a muscle-bound back, he just trimmed some body fat this offseason. He seems very motivated to have a great season in a contract year. The Bucs will still be a two-back offense with White getting plenty of plays while splitting time with starter Bucky Irving.

Bucs RB Josh Williams – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs are excited about undrafted rookie free agent running back Josh Williams, who is currently sidelined with an injury. The team is hopeful he returns for the preseason opener against Tennessee and loves his instincts as a runner and the way he follows his blocks. Williams has a low center of gravity and just looks like an NFL back with the way that he moves.

With Cade Otton out with a hamstring injury, Payne Durham has become the starting tight end. But both he and Devin Culp have not necessarily made the most of getting more reps. There have been some really good catches, but also a few too many drops between the two in camp.

Emeka Egbuka is the best rookie wide receiver I have seen so far in my 30 years of Bucs coverage. The hype is justified. He looks like a veteran out there. Egbuka looks like Chris Godwin and will do a fine job of holding down the fort until Godwin returns to the lineup. He’s always where he needs to be in his routes and catches nearly everything thrown his way.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After Evans and Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson are the next best receivers in camp. Those will be the top four receivers with Godwin likely to miss the start of the season on PUP. Tampa Bay will likely keep five or six, so there’s a real battle for WR5 and WR 6 right now. No one has really stood out on a consistent basis – not veterans like Sterling Shepard or Trey Palmer and not less-experienced receivers like Rakim Jarrett and Kameron Johnson.

The one to keep an eye on is Dennis Houston, who had multiple catches in the two-minute drill on Thursday. He gets open and catches the ball. Houston could be a sleeper if he continues to make more plays and take advantage of the fact that no other receiver seems to be rising to the occasion.

FAB 2. Bucs Offensive Line Camp Notes

The Bucs offensive line has been good, but not great so far in the first week of pads. Part of the reason for that has been the disruptive play of the defensive line. Tampa Bay’s defense is ahead of the offense right now after the first week of pads, but that could change over the next two practices and into next week.

Right tackle Luke Goedeke has probably been the best and most consistent offensive lineman with All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs out of action. Right guard Cody Mauch and left guard Ben Bredeson have had moments of brilliance and a few missed blocks. They just need to work on being more consistent and that will come in time. There’s no need to panic as the pads just came on during Monday’s practice.

Center Graham Barton has done a really nice job with his line calls and his communication. He knows the offense now with a year under his belt and is on the same page with Baker Mayfield. But physically, he’s gotten handled by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea on more than one occasion this week. In fact, it seems like Vea has steamrolled Barton at least once per practice and knocked the second-year center on the ground.

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

Left tackle Charlie Heck has had his ups and downs during the first week of pads. Both Yaya Diaby and Chris Braswell have victimized him for multiple sacks when left on an island. But Heck has also held his own on other reps and has been effective in run blocking. We’ve seen a lot of tight end usage on Heck’s side, and that’s understandable. He’s not as good as Justin Skule right now, but he’s the best option the Bucs have to replace Wirfs right now and they’ll have to make do with Heck and survive the first few games until their All-Pro tackle returns.

The Bucs are very high on undrafted free agent Ben Chukwuma, who is already the second-string left tackle despite having only two years worth of football experience under his belt. Chukwuma has all the physical tools and athleticism to be special. He just needs experience. Expect the Bucs to play him a lot in the preseason, primarily at left tackle. Chukwuma could be Tampa Bay’s swing tackle of the future as early as next year if he continues on this trajectory.

Bucs OT Ben Chukwuma – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has had to press backup guard Elijah Klein, last year’s sixth-round pick, into action at right tackle for a few practices for depth purposes. Klein has the look of a future starter at guard, perhaps challenging Bredeson next year. He’s reshaped his body and turned some fat into muscle that will serve him well in the preseason.

Rookie interior linemen Jake Majors and Ben Scott are trending up and the team is anxious to see them both in the preseason. One of them has a chance to make the 53-man roster while the other could be a quality practice squad player.

FAB 3. Bucs Defensive Line Camp Notes

Defensive tackle Vita Vea has easily been the practice player of the week since the pads have come on. Vea is looking like he is picking where he left off last year as a Pro Bowler. He’s been a wrecking ball up front because he’s come into camp just as in shape as he was a year ago – if not more. He’s been giving Tampa Bay’s interior offensive line fits so far, especially center Graham Barton, who he knocked back into Baker Mayfield during one play in 11-on-11 earlier in the week.

Calijah Kancey has stayed healthy so far (knock on wood) and has flashed with his speed and quickness. He looks poised to take the next step as a pass rusher this year, and he’s been solid against the run. Kancey has been just as good as Vea, but gets the job done in a very different manner.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Yet second-year defensive tackle Logan Hall deserves props for his hot start to training camp. Hall is in the best shape of his career looking big, strong, lean and quick. He’s used that quickness to record a sack and make a few tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick have been as good as advertised at outside linebacker. Diaby isn’t getting challenged in practice the way he would if Tristan Wirfs were healthy and going up against him. He’s beaten Charlie Heck a few times for sacks and has been stout against the run. Reddick has used his speed to past Luke Goedeke a few times, and that’s been a really fun battle to watch so far in camp.

Second-year outside linebacker Chris Braswell has also taken a big leap as a pass rusher. The hesitation in his game is gone and he’s playing faster and better this season. He’s also in better having trimmed down a bit due to a better diet and workout regimen. Braswell had a nice ghost step against Goedeke on Thursday for a quick sack. That’s a move he couldn’t have pulled off last year as a rookie.

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The loss of rookie outside linebacker David Walker is huge. He was going to play a lot this season on the second team with Braswell. And he hurt his knee actually rushing with the first team opposite Diaby in Tampa Bay’s two-minute pass rush personnel. The problem that the Bucs have now is that neither Jose Ramirez nor Markees Watts is as good as Walker. Veteran Anthony Nelson will get more playing time as a result of Walker’s injury as he has solidified his stance as OLB4 now.

Rookie defensive tackle Elijah Roberts has shown some promise and will probably win the DT5 job behind Vea, Kancey, Hall and Greg Gaines, the Bucs’ backup nose tackle. But there will be a fierce battle for the sixth and final defensive tackle spot. C.J. Brewer and Mike Greene have flashed, but there’s plenty of competition at defensive tackle and this spot will be decided in the preseason games.

FAB 4. Bucs Linebackers And Secondary Notes

Inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis hasn’t made a lot of splash plays in practice so far. No interceptions so far, and he’s usually one of the guys who comes up with one during a week’s worth of practices. The reason? Dennis’ coverage in the middle of the field has been so good that the Bucs quarterbacks have avoided throwing at him. That’s welcome news for the inside linebacker position, which was often victimized in games last year after Dennis went on injured reserve after Week 4.

Veteran linebacker Lavonte David has missed back-to-back practices with a sore leg. It’s nothing to be concerned about, and the team is being cautious. The Bucs just want to get the 35-year old David to Week 1 healthy and he may not even play in the preseason. If he does, it could just be one series in the preseason finale against Buffalo in Tampa Bay.

Undrafted free agent linebackers Nick Jackson and John Bullock are taking advantage of extra reps without David and Anthony Walker Jr. available for practice. On Thursday, head coach Todd Bowles praised both of the rookies for their intelligence. Jackson had a sack on a blitz and looks like he’s the better athlete.

Bucs ILB Nick Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs safeties have made a ton of plays so far in practice with starters Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith looking great in pads. Both Smith and Winfield are flying all over the field. Winfield is tied for the team lead with two interceptions and dropped what could’ve been his third during Monday’s practice. Smith has one interception and is making a smooth transition to strong safety.

Backup safeties Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather have each shined in pads this week. Merriweather recorded his second interception in camp during Thursday’s practice in what would have been a pick-six against Kyle Trask. Izien has made plays at both safety spots in addition to nickelback and has been one of the best defensive backs in practice. Backup Shilo Sanders needs to start making some plays or he’s destined for the practice squad.

The nickel cornerback job might be the most competitive position on defense right now. Jacob Parrish, the team’s third-round pick, has played very well in coverage, but undrafted free agent J.J. Roberts looks like an absolute steal. Unless he bombs in the preseason, Roberts is on his way to making the 53-man roster because he’s made so many plays in practice. Both Parrish and Roberts seem poised to receive playing time as rookies.

Bucs DB J.J. Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Cornerback Zyon McCollum has been very sticky in coverage and he and Mike Evans have been going toe-to-toe in quite a few reps. McCollum has yet to come down with an interception, but he’s not giving up many plays and he’s broken up a few passes. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was at practice on Thursday to meet with assistant general manager and capologist Mike Greenberg about an extension. We’ll see if the team is interested in doing one now or waiting until after his contract year to work on a new deal.

Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison are battling for the starting job opposite McCollum, and the rookie came up with his first interception of camp in Tuesday’s night practice. He’s gotten beat a few times, but he’s also had some really bright moments in coverage. If it ends up being a tie in camp for the right to start, the winner may be the player who makes more plays on the ball rather than going with the more experienced cornerback.

FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• As disappointing as it is to not have quarterback Michael Pratt practicing in training camp due to an injury, it’s even more disappointing that undrafted free agent defensive Desmond Watson has yet to come off the NFI (non-football illness) list and practice with the team. Watson, who weighs well over 400 pounds, did not lose the amount of weight the Bucs wanted him to lose during the summer, so he’s not eligible to practice with the team yet.

Bucs DT Desmond Watson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This really damages Watson’s chances of making the practice squad. He was never going to make the 53-man roster weighing over 400 pounds. At best, the former Florida Gator could have battled for a role on the practice squad. But he has yet to even put the pads on and played football. All Watson has done is run sprints in an effort to lose enough weight to practice.

Keep in mind that Watson was never a starter at Florida because of his weight. He arrived in Gainesville at 380 pounds and proceeded to put on 80 pounds while in the Gators program. Unless something dramatic happens with his commitment to losing weight, it is doubtful that Watson will make it in the NFL. If he can’t practice, he can’t show the team what he can possibly do.

• David Walker’s unfortunate knee injury meant that we had to cancel his Camp Diary series after just one installment. The media is not allowed to talk to players on injured reserve. So we’ve recruited another rookie on the defensive side of the ball – defensive tackle Elijah Roberts – to fill in for the rest of training camp.

As fate would have it, Roberts and Walker are actually roommates and have become good friends. We’re wishing Walker a full and speedy recovery from his torn ACL and thankful to Roberts for stepping in. You may remember Roberts from his post-draft appearance on the Pewter Report Podcast, where he was a fantastic guest. Look for Roberts’ first Camp Diary installment on Friday or Saturday on PewterReport.com.

• Thank you for helping our PewterReportTV YouTube channel reach 20,000 subscribers before August 1. We crossed the 20,000 threshold on Thursday night, allowing us to hit our goal of hitting that number by the end of August.

We have some great Bucs guests lined up for the Pewter Report Podcast in the month of August, including offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, outside linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote and assistant general manager Rob McCartney. So stay tuned for those announcements shortly.

On Monday at 4:00 p.m. ET, we’ll be joined by former Tampa Bay head coach and Bucs Ring of Honor member Tony Dungy, who will share his memories of his time leading the team as well as his assessment of the 2025 Buccaneers. Should be great show as we welcome Dungy back as a repeat guest.