After “solidifying” their 53-man roster last Sunday, the Bucs immediately made a change early last week. The move was effectively a waiver trade of defensive players. After Kansas City claimed outside linebacker Jack Pyburn, who excelled for the Bucs in the preseason, they waived cornerback Kevin Knowles. The Bucs, in kind, claimed Knowles.

While there has been public speculation the team needed to add a cornerback because there are depth concerns, this move is not one the team made to strengthen its defense. Knowles was brought in for one reason and one reason only – special Teams. Allow me to show you.

The Bucs special teams has long been a thorn in their side. Per Sumer Sports, the Bucs were 24th in EPA/punt at -0.052. And the kickoff unit was so abysmal – ranking 30th in field position allowed (33.2-yard line) – head coach Todd Bowles admitted towards the end of the season last year that the team stopped trying to induce a return altogether. The Bucs eventually just conceded 30 yards of field position because they lost confidence in their ability to stop a kickoff return.

This year the team has made a concerted effort to reverse that sentiment. Danny Smith was hired as the special teams coordinator to replace Thomas McGaughey. Miles Killebrew is on the team because he is a two-time Pro Bowler and former first-team All-Pro due to his special teams play. Cade Fordham made the team initially, and is back on the practice squad, primarily because of his special teams play.

Knowles is another step in that direction. He is an elite kickoff coverage player and a solid gunner on punt coverage. That’s something the Bucs sorely needed on this roster.

Where Will The Bucs Line Kevin Knowles Up?

What’s interesting now that Kevin Knowles is in Tampa Bay, the question I find myself asking, “Where will he line up on kick coverage?” You’ll notice in the clips I posted above that Knowles was lined up on the left hash in the L5 position. Danny Smith started last year using a bigger body type in the most inside positions on the coverage line (commonly referred to L5 and R5 denoting fifth from the left sideline and fifth from the right sideline).

In Week 1 of the 2025 season, he used Jack Sawyer and Malik Harrison in those positions.

Sawyer and Harrison average over 250 pounds. But by Week 3 Smith had made a specific change to that part of his coverage unit. Here, Chuck Clark and Juan Thorhill had moved into the fifth positions. But they didn’t remain there for long

The most common combination Smith used throughout 2025 was Sawyer with tight end Connor Heyward at 233 pounds. These two were often absorbing double teams, giving their teammates opportunities to make plays.

I get why Kansas City put Knowles in the middle. It forces return units to change their blocking structures. Often those alignments ask bigger body types (fullbacks, tight ends, linebackers) to double those players. If they do that with Knowles it means they have a smaller defensive back now trying to solo block a bigger player, like Anthony Nelson or Ko Kieft, at the 3 or 4. They could try to single Knowles at the 5 with one of those bigger bodies, but now they are asking a slower, clunkier player to try and keep up with Knowles’ speed and change of direction ability.

Because Knowles blends good speed (4.48-second 40-yard dash) with a strong tackling profile, he makes for a unique profile that will stress opposing teams and force them to gameplan for him. How Smith weaponizes Knowles on kick coverage will be fun to watch. Could he move Knowles around within the season, or even a game? I would imagine it’s possible. And that could theoretically wreak havoc for return teams.

Bucs CB Kevin Knowles – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

The interesting layer on top of this is the presence of Killebrew. Through all 89-kickoff coverage snaps the Steelers played last year, Smith never used Killebrew in the 5. That may give us some indication that he won’t deploy Knowles that way, opting to mirror the two players on opposite sides of the field at the 3 or 4. Alternatively, putting the two on the same side and charging kicker Chase McLaughlin to directionally kick to lead to a strength.

With the current kickoff rules still in their infancy, coverage strategy is still in its infancy. Elite players can become queens on a chessboard, changing the math and counters that opposing teams employ to control them. Knowles, who is also a tremendous gunner on punt coverage, is just such a chess piece.

And now the Bucs have him. For the team that has all sorts of room to grow in this area, they are showing a real effort to realize that growth.