SR’s Fab 5 returns next Friday as Tampa Bay’s 2020 training camp is officially underway. With just a month until the start of the regular season – and without the benefit of a preseason this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic – let’s forecast the Bucs’ 53-man roster for the upcoming season.

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Without any offseason mini-camps or OTAs (organized team activities) or any preseason games this year to grow and develop young players, all NFL teams, including Tampa Bay, will be relying on experienced veterans in 2020 more than ever before. In fact, PewterReport.com has just one undrafted free agent making this year’s 53-man roster.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL and the NFL Players Association have agreed to expand the practice squad to 16 players, which is where the majority of undrafted free agents that Tampa Bay signed could land. There will be some tough decisions for Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, his coaching staff and the team’s personnel department to make by the end of August. With that being said, let’s rollout the Bucs’ 53-man roster predictions.

QUARTERBACKS – 3

QB Tom Brady
QB Blaine Gabbert
QB Ryan Griffin

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: The Buccaneers will keep three quarterbacks this year due to COVID-19 concerns. If Brady and his backup, whichever quarterback that ends up being, contracts the coronavirus during preparation for an upcoming game Tampa Bay’s passing game could come to a screeching halt. That’s where the third quarterback, either Gabbert or Griffin, who would likely be sequestered away from the team, could come in to potentially save the day. The Bucs kept two quarterbacks last year – starter Jameis Winston and Griffin – after Gabbert was lost for the year with a preseason shoulder injury. But both Gabbert and Griffin have value because they know Arians’ offense, and Griffin really won over the coaching staff last August by leading the NFL in preseason passing yards and touchdowns.

RUNNING BACKS – 5

RB Ronald Jones II
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
RB Dare Ogunbowale
RB Raymond Calais

Bucs RB LeSean McCoy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: Last year the Buccaneers only kept three running backs, but that could change this year as Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich vow to become a more balanced offense with an improved running game. Jones has been anointed as the starter after winning the job late last year over Peyton Barber. While Jones certainly improved last year as a runner and receiver, he has just one 100-yard game in his two-year NFL career and has less than 800 career rushing yards. General manager Jason Licht was wise to bring in McCoy, an 11-year veteran, to serve as a mentor and give the team an experienced reserve. Brady loves to throw the ball to the running backs out of the backfield on check downs to avoid sacks, and all of the backs in Tampa Bay’s stable of runners have that capability, especially McCoy, who has 503 career catches, which is more than Mike Evans (462) has in his six-year career. McCoy’s presence is even more valuable given that both rookies, Vaughn and Calais, has missed valuable training camp time as they have spent time on the on the COVID-19 list. Vaughn has the potential to steal some reps from Jones and McCoy if he can get the offense down, while Ogunbowale is valuable on third downs and special teams, serving as the special teams captain last year. Calais beats out T.J. Logan for the return specialist job.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 5

WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Scotty Miller
WR Justin Watson
WR Tyler Johnson

Bucs WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: The Bucs only keep five receivers because they keep five running backs. Tampa Bay is expected to run more two tight end sets due to the acquisition of Rob Gronkowski and that means only having two receivers on the field in 12 personnel sets. Evans and Godwin are 1,000-yard Pro Bowlers, and Gronkowski will make up for the loss of production from Breshad Perriman’s departure, as he will essentially be the third target for Brady in Tampa Bay’s passing game hierarchy. Miller and Watson showed improvement as the year went on and have a distinct advantage over the team’s rookie receivers this year in the fact that they know Arians’ offense. Miller brings the deep speed Arians likes on offense and has the best chance to win the No. 3 job, while Watson brings size at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. Johnson, the team’s fifth-round pick, has plenty of promise, but not having a rookie mini-camp and OTAs to learn the offense and impress the coaching staff will stunt his development. He’ll make the team as the fifth receiver and will have to learn on the run in practice without the benefit of any preseason games this year.

TIGHT ENDS – 4

TE Rob Gronkowski
TE O.J. Howard
TE Cameron Brate
TE Antony Auclair

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski – Photo by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

ANALYSIS: Gronkowski’s addition is a huge because he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber talent when healthy and his rapport with Brady is so strong due to their time together in New England. The 31-year old Gronkowski should have a great impact on the development of the team’s younger tight ends, especially Howard, who saw his fifth-year option for 2021 get picked up by the team. Howard needs to avoid turnovers and get off to a quicker start in 2020. Brate is a reliable red zone weapon in the passing game, but back, hip and rib injuries have taken their total and limited his ability as a blocker. Auclair beats out Tanner Hudson for the fourth tight end spot due to his blocking prowess and his ability to play on special teams. The Bucs boast one of the best and deepest tight end groups in the NFL this year.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – 9

LT Donovan Smith
LG Ali Marpet
C Ryan Jensen
RG Alex Cappa
RT Tristan Wirfs

T-G Joel Haeg
OT Josh Wells
G Aaron Stinnie

C Anthony Fabiano

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: A new rule states that NFL teams must dress eight offensive linemen on game days this year. The Bucs kept nine O-linemen on their 53-man roster last year and that will again be the case in 2020. Smith essentially enters a contract year this season as 2020 is his last year featuring guaranteed money despite being under contract in 2021. Marpet and Jensen are the best two linemen and could get some Pro Bowl consideration this season. Cappa improved last year in his first season as a starter, but may still be the weak link along the offensive line. How high is his ceiling? That has yet to be revealed. Wirfs, the Bucs’ first-round pick this season, has the physical talent to start right away, but is he ready to face Saints Pro Bowler Cam Jordan, who had 15.5 sacks last year, in Week 1 without the benefit of a rookie mini-camp, OTAs or any preseason games? Don’t be surprised if Haeg, a veteran who replaces Earl Watford, gets the starting nod early on as Wirfs learns the offense and adjusts to the speed of the game in the NFL. Wells sticks around as Smith’s backup at left tackle, but also has the ability to play right tackle. Stinnie edges Zack Bailey and undrafted free agent John Molchon for the backup guard role because of his experience. He’s played in six NFL games. If Stinnie can also be the Bucs’ backup center, Bailey will make the 53-man roster as another guard. If not, then Fabiano will serve as Jensen’s backup.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN – 6

DT Ndamukong Suh
NT Vita Vea
DE Will Gholston
NT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DT Khalil Davis
DE Jeremiah Ledbetter

Bucs DL Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea and Will Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: The Bucs kept six defensive linemen last year and will do the same again in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme. The starters – Suh, Vea and Gholston – are entrenched, and contributed to Tampa Bay’s No. 1-ranked rushing defense last year. This could be Suh’s last hurrah, while it could be Vea’s breakout year, as the 347-pound nose tackle has Pro Bowl potential. Nunez-Roches has added size this year and is attempting to weigh in close to 320 pounds to serve as the backup nose tackle and three-technique tackle. Davis, the team’s sixth-round pick, also has the potential to play both defensive tackle spots, but is better suited to play three-tech due to his initial quickness and athleticism. Ledbetter impressed last year in training camp as Gholston’s backup before sustaining an injury. He fends off Patrick O’Connor for the sixth and final defensive lineman spot on the 53-man roster.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

OLB Shaquil Barrett
OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
OLB Anthony Nelson
OLB Quinton Bell

OLB Michael Divinity

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: The Bucs keep five outside linebackers but only two – Barrett, the team’s franchise player, and Pierre-Paul – have notched sacks at the NFL level. That duo combined to record 28 sacks last season with Barrett leading the league with a career-high 19.5 sacks, which broke Tampa Bay’s single-season record set by Warren Sapp in 2000. Pierre-Paul, who should be voted as a team captain this year, is a veteran leader and returns after signing a lucrative two-year deal this offseason. The Bucs couldn’t afford to keep Carl Nassib, and his veteran presence and sack production (12.5 sacks over the last two years) will be missed. Nelson, last year’s fourth-round pick, struggled to get on the field with knee and hamstring injuries and had very little production. The Bucs are giving him the first shot at replacing Nassib as the No. 3 outside linebacker. The athletic Bell, an undrafted free agent from a year ago, edges Kazhin Daniels for the fourth spot on the depth chart, and after Barrett and Pierre-Paul, all of the team’s young edge rushers will sorely miss the developmental opportunity that a preseason would have afforded. Divinity, who may also be cross-trained at inside linebacker, sticks as the only undrafted free agent making the team this year. His ability to rush from the edge, as well as blitz from the inside, helps him stick as the 53rd player on the roster.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 4

ILB Lavonte David
ILB Devin White
ILB Kevin Minter

ILB Jack Cichy

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

ANALYSIS: David, a long-time team captain, remains one of the best linebackers in the NFL and made a seamless transition to Bowles’ 3-4 defense last year. He and White, who was tied with Suh for the team lead with four fumble recoveries, including two for defensive touchdowns, are perhaps the fastest inside linebacker duo in the league. White, last year’s first-round pick, should emerge as a star this year after ending his rookie season on a high note. Look for David and White, who combined for 3.5 sacks in 2020, to become more active and productive as blitzers this year. Minter, a seasoned veteran, returns as someone capable of stepping in and playing either the MIKE or the MO inside linebacker position. Minter is also a stalwart on special teams. Cichy, who is also an important special teams contributor, really made strides on defense last year during the preseason. He’s effective when healthy, and that experience should give him the edge over the faster and more athletic Noah Dawkins.

DEFENSIVE BACKS – 9

CB Carlton Davis
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB Jamel Dean
SS Jordan Whitehead
FS Andrew Adams
FS Antoine Winfield, Jr.
SS Mike Edwards
CB Ryan Smith
CB Mazzi Wilkins

Bucs safeties Mike Edwards and Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay will keep nine defensive backs this year and has three young, promising starters at cornerback in Davis, Murphy-Bunting and Dean. That trio combined for 44 pass breakups, but only six interceptions – led by Murphy-Bunting’s three. In order for the Bucs’ young DBs to take the next step, more interceptions are needed in the secondary, as the safety positions only netted two a year ago. Whitehead and Adams received the most starts in 2020, and will likely be the starters in New Orleans in Week 1 due to their experience. But the Bucs drafted Edwards in the third round last year, and Winfield, Jr. in the second round this past April to provide competition. Edwards saw plenty of action, mostly at free safety, and was slow to develop, yet has promise. His athleticism and versatility to play strong safety and nickel cornerback give him the edge over M.J. Stewart, a former second-round pick who won’t make the 53-man roster this year. Winfield, who had seven interceptions last year at Minnesota, will likely emerge as the starting free safety in time, but his growth will be stunted by not having a rookie mini-camp, OTAs or the preseason to learn and acclimate himself to Bowles’ defense. Smith, a special teams demon, provides experience and depth at cornerback in addition to covering punts and kicks, while Wilkins makes the team as a developmental cornerback with enough experience in Bowles’ scheme to stick over undrafted free agent Parnell Motley.

SPECIALISTS – 3

K Matt Gay
P Bradley Pinion
LS Zach Triner

Bucs K Matt Gay, P Bradley Pinion and LS Zach Triner – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANALYSIS: The Bucs have high hopes for Gay, who entered Week 17 connecting on 84.4 percent of his field goals before three costly misses against Atlanta – all in the troublesome South end zone – dropped his field goal percentage to 77 percent for his rookie season. Gay has a strong leg capable of drilling 50-yard field goals and should improve this season after a year’s worth of experience in 2020. Arians says that Gay will spend substantial time at Raymond James Stadium, especially the South end, so he can master the home field this season. Helping Gay will be Pinion, who serves as the Bucs’ holder and kickoff specialist, in addition to being Tampa Bay’s punter. The team is very happy with the job that the veteran Pinion did last year in all phases of his game. Triner returns as the Bucs’ long snapper and was solid in that role in his first year in Tampa Bay.