A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough question. This week’s prompt: Which Bucs backup steps into the starting lineup in 2025?

Scott Reynolds: The Time Is Now For SirVocea Dennis To Lead Bucs Defense

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs loved what they saw from second-year inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis in a very small sample size last year. The player called “Voss” was turning into a boss while platooning with K.J. Britt through the first four games of the season. Dennis had notched 22 tackles and a sack of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in three and a half games before a shoulder injury prematurely ended his season. With seven tackles in the season-opening win over Washington and a career-high 11 tackles in a Week 2 win at Detroit, Dennis was on his way to unseating Britt as the starter at middle linebacker.

Dennis earned a 67.3 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus and an impressive 74.3 coverage grade. Without Dennis available in coverage, the Bucs struggled mightily to defend the middle of the field all year. Britt, a free agent, is not expected to return this offseason and the team is unsure whether 35-year-old Lavonte David will return or retire. With very little experience and depth at inside linebacker, the time is now for Dennis to take command at middle linebacker – or at the money ‘backer role that David plays if the legend doesn’t return for a 14th season.

Fresh off shoulder surgery, Dennis will need to prove he can stay healthy, as he’s missed time in both of his seasons in Tampa Bay. But the former Pitt star is a very cerebral player who knows Todd Bowles’ defense and is equally adept at blitzing the quarterback and dropping in coverage. He needs to become a more sure tackler, evidenced by his 19% missed tackle rate, which is too high. But with more experience, Dennis has the ability to develop into a high-quality starter in Tampa Bay, and he has the leadership ability to eventually wear a “C” on his chest as a team captain if he produces like he’s capable of.

Matt Matera: Christian Izien Has Started Before, He Can Do It Again

Bucs S Christian Izien, CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have found a knack over the last decade of being able to find some undrafted free agents and have them turn out to be great values for the team. Add defensive back Christian Izien, a 2023 undrafted free agent to that list. Though he doesn’t have great size, Izien is an all heart and hustle type of player that leaves everything on the field. So why could he start in 2025? Because he was the team’s starting nickel before and is capable of doing so once again.

He won the starting nickel job back in 2023. The Bucs value that position as a starting role and is essentially their base defense. Don’t let the four starts fool you. Izien went on to record two interceptions and a forced fumble for Tampa Bay’s defense. Last season was different for Izien, however. With the Bucs drafting Tykee Smith, he got the nod at nickel and Izien became a backup.

He showed his true value though, playing everywhere. In Week 1 he played at cornerback because the Bucs were so banged up. Izien also filled in at nickel when Smith was out and played his natural position at safety when Antoine Winfield Jr. or Jordan Whitehead weren’t available.

Izien had an interception last season and wound up starting 10 games because others were injured. Izien also finished the season on injured reserve.  This upcoming season, there’s a chance the Bucs move on from Whitehead and push Smith to safety, which leaves an opportunity for Izien to go back into the slot. That shouldn’t preclude Tampa Bay from drafting another defensive back to compete with Izien, but it sets up a lot of good depth knowing Izien understands how to play well in a starting role.

Bailey Adams: Elijah Klein Could Complete A Young, Formidable O-Line

Bucs G Elijah Klein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Right now, four of the five spots on the Bucs’ starting offensive line are set, and they’re set for the foreseeable future. There’s obviously franchise left tackle Tristan Wirfs, an under-the-radar stud in Luke Goedeke at right tackle, a much-improved Cody Mauch at right tackle and a promising young center in Graham Barton. Wirfs already has a long-term deal, Goedeke will get one soon, Mauch has two years left on his rookie deal and Barton has three (plus a fifth-year option) remaining. So, what about the left guard spot?

The Bucs could re-sign Ben Bredeson to another one-year deal this offseason after he did a solid job at filling a need at left guard in 2024. But I can’t help but wonder if 2024 sixth-round pick Elijah Klein has an outside shot at stepping in and stepping up in 2025.

The versatile lineman out of UTEP was largely a right guard for the Miners, but did show an ability to bounce around to different positions and even did so for Tampa Bay in last year’s preseason. That even included some time at right tackle.

But going into 2025, I think Klein could make the full switch from right guard to left guard and solidify a young and impressive offensive line for the Bucs, one that would be set for the future with all five starters under the age of 27 at the start of this next season. Klein definitely has the physicality and aggression to help the run game continue its ascension in 2025, but he’ll need to make a leap in pass protection in order to give the coaching staff enough confidence to start him in between Wirfs and Barton.

I like Klein’s chances of making that leap. He showed promise in the preseason last year, and given general manager Jason Licht’s track record with scouting and drafting offensive linemen, I’m inclined to believe that the 2024 sixth-rounder may be another Day 3 gem who assumes a starting role – potentially as soon as this year.

Josh Queipo: Chris Braswell Had Under-The-Radar Improvements Late Last Year

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: USA Today

Lord knows I have been trying to lead the charge to bring in a premier edge defender to Tampa Bay this offseason. Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, Josh Sweat – someone who can help elevate the Bucs’ front four to put head coach Todd Bowles in a position where he can creatively blitz from a position of want, not a position of need.

But one player myself and others have failed to truly consider is soon-to-be second-year outside linebacker Chris Braswell. His sack numbers in the back half of the season weren’t sexy like Yaya Diaby’s the year before. But we have seen with Diaby, as well as Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson before him, sacks are a highly volatile statistic that are not stable year-to-year.

Looking beyond the sacks, there was real development from Braswell in the second half of the season. His pressure rate went from 7.9% through the first eight weeks of the season to 14.3% from week nine through the Bucs’ Wild Card loss to the Commanders. That kind of consistent pressure will play if he can keep it up over a larger sample size.

And there is a real belief within the Bucs organization that Diaby can be a 10-sack player. If they see another level up from him, pairing that with a year-two jump from Braswell could be all the lift they feel they need. That would leave the organization in a position to pour considerable free-agent resources into the back seven of the defense and look for value in the draft via best player available. And if that player is an edge rusher at pick No. 19, Braswell would be in a position to compete for, and possibly win, a training camp battle for the starting spot. At least initially.

Adam Slivon: Jalen McMillan Will Be Big Part Of Bucs’ Offense In 2025

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jalen McMillan had a slow start to his rookie year. Through the Bucs’ first 12 games, McMillan played just eight of them and had 13 receptions for 145 receiving yards and a touchdown. After it appeared that he would have a disappointing and trying first NFL season, he did a complete 180 down the stretch.

Over his last five games, he had 24 receptions for 316 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. After finishing last season off on a high note, McMillan’s outlook is a lot brighter, even if veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin re-signs this offseason.

With the way he flashed playing next to Mike Evans, new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will have the fun challenge of finding ways for quarterback Baker Mayfield to distribute the football to Evans, McMillan, and likely Godwin through the air. At his first press conference after being promoted to offensive playcaller, Grizzard sounded excited to help the former Washington Huskies star reach his potential.

“The goal now is to continue where he left off, and now, he’s someone that we can rely on and get the ball in his hands as much as possible,” Grizzard said.

Expect plenty of three wide receiver sets to maximize the talent at the top of the wide receiver room. That bumps McMillan from being a depth piece to a critical starter in what was a top-five scoring offense in 2024 and saw Mayfield throw for a career-high 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns.

Emerging as a reliable target, the two formed chemistry throughout the year. He should continue seeing the ball often and playing next to the two best wide receivers in Bucs’ history will allow him to draw favorable matchups and make big plays. McMillan stepped up in a big way when the offense needed him to last year, and he should receive a hefty dose of offensive snaps and targets in 2025.