At the beginning of Bucs camp we took a look at the camp battles at the various positions on the roster. Then after the first week we did an update on offense and defense. As camp comes to a close and two rounds of cuts passed, a final practice and preseason game approaching, we’ll take a final look at what players are still in the battle for the last spots on the roster.

Quarterback:

It’s pretty safe to say that Ryan Griffin is going to be a cut casualty due to the drafting of Kyle Trask. This has essentially been a forgone conclusion since Trask was selected in the the second round. After two poor preseason showings it’s evident now more than ever. However, Griffin could be back on the practice squad if no other team scoops him up.

Running back:

This position is locked in with Ronald Jones II, Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard but the workload for each remains to be determined. On Thursday, run game coordinator Harold Goodwin said the starting spot would be the Bruce Arians’ and Byron Leftwich’s call but said all three backs bring strong skills to the table. Ke’Shawn Vaughn has had a solid camp and played well in the preseason as well. Saturday’s game against the Texans may bring some clarity on how they plan to use each back.

Wide Receiver:

Bucs KR Jaydon Mickens – Photo by: USA Today

With the top six set, it really comes down to whether they decide to keep a seventh receiver. Something Arians hasn’t ruled out as a possibility. Much of that will depend on the readiness of rookie Jaelon Darden in the return game. If the staff feels he’s not capable of handling those duties Jaydon Micken may make the team as a reliable option. Much like the rest of the wide receiver depth, Mickens could be a target for teams looking for a returner. Travis Jonsen is a good bet to be back on the practice squad, as is Cyril Grayson due to his speed.

Tight End:

Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cam Brate are the locks, but the question still remains, will the Bucs keep a fourth tight end? While Tanner Hudson has caught nearly everything thrown his way in camp and games, he still hasn’t shown enough as a blocker. Arians has stated over the last few weeks of camp saying, that he’s always been able to catch the ball but he’s regressed as a blocker.

With a bevy of pass catchers it might not warrant having a one dimensional player like Hudson on the active roster at the expense of a position of value. Instead he could be a practice squad candidate like he was last year or perhaps he’s offered in a trade to a tight end needy team. He may get claimed outright as well. Codey McElroy has had flashes as has Jerrel Adams with one of the two liking landing on the practice squad if Hudson doesn’t.

Offensive Line:

At this point it’s really Nick Leverett’s job to lose if the Bucs keep nine lineman. Leverett has played all across the line, being dubbed the new Earl Watford. Playing at tackle in the first preseason game then center, for the first time ever in his second, he has shown the versatility coveted by teams. Tackle Brad Seaton is still trying to bridge the gap and has played well this camp but Leverett may have pulled too far ahead. Seaton and guard/center John Molchon could land on the practice squad if they pass through waivers.

Defensive Line:

Bucs DE Pat O’Connor – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This one is a bit tricky. With Arians’ recent comments about keeping 10 LBs or 10 DBs, do the Bucs keep only six defensive lineman? Who becomes the odd man out? With Patrick O’Connor poised to make the team, where does that leave Khalil Davis? Could Steve McLendon be the odd man out? I’ve maintained that McLendon could be the player that that doesn’t make the initial roster if they don’t think they can get Davis back on the practice squad through waivers. If they decide to keep seven defensive lineman both are good bets to make the team. Benning Potoa’e and Jeremiah Ledbetter might find themselves on the practice squad if unclaimed.

Outside Linebacker:

The Bucs look like they got a steal in first rounder Joe Tryon -Shoyinka. He rounds out the group with starters Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul and reserve Anthony Nelson. Quinton Bell was cut on Sunday leaving an injured Cam Gill, converted defensive tackle Elijah Ponder and Ladarius Hamilton vying for a potential fifth spot.

Gill was promoted to the active roster halfway through the 2020 campaign and played a key role on special teams. The most likely scenario for him is to make the initial 53 before getting put on the short term IR while he recovers from injury. Out of Ponder and Hamilton, if the Bucs were to carry one of them until Gill was healthy enough to join the team, Ponder has had the better camp and has the best shot of the two. If they don’t go with five look for him to rejoin the team on the practice squad.

Inside Linebacker:

As Arians said Wednesday, the team has three dogs fighting for one bone. Those dogs – K.J. Britt, Joe Jones and Grant Stuard – haven’t really made the impact the team might have been hoping for. While Britt looks to be ahead of the two, it’s not by an overwhelming amount. All three players have limitation in their game.

Jones has the most special teams experience of the three but has been behind Britt on the defensive depth chart all camp. While Stuard plays with heart and intelligence, his physical limitations when playing defense will be hard to cover up if he is needed to play significant snaps. The competition looks like it will go down to the wire Saturday night with the losers joining the practice squad. One caveat here is if better option present themselves during cut down, this is the biggest spot on the roster I could see the Bucs looking for a waiver claim.

Cornerback:

Bucs CB Dee Delaney – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Antonio Hamilton may have the NFL experience, but does he have the inside track to the job? He has played almost entirely in the slot for the Bucs, though Arians recent comments suggest that they are looking for someone who can play more outside.

“If there was a fifth [corner], then we have plenty of nickels,” Arians said. “Right now, it’s just a matter of having enough outside people. We have plenty of inside people.”

Dee Delaney, however, has been playing a majority of the time outside. Logging 49 snaps in Saturday’s game against the Titans. He has also drawn a ton of  praise from Arians several times over the past two weeks.

Then there’s Herb Miller, who according to Arians is still in the mix. Although he faces longer odds as he hasn’t progressed the way the coaching staff has hoped. Chris Wilcox is certainly the odd man out here, but could land on the practice squad.

Safety:

This is a two-man race between first-year Javon Hagan and recently signed Chris Cooper. Hagan has a large lead, but Cooper’s recent special teams performance and Arians’ comments might not have him out of it yet. Hagan has shown his versatility playing both safety spots and has come up with some really nice play in the preseason on both defense and special teams. If the Bucs are looking more so for depth at the safety position, Hagan probably offers more there while also being a key teams contributor.

With Ross Cockrell’s ability to play safety, as he has shown all summer, a big special teams game from Cooper could sway the team to go with the lesser defensive option. Either way, look for the Bucs to keep a safety on the practice squad, especially with Jordan Whitehead’s injury status.

53-Man Roster Projection

Offense

Quarterback (3): Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask*

Running Back (4): Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones II, Giovani Bernard, Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Wide Receiver (6): Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson, Jaelon Darden*

Tight End (3): Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate

Tackle (3): Donovan Smith, Tristan Wirfs, Josh Wells

Guard (4): Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa, Aaron Stinnie, Nick Leverett (OT/C)

Center (2): Ryan Jensen, Robert Hainsey*

Defense

Defensive Line (6): Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea, Will Gholston, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Pat O’Connor, Khalil Davis,

Outside Linebacker (5): Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka*, Anthony Nelson, Cam Gill (IR), OLB waiver pick up

Inside Linebacker (5): Lavonte David, Devin White, Kevin Minter, K.J. Brit, Joe Jones

Cornerback (5): Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Ross Cockrell, Antonio Hamilton

Safety (4): Jordan Whitehead, Antoine Winfield Jr., Mike Edwards, Javon Hagan

Specialists

Kicker: Ryan Succop

Punter: Bradley Pinion

Long-Snapper: Zach Triner

Practice Squad:

Offense: QB Ryan Griffin, WR Travis Jonsen, WR Cyril Grayson, TE Tanner Hudson,  OL John Molchon, OT Brad Seaton, OL/RB after cuts

Defense: DL Steve McLendon, DL Benning Potoa’e, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, ILB Grant Stuard*, OLB Elijah Ponder*, CB Dee Delaney, CB Chris Wilcox*, S Chris Cooper

Specialist: K Jose Borregales*

* Denotes rookie