The 2022 preseason is officially over and the Bucs are now tasked with trimming their roster from 80 players down to 53. With the league deadline on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, 27 players will be cut from each team potentially ending some of their football careers indefinitely. Fortunately for some, the NFL has increased practice squad limits to 16 players. That means as little as 11 players will be out of a job if brought back.

Here is my Bucs final 53-man roster prediction ahead of roster cuts – with a bonus practice squad prediction.

Quarterbacks – 3

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tom Brady
Blaine Gabbert
Kyle Trask

Cut:

Ryan Griffin

Analysis: Pretty straight forward at the for the Bucs at the quarterback position. Brady is the starter, Gabbert is the top backup and Trask will probably be inactive during game days. Griffin returns to the practice squad.

Running Backs – 3

Leonard Fournette
Rachaad White
Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Cut: 

Giovani Bernard
Patrick Laird

Analysis: Fournette is the starter, but White and Vaughn have shown that they can be relied on in all three phases of the position. Bernard is released to move Ryan Jensen to short-term injured reserve. He could re-sign with the team to either the active roster or the practice squad.

Wide Receivers – 6

Bucs WR Jaelon Darden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Russell Gage
Julio Jones
Tyler Johnson
Jaelon Darden

Cut:

Scotty Miller
Breshad Perriman
Devon Thompkins
Kaylon Gieger
Jerreth Sterns

Analysis: After an intense battle at the receiver position the final two spots behind of the top four solidified themselves pretty quickly. Johnson had a great camp and impressed in games. While Darden is the de facto return man and has taken a step this season in terms of playing speed and knowledge of the playbook. Thompkins could be back after Jensen is placed on I.R. if he clears waivers or make it to the practice squad. The Bucs are gauging interest on Miller’s trade value from other teams, but his time as a Buccaneer seems to be over. Perriman is a near lock to return to the practice squad with spots for Gieger and possibly Sterns if they clear waivers.

Tight Ends – 4

Cam Brate
Kyle Rudolph
Cade Otton
Ko Kieft

Cut:

JJ Howland

Analysis: Brate is penciled in as the starter but will yield to Rudolph on blocking situations. Otton has really impressed throughout camp and in preseason games. He could become the starter before season’s end. Kieft brings a different element to the offense we haven’t seen for a while as a fullback. He’s a tenacious blocker with surprising hands. Howland is a strong candidate for the practice squad if he clears waivers unclaimed.

Offensive Line – 10

Bucs OL Brandon Walton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

LT Donovan Smith
LG Luke Goedeke
C Robert Hainsey
RG Shaq Mason
RT Tristan Wirfs
OT Josh Wells
G-C Nick Leverett
C John Molchon
G-T Brandon Walton
C Ryan Jensen*

Cut: 

OT Dylan Cook
OT Fred Johnson
G Sadarius Hutcherson

Analysis: Injuries to Hainsey and Leverett, though not deemed to be long term, force the Bucs to keep an extra lineman on the team in Walton. Jensen will be placed on short-term injured reserve with the hope he can come back by seasons end. Wells is the team’s top reserve at swing tackle. Molchon provides and extra layer of insurance at center with Hainsey and Leverett battling injuries from Indianapolis. Johnson is could be brought back once Jensen is placed on IR. Cook and Hutcherson could return to the practice squad.

Defensive Line – 6

DE Will Gholston
NT Vita Vea
DT Akiem Hicks
NT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DT Logan Hall
DE Pat O’Connor

Cut:

NT Deadrin Senat
NT Benning Potoa’e
DT Willington Previlon
DT Mike Greene

Analysis: No change to this group, which has solidified their spots early in camp. The Bucs could bring two or three of these D-lineman back to the practice squad. All four have impressed in games at some point.

Outside Linebacker – 5

Bucs OLB Carl Nassib – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Shaquil Barrett
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Anthony Nelson
Carl Nassib
Genard Avery

Cut:

Andre Anthony
Elijah Ponder
Jordan Young

Analysis: Avery only played five snaps on Saturday’s loss to the Colts and no special teams. But the way Bucs head coach Todd Bowles spoke about the addition leads me to believe there is a place on the roster for him. Anthony came on late during camp and showed up with sacks in the last two contests and should be back on the practice squad. While Ponder’s time with the Bucs is likely over.

Inside Linebacker – 4

Devin White
Lavonte David
K.J. Britt
Olakunle Fatukasi

Cut:

Grant Stuard
J.J. Russell

Analysis: One of the more surprising cuts of the roster is Fatukasi making it over Stuard. Though Mr. Irrelevant is a good special teams player, you can clearly see his limitations as a linebacker. Fatukasi not only excelled on special teams in the preseason but flashed as a linebacker as well. He finished with the most tackles on the team in the preseason (20). Stuard has also had health issues limiting his availability, but could return on the practice squad.

Cornerback – 5

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

Carlton Davis III
Jamel Dean
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Zyon McCollum
Dee Delaney

Cut:

Rashard Robinson
Don Gardner
Kyler McMichael

Analysis: Delaney lands the final spot as he has the most experience in the scheme. He can play inside and out, and was on the first units on special teams. Robinson had a good camp but was held out of the team’s final preseason game with an injury. He’s limited as a corner but has been a good teams player when healthy. Gardner put good tape out the first two games and in camp. But he struggled against the Colts with several missed tackles and receptions allowed. McMicheal has been just a guy in camp. Gardner and Robinson could return on the practice squad.

Safety – 4

Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Mike Edwards
Keanu Neal
Logan Ryan

Cut:

Nolan Turner
Chris Cooper

Analysis: Turner was given every chance to convince the Bucs to keep five safeties in the Colts game. He played the most snaps of any defender and special teamer. But, Turner struggled with tackling and was out of position on a few plays. He should still be in the Bucs’ plans as a practice squad candidate. Cooper was on the practice squad all year last season but has probably lost that spot to Turner.

Specialists – 3

Bucs K Ryan Succop – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

P Jake Camarda
LS Zach Triner
K Ryan Succop

Cut:

Jose Borregales

Analysis: Borregales was given every opportunity to supplant Succop. But two missed field goals in the preseason isn’t going to win you the job, especially when Succop is hitting 52-yarders. There’s an outside chance he clears waivers and comes back to the practice squad. But Borregales probably looks for an opportunity to be the guy elsewhere.

Bucs Practice Squad Prediction

QB Ryan Griffin
RB Giovani Bernard
WR Kaylon Gieger
WR Breshad Perriman
WR Devon Thompkins
TE J.J. Howland
OL Sadarius Hutchinson
OT Dylan Cook
DT Deadrin Senat
DT Mike Greene
DT Benning Potoa’e
OLB Andre Anthony
ILB Grant Stuard
CB Don Gardner
CB Rashard Robinson
S Troy Warner