Bucs TE Devin Culp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds answers your questions from the @PewterReport X account this week in the Bucs Mailbag. Submit your question to SR each week via X using the hashtag #PRMailbag.  Here are the Bucs questions we chose to answer for this week’s edition.

QUESTION: Is there a scenario in which Devin Culp is used in two-tight end sets over Payne Durham? Is there any possibility that Culp is used to create mismatches in certain packages? Or is he not at that point yet?

ANSWER: I think that is what new Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is finding out in training camp – exactly how and when to use Devin Culp on offense this year. Culp has made a lot of progress in terms of learning the offense and his extensive playing time in the last two games of the 2024 season when Cade Otton was injured accelerated his learning curve. Last year’s seventh-round pick had five catches for 88 yards (17.3 avg.) in those two contests as the backup tight end while Payne Durham started in place of Otton.

The silver lining in the fact that Otton has missed an entire week of practice with a hamstring injury is that Culp has gotten a lot more reps as as a result. He’s a good receiving tight end and certainly the fastest tight end on the roster. His 17.3-yard average last year on a handful of catches was not a surprise given his 4.47 speed.

Bucs TE Devin Culp – Photo by: USA Today

But while Culp was proving himself on the field as a rookie against the Panthers in Week 17 and the Saints in Week 18, Durham also stepped up and had a receiving touchdown in each game while starting for Otton. The two are completely different tight ends with Durham, a big, lumbering 6-foot-5, 260-pound blocking tight end with good hands and the ability to effectively run some short routes. Culp is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds but has the speed to stretch the field and get yards after the catch.

Culp will have to prove that his blocking has gotten better once the preseason starts. If he can show that he is just as effective as Durham is as a blocker, he could overtake him as TE2. But given how he’s 20 pounds lighter than Durham, that might be a stretch. Still, his receiving skills make him a valuable toy for Grizzard to play with in certain packages where Culp could be featured. And it unlocks the possibility of Grizzard getting creative with 13 personnel (three tight ends) because Otton, Durham and Culp can all catch and block, which makes 13 a less predictable personnel grouping.

QUESTION: Is it reasonable to expect the Bucs to carry four offensive tackles this year when healthy, given the hefty signing bonus given to Ben Chukwuma? Looking at the depth chart, it seems as if when Tristan Wirfs comes back it’ll be a backup interior offensive lineman who gets cut.

ANSWER: The Bucs typically carry nine or 10 offensive linemen on their 53-man roster. Last year, it was mostly nine linemen as the team had two versatile veterans in backup center Robert Hainsey, who could also play guard, and Justin Skule, who was Tampa Bay’s swing tackle. I think the Bucs will carry 10 offensive linemen this year, especially if Tristan Wirfs avoids the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but is unable to play the first game or two during the regular season.

The 10 offensive linemen I project right now are Wirfs, left guard Ben Bredeson, center Graham Barton, right guard Cody Mauch, right tackle Luke Goedeke, swing tackle Charlie Heck, guard Elijah Klein, tackle Ben Chukwuma, center Jake Majors and either guard/tackle Raiqwon O’Neal or guard Ben Scott. O’Neal may get the nod early on because he has experience at tackle if Wirfs can’t play at the start of the season.

Bucs OT Ben Chukwuma and G Elijah Klein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs love Chukwuma’s freaky athleticism. He has all the tools to play the position. He just needs experience. Look for him to play a lot in the preseason – perhaps more than any other offensive lineman because if something happens to Heck, who will likely start the season for Wirfs at left tackle, or Goedeke, it would be Chukwuma filling in.

The Nigerian-born Chukwuma has been really impressive in training camp and certainly doesn’t look like a guy who never played high school football and only has two years of experience at Georgia State under his belt. There’s a good chance that Chukwuma would be the Bucs’ swing tackle next year if his growth continues at this trajectory.

QUESTION: What role do you think Emeka Egbuka plays in this offense this year and what does it look like for Jalen McMillan if Egbuka performs really well and Chris Godwin comes back? Does Egbuka’s playing time go down – or will it be JMac’s going down?

ANSWER: Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the team’s first-round pick, has primarily been playing a lot of slot receiver in the absence of Chris Godwin. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating. Egbuka is super polished and is doing the best Godwin impersonation I’ve ever seen. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Egbuka is built like Godwin, moves like Godwin and catches everything like Godwin.

In a recent Pewter Pulse video, I suggest that Godwin won’t be ready for the start of the season due to the fact that he has yet to do any running during practice – let alone any cutting on his surgically-repaired ankle. In fact, Godwin has just been a spectator, standing and watching the team practice while doing all of his rehab indoors.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Meanwhile, Egbuka has been getting all the starter reps at slot receiver and figures to start the season there for Godwin. When Godwin returns – possibly in late September or early October by my guess – Egbuka and Godwin could split time in the slot or Egbuka could split time with Jalen McMillan outside at the Z receiver (flanker) position.

McMillan has had a good camp and will certainly be a factor early in the season in 11 personnel (three receiver sets). When Godwin returns to the lineup, he will probably play a more reduced role on offense unless he shows he can play some split end (X receiver) too. Then he could be in the mix to spell Mike Evans when he needs a breather and get some snaps at that position, too.

QUESTION: I’m really curious how the battle between Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison is going at cornerback. It seems like Morrison is really pushing him at the moment.

ANSWER: Like wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, cornerback Benjamin Morrison certainly doesn’t look like – or play like – a rookie. Morrison, the team’s second-round pick, has been very impressive in training camp so far. He recorded an interception off Baker Mayfield in practice while covering Jalen McMillan, while Jamel Dean has yet to record his first pick in camp.

Morrison has been schooled a bit by Mike Evans when guarding the future Hall of Fame receiver, but that’s a good thing. Evans schools everybody in practice – even the veteran cornerbacks – and Morrison has proven to be a quick learner. More importantly, his confidence doesn’t take a hit when he loses a rep and gives up a catch. He plays with a lot of poise, and it’s easy to see why he started at Notre Dame as a true freshman.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison and WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Yet Dean has been up to the challenge so far. He’s had several pass breakups and has played good, tight coverage. This could be a situation where Dean and Morrison both play well in the preseason and wind up splitting reps during the season with perhaps Dean getting the start, but the rookie rotating in for a few series each game.

The preseason will be big for Morrison. He needs to prove that he can play – and win battles – under the lights when the pads come on. The Bucs believe he can – now he just needs to show it. Dean has plenty of experience in Todd Bowles’ defense and the experience of winning a Super Bowl to his credit. I think both cornerbacks have benefited from being pitted against each other in camp so far.

QUESTION: Is Desmond Watson even going to make this team or just keep lollygagging and walking around instead of practicing?

ANSWER: To be fair, Desmond Watson is not lollygagging around. He’s prohibited from practicing until he gets in better shape and loses some more weight. I did a new Pewter Pulse video that details what is happening with Watson right now and what the future may hold for the 400-plus-pound defensive tackle in Tampa Bay. Check it out by clicking the video below where I provide an in-depth answer to your question.