The Bucs are about half way through camp and have gone through the first wave of roster cuts. Now is as good as ever to see where the Bucs stand in terms who might make the final roster. With battles fully underway for key positions, it will be interesting to see how the final roster shakes out. There’s not too much of a difference of my original 53-man roster prediction but are some minor changes.

Quarterbacks – 3

Tom Brady
Blaine Gabbert
Kyle Trask

Analysis: Brady will be back after his ten day hiatus from the team and it will be like he never left. Gabbert hasn’t done anything to lose his spot as the number two quarterback on the roster. So, it will be up to Trask to try to unseat him. With joint practices against the Titans and the game itself on Saturday, if Trask is going to win the backup job, he’ll need to turn in an excellent week of work. Ryan Griffin looks poised to return to the practice squad.

Running Backs – 4

Leonard Fournette
Rachaad White
Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Giovani Bernard

Analysis: Fournette is locked in as the starter but behind him the battle for the second spot is heating up. With Bernard sidelined with an injury, Vaughn is thrust into the role based off experience. He’ll need to show he can perform well in pass protection to retain that role. Especially with White beating down the door. Newcomer Patrick Laird could return to the practice squad if he impresses during camp.

Wide Receivers – 7

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

Bucs WR Tyler Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: The top four are locks. We’ve been there and talked about that. If everyone is healthy they’re going to give opposing secondaries nightmares. Where the competition really is at is the final two or three spots. So far, the guys with the most playing experience are the ones who have shined. Johnson had a heck of a first half in the preseason opener. And Darden caught a bullet from Gabbert for a score. Miller has shown off his versatility in camp and was wide open on Darden’s touchdown catch and was underthrown on another play.

The undrafted guys will give this trio a run for their money but in the end it looks like the Bucs will carry seven wide outs and Johnson, Darden and Miller will be the winners of this intense camp competition. Cyril Grayson Jr, Breshad Perriman, and one or two of Devon Thompkins and Jereth Sterns, are all candidates to come back on the practice squad.

Tight Ends – 4

Cam Brate
Kyle Rudolph
Cade Otton
Ko Kieft

Analysis: In my initial preview I had the Bucs keeping just three tight ends. That was before I saw what Kieft could do and how they would utilize him. Otton has looked impressive and has built a rapport with Brady, but Kieft brings a different dimension to the offense they have not utilized in a while. He had a nice pancake block in his preseason debut and also sprang a hole open at fullback! For Vaughn’s touchdown. He’s shown surprisingly good hands and played 29 percent of the special teams snaps.

Keeping Kieft over say a fifth linebacker or safety or sixth corner simply comes down to who can do the most on Sundays. If Kieft can fill a role on special teams and also be a part of the offense in situational work he brings more to the table than a player who only brings teams value. J.J. Howland could return to the practice squad.

Offensive Line – 9

Donovan Smith
Nick Leverett
Robert Hainsey
Shaq Mason
Tristan Wirfs
Aaron Stinnie
Fred Johnson
Josh Wells
Luke Goedeke
Ryan Jensen*

Analysis: With Jensen undoubtedly missing significant time, the likeliest scenario is for the team to keep him through cut downs and then place him on injured reserve with the possibility of returning late in the season. His injury thrusted Hainsey into the starting role which he will fill for the season until Jensen returns. The two tackles spots and right guard spot are in good hands, but the competition at left guard still needs to be sorted out.

Bucs G Aaron Stinnie and OL Nick Leverett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As of now it appears Leverett has the upper hand but Stinnie is still squarely in the mix. The wild card will be Goedeke and how quickly he’s able to make the transition from tackle and the competition jump. Wells provides a solid veteran swing option, while Johnson is a young player continuing to develop at tackle with guard versatility. Center/guard John Molchon and guard/tackle Brandon Walton could both end up on the practice squad with tackle rookie Dylan Cook and Sadarius Hutchinson joining them.

Defensive Line – 6

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

Analysis: There’s no change here. The top six look pretty set in stone unless an injury were to occur. Benning Potoa’e and rookie Mike Greene look like they could land on the practice squad.

Outside Linebacker – 4

Shaquil Barrett
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Anthony Nelson
Carl Nassib
Cam Gill*

Analysis: An injury changed the dynamic of the outside linebacker group. With Gill poised to missed extended time after a Lisfranc injury that required surgery, it will be interesting to see if the Bucs keep him through final cuts and place him on IR. Taking his spot is a familiar face in Nassib. The 6’7″ defender has scheme versatility and as an added plus already know the system, coaches and players. It hard to envision the Bucs keeping five players here with Ponder most likely winding up on the practice squad.

Inside Linebacker – 4

Devin White
Lavonte David
K.J. Britt
Grant Stuard

Analysis: Stuard’s recent injury throws a question mark in the room. Head coach Todd Bowles said he was just “sore”,  but if he misses anytime it could give UDFA Okunale Fatukasi the chance to unseat hi as the fourth linebacker. It’s unlikely they keep five backers, and the loser of this low key competition will probably wind up on the practice squad.

Cornerback – 5

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

Bucs CBs Sean Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: No one wants to see a sixth cornerback play in a game, especially the Bucs, who saw it all too often last year. With that being said, I think the Bucs role with just five players here as they can make up the special teams aspect elsewhere and even within the unit itself. With the top four on the roster set the battle for the final spot will start to heat up as camp closes out. Delaney comes out on top, with Rashard Robinson, Kyler McMichael and Don Gardner also vying for the fifth spot. I’d expect to see two of them back on the practice squad.

Safety – 4

Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Mike Edwards
Keanu Neal
Logan Ryan

Analysis: Open and shut case here. The Bucs have assembled a great group of safeties who all offer versatility to their game. I don’t expect the Bucs to keep five safeties, but if the do rookies Nolan Turner has impressed. And should at least earn a spot on the practice squad.

Specialists – 3

P Jake Camarda
LS Zach Triner
K Jose Borregales

Analysis: Yes, I understand Borregales missed a game winning kick. But he also made a 55 yarder with ease as well as knocking in all three of his extra point attempts. I get that Succop brings consistency and reliability. But the leg strength just isn’t there, he turns 36 during the season, and the Bucs could save over $1 million dollars if they let him go. You don’t get the opportunity to develop young kickers often and the Bucs have done it for two years straight now. This is the year they cash in. Camarda should be just fine after some first game jitters, and Triner is as steady as they come snapping the ball.