With rookie mini-camp, OTAs and mandatory mini-camp now in the books, the Bucs’ 2024 draft class has officially wrapped up its introduction to the NFL.

Live contact wasn’t permitted in the portion of the offseason that the Bucs just completed, but it still gave the rookies a chance to get used to life in the NFL while picking up their respective schemes on offense and defense. On that front, head coach Todd Bowles was pleased with the foundation the rookies built over the course of May and June, and he wants it to continue when the team comes back together for training camp in late July.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s one of the smarter draft classes, as far as catching onto the scheme, that we’ve had,” Bowles said this week. “That’s got to continue in training camp. Between the heat, the system, and coming in pads, that’s going to be a whole different world for them, too. I feel confident they can get that done.”

Pewter Report was in attendance for all three days of Bucs mini-camp this past week, and the 2024 draft class had its fingerprints all over the three practices at the AdventHealth Training Center.

It was a good initial impression for the group as a whole, with particular highlights from third-round wide receiver Jalen McMillan, second-round outside linebacker Chris Braswell and undrafted free agent cornerback Tyrek Funderburk.

Jalen McMillan Looks Like An Immediate Contributor For Bucs Offense

The Bucs drafted Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan in hopes of adding yet another playmaker to a receiving corps that includes Pro Bowlers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as 2023 sixth-round pick Trey Palmer. Given what he’s already shown this summer, McMillan may even have a chance to overtake Palmer for Tampa Bay’s WR3 role, though Palmer is having a good offseason himself. In either case, the rookie looks like he’ll help the Bucs from day one, whether he’s WR3 or WR4.

“Anytime you can get another ball catcher, route runner, and intelligent receiver… He fits in well, no matter where we put him at,” Bowles said last week. “We’ve got a couple of guys behind him – obviously Trey [Palmer], ‘Rock’ (Rakim Jarrett) and the rest of the guys can play, as well. But, he fits in well with Chris [Godwin] and Mike [Evans].”

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

As many plays as McMillan made over his first collection of practices as an NFL receiver, it was his intelligence that stood out to his head coach the most.

“He’s had a nice couple of weeks. He can catch the ball – we know that,” Bowles said. “He’s a good route runner, he’s a competitor, he’s very intelligent – that impressed me the most. I can’t wait to see him in pads.”

And it certainly doesn’t hurt that McMillan can carve out a variety of roles within Liam Coen’s offense, another thing that Bowles referenced last week.

“He had a lot of versatility in college,” he said. “He played in the slot, he played ‘Z,’ he played ‘X.’ He’s a very intelligent player. That gives us some advantages.”

As far as McMillan’s connection with his new quarterback, Baker Mayfield, that looks to be coming along exceptionally nicely if mini-camp is anything to go by.

“It’s extremely similar to what I mentioned the first time I talked to you guys after having him here for OTAs: he’s really friendly at the top of his routes, he attacks the ball, catches with his hands, he’s explosive, he’s a smooth route runner,” Mayfield said. “Now, having him put it all together in the offense, get all these alerts, these ‘cans,’ and I think, playing fast for him is really the next step of mastering this offense so he can use that physical talent that he has.”

Chris Braswell Will Look To Keep Building When The Pads Come On

Without pads, it can be hard to gauge where a rookie pass rusher is over his first summer in the NFL. That’s true of just about everyone, including Bucs second-round pick Chris Braswell, the outside linebacker out of Alabama. Despite that, though, it was easy to see why Tampa Bay likes Braswell. During the team’s first mini-camp practice last Tuesday, the rookie had two would-be sacks during the 11-on-11 period.

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s like you said, the pads aren’t on yet – I think I could’ve gotten in the backfield,” Bowles said with a laugh. “When the shoulder pads come on, we’ll see. But he’s very tough, he’s very steady, he has a very strong lower body. He has semblances of Yaya [Diaby] from last year, as far as raw strength. We’ll see when the pads come on how that translates, but I like what I see so far.”

Despite downplaying the would-be sacks, it’s clear Bowles is intrigued by Braswell and will be looking forward to watching him when the team comes back together for training camp. Later in the week, Bowles was asked again about the rookie outside linebacker and once again likened him to Yaya Diaby, Tampa Bay’s leading sacker last season.

“I feel good about the depth. Braswell, he’s a very strong player,” Bowles said. “The system is similar with some things to Alabama, it’s just the terminology is different. Once he gets comfortable with that, I think he’s kind of like Yaya [Diaby] – he’s a physical player. He’ll show more when the pads come on. We just look for him to get some push back and get the system down. I think he’ll make some plays for us as well.”

Tyrek Funderburk May Be An Under-The-Radar Rookie To Watch

Bucs CB Tyrek Funderburk – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Every summer, an undrafted free agent or two emerges as a potential sleeper to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. Without full practices just yet, it’s too early to call exactly who those players will be for the Bucs this year. But a lot of eyes are on Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach and after mini-camp, some eyes should be on Appalachian State cornerback Tyrek Funderburk.

Funderburk had an interception during 11-on-11s during Tuesday’s mini-camp practice, then he nearly had another on Wednesday. With little depth at cornerback behind Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall and Josh Hayes, Funderburk may set himself up for a shot at cracking the roster if he keeps making plays in training camp and the preseason.

“He’s very intelligent,” Bowles said. “He’s picking up the scheme very well. We want to see him in pads, but he’s flashing enough to notice that you want to see him in pads.”

Other Bucs Rookies Showed Well In Recent Weeks, Too

The Bucs have to be pleased with their 2024 draft class as a whole heading into training camp next month. In addition to what the aforementioned rookies did in practice over the last couple of months, first-round center Graham Barton, third-round defensive back Tykee Smith and fourth-round running back Bucky Irving all made positive impressions themselves.

For Barton, he’s stepped right in and hit the ground running as he transitions to center from left tackle. The first-round pick played some center as a freshman at Duke, but he’s still making quite the leap this summer and is preparing to be the Bucs’ starting center come Week 1 against the Commanders. Again, there are no pads yet, but the early signs have been good.

Bucs C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s a heavy load, especially after playing tackle for three years and then going against a defense that does a lot of things,” Bowles said. “This will be a good baptism for him, as far as getting ready for the season. I think he’s learned a lot, I think he’s eager to get in pads and really show what he can do physically. He’s a smart guy.”

Mayfield was asked last Wednesday whether Barton is a quick study, and he confirmed that to be the case.

“He is,” the quarterback said. “I guess Duke’s academic program is pretty good. Yeah.”

As for Smith, the former Georgia Bulldog’s versatility has already been on display this offseason. That’s always a huge help for a defensive back in Bowles’ defense.

“Yeah, he came in… Very smart guy, very tough guy,” the head coach and defensive play-caller said. “[There are] similar things with what [the University of Georgia] did and what we do. He’s a talented player. He can do a lot of things for us. I look for him to help us. That will be a battle, too.”

And then there’s Irving, the former Oregon running back who will look to team up with Rachaad White to create a formidable 1-2 punch in the Tampa Bay backfield. White had nothing but praise for his new backfield mate last week.

“Bucky does a great job of, first thing, competing, and two, learning,” White said. “They’re all brilliant and they all want to understand the game more, and things like that. We talk a lot. We’ve got a good relationship. It’s huge. I think he brings a playmaker [ability] and in this offense, the more playmakers, the better. It’ll be huge. The one-two punch would be nice.”