According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The Athletic’s Greg Auman, the Bucs are signing four tryout players from rookie mini-camp to the roster. The four tryout players, all veterans, include CB Antonio Hamilton, TE Jerell Adams, S Curtis Riley and RB Troymaine Pope.
Bucs are signing four of their five tryout players from rookie minicamp — safety Curtis Riley and running back Troymaine Pope, in addition to corner Antonio Hamilton and tight end Jerell Adams. Building depth all over before training camp.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) May 16, 2021
Of the five tryout players the Bucs brought to camp, only WR Amara Darboh went unsigned by the team. Darboh had an impressive two days of practice at mini-camp, but the Bucs WR room is ridiculously deep.
Hamilton, a five-year veteran, has played in every game over the past two seasons. Stints with the Giants and Chiefs have seen Hamilton log reps on defense while contributing heavily on special teams. Hamilton will have to beat out Herb Miller, Chris Wilcox, Nate Brooks and rookie mini-camp standout Cameron Kinley for a roster spot.
Riley joins Hamilton as the tryout signees with the best chance to make the roster. The former Fresno State safety bounced around three teams’ practice squads a year ago, but was a 16-game starter for the Giants in 2018. Riley spent 2019 with the Raiders, contributing heavily on special teams. Riley will battle Javon Hagan, Raven Greene, Lawrence White and Augustus Contressa for the safety spot vacated by Andrew Adams’ departure.
The Bucs needed another young running back for preseason purposes, so signing Pope makes sense. Pope bounced around six teams in five years, including three stints in Seattle. Last season was the most productive in Pope’s career, rushing 15 times for 76 yards while catching eight passes for 42 yards with the Chargers. Pope is a long shot for the final roster, but he’ll compete against C.J. Prosise for the RB5 role.
A former New York Giant, Adams has appeared in one game since 2017, playing five special teams snaps in 2019. Adams has 24 catches for 214 yards and one touchdown in his five-year career. He’ll compete with Tanner Hudson and Codey McElroy for the TE4 job.
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About the Author: Jon Ledyard
This Bucs roster looks to be even better than last years! The Bucs brought back last years superbowl roster. We lost like the backup Te and Cb. We’ve replaced them plus more. The only two draft picks I have questions about are K.J. Britt and Chris Wilcox. I’ve heard that K.J. Britt shined in the Senior Bowl, or one of the talent bowl weeks/games. He’d have to really impress to beat about Kevin Minter. I really like Grant Stuard(who doesn’t?) It’s a big sorry to see Cichy is not likely to make it. I watched that three sacks in a… Read more »
k.J. Britt has shined in practice showing leadership. I really like the Navy kid.
Arians has a football crush on KJ Britt and rightfully so. This weekend he said this about KJ: he looks like a football player, he talks like one, he walks like one. He’s a captain.
Don’t worry about Britt. He will be making the team.
Vicious battles for CB5 and S4–10 accomplished guys fighting for 2 spots.
I guess nobody will be boycotting OTA’s.
These are try out as opposed to the undrafted that the team brought in? for example Sedarius Hutchinson was a guard undrafted that they brought in. Are they still working with him?
Hutchinson is an undrafted free agent, he’s on the roster as of now…