INTRO: The newest Bucs take the field on Friday and Saturday for Tampa Bay’s 2025 rookie mini-camp. A lot is expected from this year’s draft class, and three Bucs rookies are expected to be in the midst of some serious training camp battles in late July and August. I’ll reveal which newcomers will be fighting for playing time in this week’s SR’s Fab 5 as I breakdown six highly anticipated Bucs training camp battles. Enjoy!

FAB 1. Cornerback: Jamel Dean vs. Benjamin Morrison

This is the marquee matchup worth the price of admission in Bucs training camp. Jamel Dean enters the camp battle as the embattled seven-year veteran, who has fallen out of favor with the organization over his inability to stay healthy and create takeaways.

Dean has yet to play an entire season since being a third-round draft pick in 2019 and has missed nine games over the past two years due to injuries. Even worse, Dean has exited early in each of Tampa Bay’s playoff losses at Detroit in 2023 and versus Washington last season and watched his replacement give up a crucial touchdown in both games.

Dean has just one interception in his last 38 regular season games, which came in last year’s 40-17 win at Los Angeles against the Chargers. After Tampa Bay’s defense logged just seven interceptions in 2024 with the secondary accounting for six of those, head coach Todd Bowles has stated that he wants more ballhawks.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Commanders WR Terry McLaurin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That led to the Bucs using their second-round pick on Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who had six interceptions as a freshman and added three more during his sophomore year. Morrison will contend for the starting job that Dean has held since the 2020 season.

Dean will enter the OTAs as the starter and the early favorite to start heading into training camp. Morrison is coming off hip surgery that shortened his junior season at Notre Dame and he’s not expected to participate in the team’s rookie mini-camp this offseason as he needs to get back into football shape.

There is a chance the Morrison, who is an aggressive, press-man cornerback, could see the field during the OTAs later this month and the mandatory mini-camp in June, but he’ll be ready to go by training camp in late July at the very least. As long as he’s as good as advertised, Morrison will eventually take over at some point – even if he doesn’t win the starting job at the end of the preseason.

When healthy and focused, Dean is a very good cornerback. He finished the 2024 season as the second-highest graded Bucs defender by Pro Football Focus with a 75.7 grade among players who played three games or more – just behind outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, who had a 78 grade.

Dean’s 75.4 coverage grade was also the best in Tampa Bay last year. He was the lone member of the secondary who did not surrender a touchdown in 2024.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs hope that Morrison either pushes Dean toward greatness or pushes him to the bench. Dean was actually at his best earlier in his career when he was battling Sean Murphy-Bunting, the team’s second-round pick in 2019, for the starting job during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Dean emerged as the winner and was signed to a four-year, $52 million contract in the 2023 offseason. Has he relaxed a bit over the last two years without any competition for his starting job?

Perhaps the addition of Morrison will bring out the best in Dean. Or perhaps Morrison emerges as the more reliable cornerback with better ballhawking ability. Dean might win the job initially, but expect Morrison to rotate in and see a few series each game to gain some needed experience.

Even if he hangs on to his starting job for Week 1, Dean will get injured at some point during the 2025 season given his track record. Then Morrison would get his shot to start.

And depending on how well Morrison plays, Dean might not get that starting job back.

FAB 2. Nickelback: Jacob Parrish vs. Christian Izien

The Bucs really like and value Christian Izien as a football player. He’s one of Todd Bowles’ favorite defensive backs due to his versatility. Last year, Izien saw time as a starter at both free safety and strong safety, in addition to playing some nickel cornerback due to the injuries that ravaged the secondary.

When Zyon McCollum and Bryce Hall both exited the season-opening win against Washington with injuries, Izien was even called on to finish the game at outside cornerback, a position he hadn’t played since high school.

Izien made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and won the nickelback job, starting all 19 games, including the playoffs. His Bucs career took off like a rocket with interceptions in his first two NFL games. But then he went 17 straight games without a pick and only logged two pass breakups the entire year.

Bucs DB Christian Izien – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay spent a third-round pick on Tykee Smith in 2024 to replace Izien with a better playmaker. Smith was as good as advertised and proved to be a ballhawk, tying for the team lead with three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Now he’s moving on to strong safety to replace Jordan Whitehead and see more snaps on the field as a result.

It’s hard to imagine that the Bucs would want Izien as the nickelback this year given the fact that he’s only produced three interceptions in 31 regular season games. Izien’s real value to Bowles and the secondary is his ability to be a “super sub” at virtually any position. To put it in basketball terms, Bowles considers Izien to be the Bucs’ “sixth man.”

That’s why Jacob Parrish, a third-round pick out of Kansas State, will be given every opportunity to win the nickelback job in training camp and the preseason. Parrish started as a true freshman for the Wildcats and wound up recording five interceptions over the past two seasons, including four during his sophomore season.

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: USA Today

With 4.35 speed, short area quickness and feisty tackling style, Parrish has the ideal makeup of a slot defender in Bowles’ scheme at just under 5-foot-10, 191 pounds. If Parrish can lock down the nickelback job this year in the OTAs like Smith did last year the Bucs would be thrilled.

While the Bucs want Izien to be a super sub, the former Rutgers star wants to start and play, so expect him to show up and really compete. Both he and Parrish will get plenty of snaps in the slot in training camp just in case the rookie isn’t quite ready or gets injured.

FAB 3. WR3: Emeka Egbuka vs. Jalen McMillan

In a world where both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are healthy and available, Emeka Egbuka, the team’s first-round pick this year, and second-year receiver Jalen McMillan will be battling for playing time as WR3 on the depth chart. While Egbuka arrives in Tampa Bay with first-round draft status, McMillan already has one year’s worth of experience playing in the NFL, operating in Tampa Bay’s offense, and catching touchdown passes from Baker Mayfield.

Eight of them to be exact.

The Bucs’ third-round pick in 2024 caught a touchdown on his first NFL catch and then hit a bit of a slump while dealing with a hamstring injury. Yet McMillan finished his rookie season strong with five touchdowns over a seven-game span and wound up with 37 receptions for 461 yards (12.5 avg.) and eight TDs.

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

McMillan supplanted Trey Palmer as the team’s WR3 last year and emerged as a starter down the stretch with Godwin sidelined with a dislocated ankle he suffered in Week 7. That experience gives him a leg up on Egbuka heading into 2025.

But what the Bucs love about the Ohio State star is just how pro-ready he is. Egbuka is mature beyond his years and plays the game like a veteran. He’s a competitor, but also used to sharing the spotlight and the ball with the Buckeyes.

If Evans and Godwin both stay healthy all season, it would not be a surprise to see both Egbuka and McMillan wind up with similar stats while essentially sharing the WR3 duties. I don’t see Egbuka necessarily beating McMillan out. I see him quickly rising to McMillan’s level and being in a wide receiver rotation with him.

Ideally, the Bucs would love to see a scenario where Evans or Godwin can take a few plays off to rest in an offensive series and have both Egbuka and McMillan on the field together along with the team’s other star receiver – without any drop off in talent or performance. There was a might drop off in talent and production on the depth chart after McMillan last year when the team had to turn to Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller, Rakim Jarrett and Palmer due to injuries.

Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today

The other benefit to having Egbuka on the team will be to keep McMillan from having a sophomore slump. Palmer wasn’t up to the challenge last year in training camp and struggled with drops, which led to Palmer’s rise up to WR3 on the depth chart in August. Iron sharpens iron, and the expectation is that Egbuka will bring out the best in McMillan and push him towards greatness in 2025.

McMillan will also continue to see more time as an outside Z receiver (flanker) as he did last year, whereas Egbuka will likely see more time in the slot, especially with Godwin still rehabbing his ankle injury, which should cause him to miss the OTAs and likely part of training camp. But when Godwin returns Egbuka and McMillan will be fighting to see the field as WR3, and a healthy competition will only make both of them better for the team’s benefit.

FAB 4. RB2: Rachaad White vs. Sean Tucker

Rachaad White is entering a contract year and the chances of him returning to Tampa Bay in 2026 aren’t particularly great. Especially if Bucky Irving has another 1,000-yard season and remains the team’s starting running back.

While the Bucs would love to have him back, White will likely want to pursue more playing time and a chance to start elsewhere if he remains RB2 behind Irving this season. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard have both talked about getting Sean Tucker, the team’s third-string back, more touches in 2025.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Those touches would likely come at White’s expense as opposed to Irving’s. The Bucs would not be opposed to Tucker improving enough this year to put some pressure on White. After all, Tucker is under contract for two more seasons and could be RB2 after White leaves in free agency in 2026 – if that actually happens.

Tucker ran for 308 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries last year, and his 6.2-yard average was the best among all Tampa Bay running backs. He ran for 136 yards and a touchdown while averaging 9.7 yards in a 51-27 win at New Orleans last year, which earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Tucker also had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown against the Saints, and finished the year with nine catches for 109 yards (12.1 avg.).

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Where White has a big advantage in this Bucs camp battle is in pass protection. Not only is he a dangerous pass catcher as a third-down back, White is also one of the best pass protecting backs in the league.

If Tucker can improve in that area during training camp and the preseason, he can truly contend for the RB2 role this year in August. But if he doesn’t, then he’ll be once again relegated to RB3 duties as well as being Tampa Bay’s primary kick returner.

FAB 5. Punt Returner: Tez Johnson vs. Trey Palmer

As if selecting a wide receiver in the first round wasn’t enough of a draft day surprise, the fact that Tampa Bay wound up drafting two wideouts was a real shocker. The Bucs bookended their draft with Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka in the first round and Oregon’s Tez Johnson in the seventh round.

Should the quick and elusive Johnson make the 53-man roster, and I believe he will, Tampa Bay’s depth chart at wide receiver could look like this.

WR1 Mike Evans
WR2 Chris Godwin
WR3 Jalen McMillan
WR4 Emeka Egbuka
WR5 Tez Johnson

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

That could make Trey Palmer, who enters his third season in Tampa Bay, as the odd-man out. The Bucs will have a battle royale between Palmer, Sterling Shepard, Rakim Jarrett, Kameron Johnson and others for a possible sixth and final spot on the depth chart.

Palmer fell out of favor last year due to his route running and some untimely drops. He went from catching 39 passes for 385 yards (9.9 avg.) and three touchdowns as WR3 as a rookie to hauling in only 12 receptions for 172 yards (14.3 avg.) and one score last year as he slid down the depth chart.

Palmer couldn’t find much traction as the team’s punt returner, either. He averaged just eight yards per return, and he never really demonstrated his 4.33 speed, as his longest return was just 17 yards.

Johnson averaged over 10 yards per punt return at Oregon and had an 85-yard touchdown last year. Perhaps more importantly, Johnson is a more polished receiver, catching 169 passes for 2,080 yards (12.3 avg.) with 20 touchdowns in two seasons with the Ducks.

Including 141 receptions for 1,809 (12.8 avg.) and eight touchdowns in three years at Troy, Johnson hauled in 310 passes for 3,889 yards (12.5 avg.) and 28 TDs in his five-year college career. By comparison, Palmer had just 112 catches for 1,501 and 12 touchdowns in his entire career which spanned three years at LSU and one season at Nebraska.

Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

The addition of Egbuka will mean far fewer targets for WR5 and WR6 on the depth chart unless there is an injury. So that means Tampa Bay’s reserve receivers will need to show up and show out on special teams. Based on his success in college combined with Palmer’s lackluster results last year, Johnson will likely be the favorite to win the punt return duties.

If that happens it may ultimately cost Palmer a roster spot unless he can win the other kick returner duty next to Sean Tucker. Because Bucs head coach Todd Bowles prefers to use running backs as kick returners, Palmer might need to have a better showing as a punt returner in camp and in the preseason to truly help his cause this year.

Bucs Camp Bonus Battle – Backup QB: Kyle Trask vs. Michael Pratt

Okay, here’s a bonus battle for you. There will be battle for the backup quarterback job this year between Kyle Trask, the former second-round pick in 2021, and Michael Pratt, who was signed last year before the start of the season when he was released by Green Bay.

Tampa Bay was just about to select Pratt in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft but the Packers beat the Bucs to the punch one pick ahead. After running opponents’ plays for all of the 2024 season on the practice squad, Pratt gets the chance to finally run the Bucs offense. He’s a good athlete with a good arm, but has even better intangibles. He helped turn Tulane into a Top 10 program while he was there.

Bucs QB Michael Pratt – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Trask was re-signed to a cheap, one-year deal this offseason. He didn’t have any game film outside of the preseason because he’s backed up Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay over the last four years and neither has missed a start.

Trask is coming off his best preseason in red and pewter with three touchdowns and one interception and spent last season getting some reps in Liam Coen’s new offense. He’ll have the initial edge, but is expected to be challenged more than in years past with former backups like John Wolford.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: USA Today

Special Friday Edition Of The Pewter Report Podcast Analyzes Bucs Rookie Mini-Camp

The Pewter Report staff will be at One Buccaneer Place on Friday, May 9 to watch the first Bucs rookie mini-camp practice, interview the rookies and get head coach Todd Bowles’ comments on all the action. Join Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera for a special Friday edition of the Pewter Report Podcast at 3:00 p.m. ET.

You can watch the live podcast on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel or steaming live on our @PewterReport social media channels on X and Facebook.