Welcome to an SR’s Fab 5 REWIND, which is one of my weekly insider columns on the Bucs that featured five things that are on my mind from several weeks ago. This SR’s Fab 5 column was originally published on PewterReport.com on June 23, but with Bucs training camp starting this week I wanted to re-post it in case you missed it in the middle of summer.

FAB 1. Bucs Offensive Skill Position Sleepers

Because the Bucs only have three quarterbacks on the roster, we’ll skip right to the other three offensive skill positions. Here are three undrafted free agents who are creating a buzz at the AdventHealth Training Center heading into training camp.

Running Back: Sean Tucker

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

Tucker didn’t even practice this offseason due to not being medically cleared resulting from the detection of a heart condition at the NFL Scouting Combine. That caused him to be undrafted as a result, and the Bucs feel like they have a real find at running back. Tampa Bay had a mid-round grade on him based on his tape at Syracuse.

The Bucs expect his undisclosed heart condition to be cleared by training camp, and are super excited about his potential. As Rachaad White said during mini-camp, folks inside the building are calling Tucker “Baby Nick Chubb.” Tucker had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Orangemen and totaled 23 touchdowns over his last two years.

Wide Receiver: Rakim Jarrett

Trey Palmer, one of the team’s sixth-round picks, is expected to make the team as one of the Bucs’ five or six receivers as long as he continues to build on an impressive offseason. So for that reason, we’ll offer up another name as a “sleeper” at wide receiver – Jarrett. Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales said that Jarrett runs even faster once the ball gets in his hands.

The Maryland product went undrafted, but got a $25,000 signing bonus and has $225,000 in guaranteed money coming his way. That alone gives him an advantage over other undrafted free agent receivers like Kade Warner, Ryan Miller and Taye Barber, but it doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot – just the practice squad with a good camp. But if the fleet-footed Jarrett continues to get open, catch the ball and score touchdowns in camp and in the preseason games, he’ll be in line for a spot on the 53.

Tight End: Tanner Taula

Bucs TE Tanner Taula – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs spent a sixth-round pick on Payne Durham, and he’ll stick on the roster as at least the No. 3 tight end this year behind Cade Otton and Ko Kieft. So that leaves another open roster spot for a fourth tight end. Taula, an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State, will battle veterans David Wells and Dominique Dafney for that opportunity.

In the open practices that the media was allowed to watch, Taula may have been targeted more than any other tight end in the OTAs or mini-camp, including Otton. That means Taula was getting open. The 6-foot-6, 251-pounder moves well and has good hands. We’ll see how he blocks and plays on special teams when the pads come on in camp. Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales raved about Taula and Durham on the latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast.

FAB 2. Bucs O-Line, D-Line Sleepers

Tampa Bay’s trench play can’t properly be evaluated until the pads come on in training camp. But here are a couple of sleeper offensive and defensive linemen that stood out during the OTAs and mini-camp.

Offensive Line: Silas Dzansi

Bucs OT Silas Dzansi – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Dzansi, an undrafted free agent offensive tackle, received a $35,000 signing bonus from Tampa Bay and has $100,000 of his base salary guaranteed for this year. That won’t guarantee him a spot on the 53-man roster, but will likely mean he’ll at least stick on the practice squad. Dzansi, who played left tackle at Virginia Tech, got a look at both left and right tackle in the offseason, and that could continue into training camp.

Dzansi has spent time working with the second-string offensive line as a rookie, which is impressive. With long-time swing tackle Josh Wells gone, the Bucs have a vacancy there. Dzansi has the versatility to challenge Justin Skule for the swing tackle role, but does he have the ability? We’ll find out when the pads come on in training camp. The rookie has massive size at 6-foot-5, 337 pounds.

Defensive Line: Mike Greene

Tampa Bay traditionally keeps six defensive linemen. Vita Vea, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines and first-round pick Calijah Kancey are locks to make the team. Special teams ace Pat O’Connor also seems likely to stick. That leaves one open spot, as the Bucs appear to have moved on from aging veterans Akiem Hicks and Will Gholston – at least for now.

Greene, a former practice squader, is battling the more experienced Deadrin Senat and fellow practice squader Willington Previlon for the final spot. At 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, Greene has the flexibility to play all three defensive line spots across the board and was taking some starter reps in OTAs. Senat has more experience and has to be considered the early favorite, but that could change in training camp. Greene is hungry and has a legitimate shot to stick on the 53-man roster if he stands out in the preseason.

FAB 3. Bucs Linebacker Sleepers

The Bucs have increased their team speed on defense at the inside and outside linebacker positions this offseason, and that showed up during the OTAs and mini-camp. When the pads come on in camp. we’ll see how physical they can be at stopping the run and getting after the quarterback. Here are a couple of buzzworthy rookies to keep an eye on.

Outside Linebacker: Markees Watts

Bucs OLB Markees Watts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs drafted a pair of rookie pass rushers this offseason in YaYa Diaby, a third-round pick, and Jose Ramirez, a sixth-rounder. But Watts is another rookie who has caught the team’s eye. Watts, who wears No. 58 as Shaquil Barrett switched his jersey to No. 7, racked up 20.5 sacks at Charlotte. That was half a sack shy of what Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith recorded for the 49ers during his time in college. Highsmith was a third-round pick in 2020 and had a career-high 14.5 sacks last year for Pittsburgh, including one against Tampa Bay.

At 6-foot-1, 240, Watts is the smallest of the edge rushers in Tampa Bay, but he’s yoked and has a nice mix of speed and power off the edge. The Bucs currently have 10 outside linebackers on their roster. They will likely keep five, with the fourth and fifth guys on the depth chart being core special teamers. Watts is in the mix for the fifth spot and could be an August surprise.

Inside Linebacker: SirVocea Dennis

Is Dennis, the team’s fifth-round pick, really a sleeper anymore? He drew rave reviews during the team’s rookie mini-camp, OTAs and mini-camp with his plays in coverage. And Dennis’ strong suit is really his ability to blitz, which he hasn’t shown off yet because the Bucs don’t don pads until training camp. While Jeremy Banks from Tennessee might be more of a sleeper due to his undrafted free agent status, he’s not a lock to make the team like Dennis is.

In fact, if the cerebral Dennis, who has a high football I.Q., shines in camp and the preseason, he could supplant K.J. Britt as the team’s No. 3 inside linebacker. Dennis has the mental and physical make-up to eventually replace either Devin White at Mike linebacker or Lavonte David as the Money ‘backer spot next year, depending on what happens in free agency.

FAB 4. Bucs Secondary Sleepers

The Bucs are really thin at cornerback and safety in terms of veterans. Tampa Bay is going with a youth movement in the secondary and has unearthed some real gems in undrafted free agency. Here are a couple of sleepers in the secondary that could definitely make the roster.

Cornerback: Keenan Isaac

Bucs CB Keenan Isaac – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Wait, was that Isaac, the rookie from Alabama State, in the starting lineup during Bucs mini-camp? Technically, yes. Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles likes to mix-and-match his lineups, so he had Issac and Zyon McCollum with the starting unit during one practice’s 11-on-11. Regular starters Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis III came in with the rest of the backups on defense a few plays later.

The reason why Isaac impressed enough to move to the No. 4 cornerback spot on the depth chart? Well, the 6-foot-2 cornerback is long, twitchy and has good ball skills. Isaac has a long way to go to make the 53-man roster, but if his physicality shows up when the pads come on and he has enough speed to make plays on special teams and on defense, don’t rule this undrafted free agent out.

Safety: Kaevon Merriweather

Merriweather has been getting plenty of praise during the offseason. Iowa has a strong track record for producing NFL-caliber defensive backs, and Merriweather is one of the latest. The Bucs had a draftable grade on him, and he hasn’t disappointed in camp. The 6-foot, 207-pound Merriweather is a big, physical safety. The Bucs have already seen that even though the pads weren’t on during the non-contact OTAs and mini-camp.

The Hawkeyes star is coming off a big senior season that saw him post a career-high three interceptions, force a fumble and recover one for a scoop-and-score touchdown. Merriweather has good range and is an ideal scheme fit in Todd Bowles defense because he can play strong safety and has the athleticism to flex back to free safety in Cover 2, Quarters or even Cover 1. The Bucs are thin at safety, and don’t be surprised if Merriweather winds up the No. 3 on the depth chart behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal.

FAB 5. Post-Mini-Camp Inside Scoop

• Bucs head coach Todd Bowles did not have many scripted practices this offseason. Instead, the periods were “call it,” which means that both he and offensive coordinator were not working off prepared scripts and just calling plays live. Neither the offensive coaches nor the defensive coaches knew what was coming in 11-on-11 periods, and it created the most real, live situational practice environment possible to more closely simulate an actual game. This will continue into training camp and will greatly help accelerate the learning curve when it comes to in-game adjustments for novice play-caller Dave Canales.

Bucs K Rodrigo Blankenship – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• Tampa Bay was very excited to sign kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to challenge Chase McLaughlin in training camp. Blankenship nailed 86.5% of his field goals as a rookie with the Colts in 2020. He’s still young and presents a formidable foe for McLaughlin. The Bucs are looking for a kicker who can make longer field goals than 36-year old Ryan Succop could last year. Blankenship is 2-of-5 on field goals from 50 yards or longer. McLaughlin has a stronger leg, making 17-of-21 from beyond 50, but his career average from any distance is 78.8%.

• The Bucs are absolutely thrilled with their undrafted free agent class. Some are calling this the best class of undrafted free agents in Tampa Bay in at least a decade. The team has gotten some significant starters out of the undrafted free agent ranks before, including former right tackle Demar Dotson, former receiver Adam Humphries, former running backs Earnest Graham and Peyton Barber, and most recently, former tight end Cam Brate. There could be as many as half a dozen new undrafted free agents from this year’s class that could wind up on the final 53-man roster.

• Pewter People, if you missed Thursday night’s Pewter Report Podcast with special guest Dave Canales, do yourself a favor and click the video below and watch it. Canales is a wealth of information and an excellent communicator. His answers over the course of half an hour were incredibly enlightening and insightful when it comes to his offensive philosophy, his offensive scheme and the Bucs offensive personnel. Canales offered up the strengths and weaknesses of both Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, and talked about how either could win the starting QB job.

The Bucs’ new offensive coordinator even drinks CELSIUS – the official energy drink of Pewter Report.