Safeties:Bradley McDougald was claimed by the Buccaneers off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs in November 2013. He originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in May 2013. McDougald was a two way player during his college career at Kansas State, playing receiver and defensive back. He played in 47 games with 33 starts, playing on both offense and defense. McDougald finished his collegiate career with 194 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and 2.0 sacks. He also added 52 catches for 558 yards with one touchdown and six rushes for 31 yards. Since becoming a Buc he has started 20 of 34 games, amassing 137 tackles, 11 passes defensed and three interceptions. McDougald made his Buccaneer debut at Detroit on 24 November 2013, his first start came versus the. Cincinnati Bengals on 30 November 2013. He has ideal size and length for the position, yet is not an overtly physical safety shows decent quickness and recovery speed. McDougald is a solid tackler and plays the run well. How much he is able to improve his coverage skills will ultimately determine his ceiling as a player.Desperate for safety help, the Bucs signed Chris Conte in March 2015, as an unrestricted free agent from the Chicago Bears. Conte originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick, (93rd overall) of the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFL Draft. Since entering the NFL, Conte has started 65 of 71 games he has played in, with the Bucs in 2015, he started 13 of 14 games. Conte’s first career interception came against Tampa Bay in London on 23 October 2011. Conte made his first start as a Buccaneer at New Orleans on 20 September 2015, recording four tackles, including one for a 21-yard loss, one interception and one forced fumble on defense and one tackle on special teams. As a collegiate player at Cal played in 50 games, making 17 starts, appearing as both a corner and safety, totaling 157 tackles, four tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also blocked a punt that he returned for a touchdown. Conte was resigned to a one-year deal, by the Bucs this off-season. Conte has good size, ideal overall athleticism and he’s a rangy safety that can cut down passing windows coverage. He is a smart, reliable player. However he has questions surrounding his availability due to his reckless abandoned for his own body, missing numerous games with various injuries. The Bucs resigned Keith Tandy, this off-season, Tandy was originally selected by the Bucs in the sixth round (174th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Tandy played collegiately for West Virginia, where he was a team captain that started in 40-of-45 career games, including every game his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He recorded 188 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 13 interceptions, 37 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Since becoming a Buc Tandy has started 7 of 54 games recording 79 total tackles, four interceptions, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 13 special teams tackles as a reserve player. Has less than ideal size and length for the position, but always around the football. A converted corner Tandy is a blue collar nonsense type who has not been given a legitimate chance to be an every-game starter. Decent in coverage and stays true to his run fits. Major Wright signed by Tampa Bay in April 2014, as an unrestricted free agent from the Chicago Bears, Wright Originally entered the league as a third-round pick, (75th overall) of the Chicago Bears in the 2010 NFL Draft. Wright has started 50 of 74 games and 8 of 20 since becoming a Buc, he has amassing 76 tackles, four passes defensed. Wright made his Buccaneers debut in season opener versus the Carolina Panthers on September 7, 2014. He made his first start for the Bucs in win at Pittsburgh and registered nine tackles. Lacks ideal size and length, he’s a coverage liability routinely finding himself out of position. He lacks instincts, speed and COD ability. Isaiah Johnson was signed by the Buccaneers at the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft as a college undrafted rookie free agent, to the 90-man off-season roster. Johnson played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, after transferring from Kansas, Johnson played one year at Iowa Western Community College where he accrued 42 tackles and eight interceptions. During his one season at South Carolina and two at Kansas, Johnson complied 221 total tackles, five tackles for loss, seven interceptions, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. Johnson has decent size, demonstrating versatility playing in the box, lining up as a single high safety and playing in the slot, in man coverage. Has good quickness, anticipation and click and close ability to jumps balls in front of him. Show some stiffness when transitioning out of his back pedal. Does not look natural when turn his back to the action and locating the football. The Bucs signed Elijah Shumate at the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft as a college undrafted rookie free agent, to the 90-man off-season roster. Shumate played collegiately for Notre Dame, where he played in 48 games, starting 23 games amassing168 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 12 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and two interceptions. Shumate started his college career as a nickel back. Solid in the box safety, that possesses straight line speed, willing run defender that is stiff in the hips, lacks instincts and will miss tackles in his run fits, iIs better suited for zone than man-to-0man scheme Kimario McFadden was recently signed to the 90-man off-season roster. He originally entered the entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in May 2014. McFadden finished his college career at South Carolina State after spending two years at Alabama A&M. He recorded 273 tackles, 27 passes defensed, 7.0 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and fumble recoveries during his college career. During his two seasons at South Carolina State McFadden Played in 24 games compiling 129 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. McFadden has spent time with the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers. McFadden spent time with the Bucs in 2015, and was promoted to active roster on December 30, 2015. McFadden played in three games on the season, recording two special teams tackles. Lacks ideal overall size, yet possess decent speed, soft hands and is a solid core special teamer. Used regularly as a blitzer and covered the slot at South Carolina State. He has a high football IQ and is an instinctive player.
