Early 2025 roster prediction (pre-draft and before pre-season free agency additions). Below I have identified 52 out of 53 personnel I believe are safe bets (as of now) to be on the final roster (48 players dress on game days, with the remaining 5 being inactive and then 16 players for practice squad).
Questions:
1- Where would you subtract or add?
- Currently 10 (6 CB, 4 Safety). My guess probably at least 1 more CB here.
- Currently 6 DL (2 NT) and 9 LBs (5 OLB and 4 ILB).
- Currently only 7 OL. The 53rd position could be another OL to make 8.
2- What position do you think is the weakest (starters and depth)?
- Weakest starters I would say (1) LBs and (2) TE.
- Weakest Depth I would say (1) CB and (2) S.
3- If you could add any free agent or trade what would it be for?
- Currently -$14M in cap space right now according to overthecap
- Total dead money this year $33M (Barrett, Jensen, etc.)
- Restructures that may occur (Wirfs $19M, Vea $10M, Winfield $14M)
Offense (24):
QB (3): Mayfield, Trask, Pratt
RB (3): Irving, White, Tucker
WR1 (3): Evans, Palmer, Sheppard
WR2 (2): Godwin, Miller
WR3 (2): McMillan, Jarret
TE (4): Otton, Durham, Culp, Keift
OT (3): Wirfs, Goedke, Heck
OG (3): Bredeson, Mauch, Klein
C (1): Barton
Defense (25):
OLB (5): Diaby, Reddick, Braswell, Nelson, Watts
ILB (4): David, Walker, Dennis, Jones
DL (6): Vea, Kancey, Hall, Gaines, Brewer, Greene
CB (6): McCollum, Dean, Hall, Hayes, Vildor, Funderburk
SS (2): Smith, Izien
FS (2): Winfield, Merriweather
Special Teams (3):
K (1): McLaughlin
P (1): Dixon
LS (1): Deckers
Depth at ILB and OL is the weakest.
Weakest starters I would say is OG and ILB.
That is why ILB is a high priority anyway you slice it.
CB can be seen as a weakness but if the Bucs continue to play so much zone it can be kicked down the priority list. For rotation purposes I would say that OLB is important to keep stacking.
The two free agents I think the Bucs should add are the following:
J. Baker and J. Simmons.
I have to disagree with OG being one of the weakest. Mauch ranked 16/77 on PFF and Bredeson 60/70. However I agree depth is questionable.
TE on the other hand saw Otton ranked 34/74… Durham is the only other ranked and not far behind at 40/74.
I would love adding a safety, but I think with T. Smith already penciled in at SS and leaving the NCB position the Bucs aren’t looking to add another starter there. Which is probably a shame. Smith was a great NCB. My thoughts is they’re essentially swapping Izien and Smith returning Izien to NCB. After Dean and McCollum our CB quality worries me especially with Dean’s health.
How does one make a roster projection before FA is over and the draft hasn't happened yet? Just sayin'.
I have to disagree with OG being one of the weakest. Mauch ranked 16/77 on PFF and Bredeson 60/70. However I agree depth is questionable.
TE on the other hand saw Otton ranked 34/74… Durham is the only other ranked and not far behind at 40/74.
I would love adding a safety, but I think with T. Smith already penciled in at SS and leaving the NCB position the Bucs aren’t looking to add another starter there. Which is probably a shame. Smith was a great NCB. My thoughts is they’re essentially swapping Izien and Smith returning Izien to NCB. After Dean and McCollum our CB quality worries me especially with Dean’s health.
TE may be weaker overall but I think the depth is better than guard.
I think Smith can force more turnovers playing NCB than Safety IMO but it all depends on if they team feels he deserves more snaps. In that case Smith is better at safety over NCB.
Quality Depth - Inside LB, Edge,CB,DL
Would have rather add WR Elijah Moore instaed of Shepherd and vet CB on good deal
Weakest starters- ILB, CBs ,Edge
Would like something like bpa Cb or Edge 1st rnd/, Cb, or edge 2nd rd,/ Wr, DL or LB 3rd/ Wr, DL, LB 4th/ Wr, DL or LB 5th rnd,/ OL,G 7th rnd
Agree about TE in this draft - and it is weak - but I can’t see us picking one in the 1st - and any that you would pick later would not seem to offer any better value than what we currently have.I have to disagree with OG being one of the weakest. Mauch ranked 16/77 on PFF and Bredeson 60/70. However I agree depth is questionable.
TE on the other hand saw Otton ranked 34/74… Durham is the only other ranked and not far behind at 40/74.
I would love adding a safety, but I think with T. Smith already penciled in at SS and leaving the NCB position the Bucs aren’t looking to add another starter there. Which is probably a shame. Smith was a great NCB. My thoughts is they’re essentially swapping Izien and Smith returning Izien to NCB. After Dean and McCollum our CB quality worries me especially with Dean’s health.
TE may be weaker overall but I think the depth is better than guard.
I think Smith can force more turnovers playing NCB than Safety IMO but it all depends on if they team feels he deserves more snaps. In that case Smith is better at safety over NCB.
We need to see either Otton or Durham take a huge step (if it were going to happen it should already have happened). However, keeping Rachaad almost gives you another/better TE/H-back.
I could see us picking TE, but I can’t see getting contribution from a low round TE in this draft.
I think the sleeper pick in this draft may be at DT.
Yeah the Bucs may be taking DT at lot higher than we think. To rotate with Vea/Kancey and to eventually replace Hall. Gaines and Brewer were promptly re-signed but Gholston has not. So if the Bucs do land a DT via the draft then I suspect that the team moves on from Gholston.
