5 Players Who Might Find Themselves on the Buccaneers' Practice Squad in 2015

5 Players Who Might Find Themselves on the Buccaneers' Practice Squad in 2015 By Jason Kanno Jun 30, 2015 Chris O'Meara/Associated Press Buccaneers training camp is only weeks away, and nearly half the roster will be gone before September. For those who don't make the final 53-man cut, they will hope they made enough of an impression to join the practice squad.The practice squad isn't just a place for the Bucs to reserve players in order to keep them from signing elsewhere. It's a means of developing future prospects, including players like offensive tackle Demar Dotson and defensive end George Johnson.The Bucs still have numerous roster holes and will look to fill them with their top waiver priorities throughout the preseason. Nevertheless, they have to be judicious with who they sign to the practice squad.Some players like wide receiver Donteea Dye and safety Chris Hackett are fighting for a spot in an otherwise crowded position. Others like defensive tackle Caushaud Lyons possess great potential but require seasoning and preparation for the pro game.Here are five players who could make the Bucs practice squad in 2015.Robert HerronWesley Hitt/Getty Images The Bucs invested four draft picks in the wide receiver position in the past two years. That doesn't leave much room for error, especially for last year's sixth-round pick Robert Herron.The former Wyoming receiver is built for speed but not necessarily to catch the ball. On just 11 targets, Herron dropped two passes, according to Pro Football Focus.Herron's drop percentage is not the worst on the team, but it's bad enough that he should consider his roster spot tenuous, especially given the addition of draft picks Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay.Despite playing for half of last season, Herron is still eligible for the practice squad. Players on the active roster for more than six games but who were on the 45-man game-day roster for less than nine are eligible. Herron is one game shy of ineligibility.Though the Bucs invested a draft pick in him, general manager Jason Licht believes in admitting a mistake and moving on. Herron must prove the Bucs made a wise investment soon or else find his NFL career going in the wrong direction.Chris HackettJustin K. Aller/Getty Images Chris Hackett might have a future on the Bucs roster. This season, however, he may be a victim of the numbers game.The former TCU safety was somewhat of a high-profile undrafted free-agent addition this offseason. Given his seven interceptions in 2014, it was surprising Hackett went undrafted.His measurables fall well short of an ideal NFL safety, though. His lanky 195-pound frame and 4.81-second 40-yard dash time at the combine are likely the primary reasons he fell out of the draft.Despite his subpar athletic profile, Hackett is highly instinctive and shows good tackling technique. His ability to diagnose plays often compensates for his lack of range.The Bucs collected several safeties this offseason after trading away both of last year's opening-day starters. In addition to returning safeties Bradley McDougald, Major Wright and Keith Tandy, the Bucs signed Chris Conte and claimed D.J. Swearinger off waivers.It is unlikely the Bucs will keep more than four safeties on the main roster and near certain that they won't keep more than five. McDougald, Wright, Conte and Swearinger look like locks to make the roster, which leaves Tandy and Hackett fighting for a possible fifth spot.Not only is Tandy an adequate backup safety, but he's been a consistent special teams contributor since joining Tampa Bay in 2012. Hackett doesn't have the athletic upside to easily supplant him.Hackett's ball-hawking ability is worth developing on the practice squad. He may be able to develop physically there as well.Caushaud LyonsKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The practice squad is the perfect place to develop players with unrefined upside. Defensive tackle Caushaud Lyons won't likely be ready to play in the NFL by September, but he could be worth keeping around.Lyons, like Bucs guard Ali Marpet, is a small-school product. He played four years at D-II Tusculum and established himself as one of the nation's best defensive linemen at that level, earning a Gene Upshaw Award nomination in 2014.His strength and explosion show tremendous potential, but he's not ready for the NFL yet. He lacks technique and played against inferior competition in college.The practice squad was built for guys like Lyons. He needs to spend a year or two refining his game before he's ready to compete for a roster spot.Ryan DelaireWilfredo Lee/Associated Press The Bucs need defensive end help wherever they can find it. They could work on building depth by keeping Ryan Delaire on the practice squad.He was a heat-seeking missile at Towson, collecting 22.5 sacks and 32 tackles for a loss in two seasons. His pass-rush acumen is obvious in his fluidity and explosiveness.It's possible Delaire could make the final roster given his potential and athleticism, but it will be a steep uphill battle.While Jacquies Smith and George Johnson are the only locks to make the roster, William Gholston, Larry English, T.J. Fatinikun and Lawrence Sidbury already have a rapport with the coaching staff and will have the advantage while fighting for the remaining two or three defensive end spots.Delaire likely needs an offseason or two to prove he's worthy of time on the main roster.Donteea DyeWilfredo Lee/Associated Press Wide receiver Donteea Dye is another small-school prospect who could end up on the practice squad. Given his potential, he could make the final roster but as an undrafted free agent that would be a long shot.Dye played D-III football at Heidelberg University where he caught 116 passes for 2,298 yards and 26 touchdowns over three seasons. In 2014, he caught 57 passes for 1,022 yards and an extraordinary 14 touchdowns through 10 games.The Bucs signed Dye following their rookie minicamp tryouts. According to Pewter Report, Dye impressed with his quickness at OTAs.With so much competition at the wide receiver position, odds are long for Dye to make the final roster. The Bucs might find it worth their while to see if he can elevate his game to the NFL level while serving on the practice squad.link