How would you rate the Bucs rookie class?

NFC South rookie grades: Top picks power Panthers' class

By Jeremy Bergman
NFL.com
Published: Feb. 8, 2019 at 09:51 a.m. Updated: Feb. 8, 2019 at 11:20 a.m.

NFC SOUTH
The 2018 NFL season is in the books, meaning the 2019 NFL Draft is coming down the pike. But before we completely shift focus to the next crop of prospects entering the league, let's take full stock of the rookies who just finished up Year 1. In this division-by-division Rookie Grades series, we're evaluating each team's 2018 draft class and spotlighting areas to address this offseason. Jeremy Bergman examines the NFC South below.

RANK

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Round 1: (No. 12 overall) Vita Vea, DT, 13 games/8 starts.
Round 2: (38) Ronald Jones, RB, 9 games/0 starts; (53) M.J. Stewart, CB, 11 games/5 starts; (63) Carlton Davis, CB, 13 games/12 starts.
Round 3: (94) Alex Cappa, OT, 6 games/0 starts.
Round 4: (117) Jordan Whitehead, S, 15 games/11 starts.
Round 5: (144) Justin Watson, WR, 12 games/0 starts.
Round 6: (202) Jack Cichy, LB, 6 games/0 starts.

Is it a good or bad sign that three rookies started a combined 28 games in Tampa's secondary in 2018? On one hand, there's a reason the Buccaneers' defense ranked 26th in passing yards allowed per game and 31st in points allowed per game. On the other, experience! The hole-plugging Vea battled injuries and got off to a slow start, but the first-round pick came on late in the season, recording three sacks and eventually averaging around 50 snaps per game over the season's last quarter. Drafted ahead of Kerryon Johnson, Royce Freeman and UDFA Phillip Lindsay, Jones was a disappointment, struggling to see the field in a weak RB room. Davis could take over for the departing Brent Grimes next season, but the corner and Whitehead will be tested this offseason by new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Combine/free agency focus: Where to begin? If we are to believe the swashbucklers' new skipper, Bruce Arians, then Jameis Winston is Tampa Bay's QB for at least 2019, meaning the Bucs can't relieve their ultra-tight cap situation of his $21 million burden. Some targets for release reside along the remade front seven from last season: Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry and even Gerald McCoy. Any of their releases would count nothing against Tampa Bay's cap in 2019, but would Arians dare part with more than one of them? Kwon Alexander is an impending free agent, as are Tampa Bay's two leading rushers, Peyton Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers. Then there's DeSean Jackson, who, set to count for $10 million against the cap in 2019, looks to be the odd receiver out if he doesn't take a pay cut. With the fifth overall pick, Tampa Bay can go offensive line or edge rusher or running back or linebacker, and it would do. Have fun, Jason Licht.