I think the handwriting was on the wall once we signed Teddy B. Trask may have been a better fit behind the line built for Brady, but we’ve kinda changed that a bit, and to be honest, Kyle wasn’t always consistent between pre-season starts.Trask is gone.
Teddy B is officially the #2 QB now.
I’m sure they really wanted a head-to-head competition to finish the last pre-season, because Teddy only got one game, but the one game was likely what Grizz was hoping to see.
Maybe in Las Vegas his next stop he’ll be in a different scenario, but at this moment he hadn’t improved enough - especially considering Bowles mentioned that they may be only keeping 2 QB’s this season. Trask’s slow improvement could be due to not getting enough opportunities, but he also seemed a bit more timid/less aggressive (save for a couple of series/pre-season games. However, he is a capable emergency/short term starter.
I think OC Grizz got the guy/type of back up he wanted. Grizz didn’t just get exposed to Trask this off-season.
Lots of special teams and VERSATILITY considerations in the cuts. Bullock over Jackson, Vildor over Hall etc.
Also, trying to walk the line on injured players like Wirfs and Godwin and even (according to Prisco) guys like Morrison, who Prisco says will take over for Dean if/when back. Not sure about that, but another interesting side story to watch
Trey Palmer cut
Trey Palmer cut
A little surprising but not really with Tez clearly being an upgrade.
Palmer speed straight line but zero ability to shift/cut and maintain that speed.
The swing OT that made the team is an interesting prospect. Chukwuma has really good feet for a guy his size. He's an OL coach's dream. Interested to see if he sticks after other cuts/adds and how he pans out in the next few years.
The swing OT that made the team is an interesting prospect. Chukwuma has really good feet for a guy his size. He's an OL coach's dream. Interested to see if he sticks after other cuts/adds and how he pans out in the next few years.
The staff had been offering lots of praise for the guy.
Lots of talk about special teams coverage units, guys making the team for that skill. New rule means more KO returns so makes sense
"“Now you gotta think about your roster again,” Bowles said. “Before, you didn’t have to keep the extra special teams guys because the ball’s coming out to the 25 [on a touchback] every time. Now with the ball coming out to the 35, two or three guys can make your team just by being hellacious cover guys. And you’re bringing back the Ron Wolfleys (an old school football reference) and all those type of guys that can cover kicks and may not be high on the depth chart otherwise. Not saying [Wolfley] was, but they can be not high on the depth chart otherwise.
“But you gotta have guys to cover kicks now. Because two first downs — one first down and you’re in fourth-down territory every time. Two first downs. You got a good field goal kicker, you’re kicking the ball in there. So it’s very important for us to cover kicks this year. And preseason’s gonna be very important to see who can make the team covering kicks.”
Trey Palmer cut
A little surprising but not really with Tez clearly being an upgrade.
Palmer speed straight line but zero ability to shift/cut and maintain that speed.
Palmer lost all his edges.
K. Johnson special teams return and can razzle dazzle on gadget plays and crossers. Bucs drafted McMillan, Tez and Egbuka who are highly regard receivers underneath and downfield. Egbuka and Tez can also be return specialists.
Palmer just failed to be the best at his niches.
“But you gotta have guys to cover kicks now. Because two first downs — one first down and you’re in fourth-down territory every time. Two first downs. You got a good field goal kicker, you’re kicking the ball in there. So it’s very important for us to cover kicks this year. And preseason’s gonna be very important to see who can make the team covering kicks.”
The flipside to Bowles statement is that you need returners to exploit the new return rules. I mean if Josh Williams and Tez can provide an extra 5-10 yards boost in returns compared to last year that is huge for field position.
Most surprised - Kam Johnson. A receiver is supposed to receive - one job - catch the ball!
Most under the radar Ben Chukwuma. Not much talk about him, but the UDFA who was supposed to be a long term project seemed to be in a lot during the first halves of the games.
Will be back - Nick Jackson won't be on the practice squad for long.
Four 2025 UDFAs made the team despite this being touted as a deep roster. Once again it would seem that Licht and his staff bring their A game when it comes to preparation to find quality UDFAs the day after the draft wraps up. Now the question is will they once again go on vacation when it comes to signing other teams' castoffs.
"Final" 53
Offense
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater
Running Back
Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker, and Josh Williams
Wide Receiver
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, Sterling Shephard, Ryan Miller, and Kameron Johnson
Tight End
Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Devin Culp, and Ko Kieft
Offensive Tackle
Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, Charlie Heck, Elijah Klein, and Ben Chukwuma
Defense
Defensive Tackle
Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, and Elijah Roberts
Outside Linebacker
Yaya Diaby, Haason Reddick, Chris Braswell, Anthony Nelson, and Markees Watts
Linebacker
Lavonte David, SirVocea Dennis, Deion Jones, and John Bullock
Cornerback
Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Kindle Vildor, and Josh Hayes
Safety
Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather, and Rashad Wisdom
Got your wish!The swing OT that made the team is an interesting prospect. Chukwuma has really good feet for a guy his size. He's an OL coach's dream. Interested to see if he sticks after other cuts/adds and how he pans out in the next few years.
Bucs website. Lesson from last season?