Ranking the Tampa Bay Bucs starters for 2015Times Staff WritersSaturday, September 12, 2015 
Gerald McCoy has been the face of the Bucs defense since the day he was selected in the first round of the 2010 draft.DIRK SHADD | Times1. DT GERALD MCCOYFace of the franchise, locked up through 2021. When will he make playoffs?2. LB LAVONTE DAVIDAnother defensive linchpin under longterm contract. First Pro Bowl this year?3. WR MIKE EVANSAlready rewriting Bucs record books after 12 TD catches as a rookie.4. QB JAMEIS WINSTONHardest to rank this rookie, but he carries so much of the team's future hopes.5. WR VINCENT JACKSONTDs dropped last season, but he's reliable for 1,000 yards and leadership.6. CB ALTERRAUN VERNEREager to get back to Pro Bowl form in second season with Bucs.7. RB DOUG MARTINIf he can return to rookie-year Doug, huge news for Bucs' progress in 2015.8. CB JOHNTHAN BANKSStill emerging, his seven INTs match the most of any player drafted in 2013.9. OG LOGAN MANKINSMuch more a leader of young offensive line after arrival at start of 2014 season.10. LB KWON ALEXANDERCould be steal of draft; he's starting at middle linebacker as a fourth-round rookie.11. DE JACQUIES SMITHFound off waivers, may be best shot Bucs have at that elusive 10-sack season.12. LT DONOVAN SMITHAnother rookie pressed into a huge role, tasked with protecting Jameis Winston.13. TE AUSTIN SEFERIAN-JENKINSQuiet as rookie, he's healthy now and could have breakout sophomore year.14. C EVAN SMITHIf offensive line is to take a step forward, he'll be in the middle of that progress.15. DE GEORGE JOHNSONHas never started an NFL game, but counted on to spark outside pass rush.16. DT CLINTON MCDONALDWon Super Bowl in Seattle, will benefit from help from team's best depth at DT.17. S BRADLEY MCDOUGALDOnly has five career starts, but Bucs think he's ideal as versatile run/cover safety.18. G ALI MARPETFourth rookie starter — making huge leap from Division III to starting in NFL.19. LB DANNY LANSANAHTwo pick-sixes last season, and Bucs need whole defense to ballhawk like him.20. RT GOSDER CHERILUSFormer first-rounder brought in last month to fill in for injured Demar Dotson.21. S MAJOR WRIGHTLong history with Lovie Smith, but could lose starting job to D.J. Swearinger.22. WR LOUIS MURPHYFormer Lakewood star will serve as No. 3 WR, complementing Evans/Jackson.
