Will All These Players Make it to Opening Day?

Buccaneers Veterans Who Have Been Put on Notice This Offseason By Jason Kanno , Featured Columnist May 12, 2015 Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press Every year, free agency and the draft sow the seeds for a new crop of Buccaneers. They also purge the roster of obsolete players and give notice to veterans whose time is almost up. This year is no different.The Bucs already jettisoned the expensive high-profile veterans like Josh McCown, Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins. What remains are experienced players with possible upgrades waiting in the wings.Most of these endangered players joined the Bucs in 2012. An NFL player's fourth season is crucial, as it typically marks the end of his first contract and impending eligibility for unrestricted free agency.Running back Doug Martin, safety Keith Tandy and cornerback Leonard Johnson are all aboard this boat, and all three are on notice. They all saw the Bucs sign or draft players in the past two years who could push them off the Bucs roster.The same goes for linebacker Danny Lansanah and wide receiver Russell Shepard. Lansanah broke out last year, while Shepard is still riding on his potential, but both have younger players behind them pushing for playing time.Here are the Bucs veterans put on notice following the team's moves this offseason.Doug MartinBrian Blanco/Associated Press There is one player on the Bucs roster the team publicly put on notice this offseason: Doug Martin.The former first-round pick's predicament couldn't be clearer. When the Bucs refused to pick up Martin's fifth-year option, he had to know that he was on his last legs in Tampa Bay.Martin's career cooled considerably after his rookie year, due to in large part to injuries. There is also an argument to be made that the Bucs offensive line gave Martin little to work with over the past two years, given the general ineffectiveness of the Bucs' other running backs.Martin will compete with last year's third-round pick, Charles Sims. Though Sims isn't necessarily more talented than Martin, he does have the benefit of being drafted by the Bucs' current front office. Martin does not.Nevertheless, as a former first-rounder, Martin can't use the Bucs' bad offensive line as a crutch or count on the poor play of the other backs. If Martin can't regain his 2012 form, the Bucs would be justified in passing on his 2016 option.Danny LansanahMike Ehrmann/Getty Images Despite emerging as a viable starter last year, linebacker Danny Lansanah isn't getting any free rides in Tampa Bay.It took Lansanah six years in the NFL to catch on with a team. His emergence proved vital to the Bucs defense last season when he became an every-down linebacker.Nevertheless, the Bucs prepared for the future and bolstered their linebacker corps by drafting LSU LB Kwon Alexander in the fourth round of the draft. The implications of the Bucs' selection did not escape Lansanah, who took to Twitter following the pick:Lansanah's experience is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Given his skill, he is unlikely to give up his starting spot at the Sam linebacker spot.However, Lansanah will be 30 when the season begins. If the Bucs opt to invest in a long-term option, Lansanah could become expendable sooner rather than later.Keith TandyBrian Blanco/Associated Press A rare survivor of a Mark Dominik draft, safety Keith Tandy may be running out of time to make an impact on the Bucs roster.Along with Doug Martin and LB Lavonte David, Tandy is the only remaining player drafted by the Bucs in 2012. He stuck around due to his contributions on special teams and the occasional spot work at safety.Tandy has actually shown a nose for the ball. In 2013, he notched three interceptions though he started only five games. He may have more to show if given the opportunity.Tandy may not get another shot. The Bucs believe Bradley McDougald's future is bright, and they re-signed Major Wright and Chris Conte this offseason. Both of their salaries are fully guaranteed in 2015, per Over the Cap.Clearly, McDougald, Wright and Conte aren't going anywhere this season.The Bucs also signed undrafted free agent S Chris Hackett. The former TCU defensive back was a ball hawk for the Horned Frogs, collecting 12 career interceptions. He will be Tandy's chief competition during training camp.Tandy is entering the last year of his contract with everything to prove.Leonard JohnsonBill Haber/Associated Press Leonard Johnson was once a promising prospect at cornerback, but time has proven that he may not have what it takes to compete for the Bucs.After a promising rookie season in 2012, Johnson failed to capitalize on his early momentum. Since 2012, Johnson allowed a 70 percent completion rate and seven touchdowns per Pro Football Focus.Johnson lacks the speed and quickness to cover the NFL's better slot receivers, and he isn't big enough to compete with receivers on the outside. Quite simply, the Bucs could do better.During the offseason, the Bucs signed former Cowboys CB Sterling Moore, who played the slot in Dallas. Moore was one of the Cowboys' best defensive backs, second only to Orlando Scandrick.Moore's signing might bring Johnson's time in Tampa Bay to an end. Johnson needs a very strong training camp to stay on the roster.Russell ShepardChris O'Meara/Associated Press The Bucs are playing a numbers game with their wide receiver corps. Russell Shepard may be an unavoidable but inevitable casualty.The Buccaneers currently have nine wide receivers on the roster and two unsigned 2015 draft picks, Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay.Wide receivers Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Louis Murphy, who signed a three-year contract extension in December, aren't going anywhere. With Bell and Clay likely to make the final roster due to their draft status, the Bucs have no more than one open roster spot for another wide receiver.If the Bucs do carry six receivers, Shepard is near the top of the list. His main competition is 2014 sixth-round pick Robert Herron. The former Wyoming receiver also has his draft status to fall upon to keep him on the roster, though it's no doubt tarnished by his poor hands and frequent drops.Shepard's saving grace will likely be his special teams play, where he was a key contributor. The only way to guarantee a spot would be to prove his value as a receiver in training camp and the preseason.link