Cooks’ “Way Too Early” Bucs’ 53-Man Roster Projection

Quarterbacks – 3
QB Tom Brady
QB Jacob Eason
QB Ryan Griffin
Analysis: It’s Brady or bust for this unit in 2020, as Eason is the No. 2 QB when the season begins in September. Eason will have the chance to sit for a couple years behind one of the best ever, and the Bucs would love to see a Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers type of development.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones – Photo by: Getty Images

Running Backs – 4
RB Ronald Jones II
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
RB Dare Ogunbowale
RB T.J. Logan
Analysis: Edwards-Helaire and Ronald Jones will battle it out for the right to be the full time starter and while Jones has the advantage of two NFL season, Edwards-Helaire will push the former USC standout.

Wide Receivers – 6
WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Breshad Perriman
WR Scotty Miller
WR Justin Watson
WR Bryant Mitchell
Analysis: Tampa Bay will provide Brady with the best weapons he has ever had in his 20-year career and the Bucs’ most talented unit on the team comes from this receivers group.

Tight Ends – 3
TE Cameron Brate
TE Antony Auclair
TE Tanner Hudson
Analysis: The Bucs start the season with just three tight ends, but will have a practice squad with Cody McElroy and another young player on it that will work to develop enough to bolster the unit if injuries take their toll.

Bucs LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Offensive Line – 9
LT Donovan Smith
LG Ali Marpet
C Ryan Jensen
RG Alex Cappa
RT Josh Jones
OT Demar Dotson
OL Jack Driscoll
C/G Earl Watford
OT Josh Wells
Analysis: The offensive must be better in 2020 for Brady too succeed – and survive. The pressure will be on coaches Joe Gilbert and Harold Goodwin to get this group into the upper half of the league in pas protection and also run blocking. Jones will be counted on to start as a rookie at right tackle.

Defensive Line – 6
DE Will Gholston
NT Vita Vea
DT Javon Kinlaw
NT Beau Allen
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DE Jeremiah Ledbetter
Analysis: The Bucs defensive line has the potential to creak a lot of havoc for opposing offensive lines. Staying healthy and continued development for Vea will be crucial as the Bucs work a rookie like Kinlaw into the rotation. This could be special group.

Bucs linebackers Shaq Barrett and Devin White – Photo by: Getty Images

Outside Linebackers – 5
OLB Shaquil Barrett
OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
OLB Jonathan Greenard
OLB Anthony Nelson
OLB Kahzin Daniels
Analysis: Like all units, staying injury free for the most part will be the key to success in 2020. Can Barrett come close to duplicating last year? How will JPP fare playing a full 16-game schedule? Do Greenard and Nelson develop rapidly to mitigate the loss of Carl Nassib?

Inside Linebackers – 4
ILB Devin White
ILB Lavonte David
ILB Kevin Minter
ILB Jack Cichy
Analysis: This group looks to be one of the most solid units on the roster. David has shown no sign of slowing down and White should improve on solid rookie year. The team sis till very high on Cichy despite two years of season-ending injuries.

Cornerbacks – 6
CB Carlton Davis
CB Jamel Dean
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB Levonta Taylor
CB Mazzi Wilkins
CB Ryan Smith
Analysis: Growth and development must continue if the Bucs are going to the playoffs in 2020. Last season showed a lot of promise with a young group that stays fairly young once again this season.

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Safeties – 4
FS Mike Edwards
SS Tony Jefferson
SS Jordan Whitehead
SS D’Cota Dixon
Analysis: if Justin Evans can somehow overcome his nagging foot issues then that is just a bonus for the Buccaneers, but that remains to be seen. With a veteran like Jefferson in the room, Whitehead, Dixon and Edwards should be even better.

Special Teams – 3
K Matt Gay
P Bradley Pinion
LS Zach Triner
Analysis: Pinion was solid as a punter and even better kicking off in 2019 and there is no reason to think that changes this year. Gay was poised to set franchise percentage records before an awful season finale, against Atlanta missing three kicks. I would most certainly bring in some competition to push him during training camp.

What Do You Think?

Did you like my Bucs Battle Plan for the 2020 offseason? Did you like the trades I made? Does it adequately address Tampa Bay’s needs? Which additions did you like best? Let me know what you think in the article comments section below.

Scott Reynolds’ Bucs Battle Plans For The 2020 Offseason arrived on PewterReport.com on Monday, followed by Jon Ledyard’s on Wednesday, Matt Matera’s on Thursday and Taylor Jenkins’ on Friday.