Defensive End

At the top, things pretty much stay the same as far as edge play. Williams Gholston and Robert Ayers will be the primary run stopping defensive ends who will likely both play in an short yardage or goal line situations – if we’re counting Noah Spence and Jacquies Smith as defensive ends, at times, they would be in for pass rushing downs.

Then there’s the other guys. Channing Ward, Ryan Russell and George Johnson have all been with the Buccaneers before. Johnson was with the Buccaneers from 2010-2012, but didn’t see any action, then went on to play for the Vikings and the Lions (where he recorded six sacks) before returning in 2015 to start five games for the Bucs. Ward made the initial 53-man roster last season, and even earned one start, but was on and off the practice squad the rest of the year after that. Russell was signed by the Bucs in the middle of last season and saw action in eight different games.

Evan Panfil, Tavaris Barnes and Sterling Bailey are the new kids in town. Panfil, a rookie, played in 43 games at Purdue and recorded 76 tackles, nine sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. After going undrafted in 2015, Barnes signed with the New Orleans Saints where he went on to make the 53-man roster. After recording five tackles in 12 games for the Saints in the 2015 season, Barnes was waived, then signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He was waived by the team later in August. Bailey signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He was one of the last cuts the team made before the regular season, and was signed to the team’s practice squad the day after being cut. Following his release by the Colts, Bailey saw time on the Seahawks’ practice squad and the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad in 2016.

Defensive Tackle

Gerald McCoy and newcomer Chris Baker will be the team’s one-two punch on the interior. McCoy is perhaps the best three-technique defensive tackle in the NFL, while Baker will bring size and pass rush ability from the nose tackle position. Clinton McDonald, a former starter at nose tackle, will sub at both tackle positions. Beyond them, DeVonte Lambert got some nice playing time at the end of last season, as did Sealver Siliga.

The problem for Siliga might be that, though he was useful as the only potential nose tackle on the team, he’s not anymore. In comes the team’s seventh-round draft pick, Stevie Tu’ikolovatu. Tu’ikolovatu was a transfer from Utah where he wasn’t getting much playing time (behind players who many now say “Stevie T” should’ve been starting over). He transferred to USC and had a very nice final season. He didn’t see work on the second team during OTAs, but because of the nature of him as a nose tackle, he stands out and has a chance to make the initial 53-man roster, even as a seventh-rounder.

Linebacker

For a team that uses only two linebackers on the field 65 percent of the time, there sure are a lot of linebackers on the Bucs’ 90-man roster. David and Alexander are the top dogs, and that’s not going to change, but why are there so many behind them when those two are so solidified?

Let’s start with some familiar faces. Ardarius Glanton, Cameron Lynch and Devante Bond return for another season with the team for different reasons. For Glanton and Lynch, it’s special teams. Yes, the two can play linebacker in backup situations, but the reason for all these linebackers is because you need players with size and relative speed to play kick off and punt coverage. Those roles will come with spots on the team.

For Bond, after being injured for the 2016 season, he’s hoping to step up and fill the potential starting role left by Daryl Smith as the team’s strongside (SAM) linebacker when they do, in fact, play a 4-3 set. Bond was more of an edge-rushing linebacker than a run-stuffing SAM linebacker at Oklahoma, but he says he’s up for the challenge.

After that we have some young guns. Kendell Beckwith is the one who has the most promise. The team traded up to the end of the third round to select him, even though he tore his ACL late in the year and might not even be ready to play in the early parts of the year. With his bigger size, he’d likely be the player they’d groom to play that SAM linebacker spot.

Riley Bullough was a reliable middle man at Michigan State, but lacks NFL size to play in the middle. He’s shifty and reliable, but limited athletically. We’ll have to see where they play him in camp. Richie Brown played college football for Mississippi State where he led his team in tackles as the starting middle linebacker in 2015 and 2016.

Knox played his college football at California University of Pennsylvania, then went on to the Canadian Football League where he recorded 114 tackles and an interception for the Roughriders in 2015. Eric Nzeocha began playing football in Germany, and was selected for the German national junior team. After that, he spent three years playing for the University of Wyoming, where he switched from tight end to middle linebacker.

Cornerback

Brent Grimes was one of the best cover cornerbacks in the NFL last season, despite being well over 30 years old (he’s 33). Vernon Hargreaves III had his struggles, but he was a rookie starter, so that was to be expected. The team also saw plenty of added action between Jude Adjei-Barimah and Javien Elliott at the nickel position. Both are young players coming into their own, and those two should take most of the main slot duties again this season as Hargreaves is a full-time outside cornerback now.

Smith made the move from cornerback to safety after he was drafted, and that was just a decision by the coaches to try to get his talent on the field wherever they could. Now he’s back at cornerback, and in OTAs, he was the first backup corner on the outside. We assume this is where he will start training camp, too.

Josh Robinson will probably play more of a safety role this year, but we really know he’s on the team for his great special teams work. Robert McClain used to play cornerback for defensive coordinator Mike Smith back in the day, and they hope he can bring some veteran leadership to a rather young group. He’ll get a look at nickel cornerback and on the outside, too.

Cody Riggs was a practice squad player for the Buccaneers last season, and it appears that’s his goal once again this year with such a deep group. He’ll be going up against the likes of Jonathan Moxey and Maurice Fleming for that spot. Moxey was a three-year starter at Boise State who fits the Bucs “type” at corner (smaller, quicker, instinctive players rather than physically dominant players). Fleming started his career at Iowa, but due to limited playing time, transferred to West Virginia where he recorded 48 tackles, one interception and nine passes defensed in one season. At 5-foot-11, 207 pounds, he can play any spot as a defensive back, corner or safety.

Safety

The only two remaining Buccaneers from last year’s team on the back end are likely the two players who start on top in Keith Tandy and Chris Conte. Both split time at free safety and strong safety last season, and Smith likes to keep his safeties interchangeable.

For size, the team brought in J.J. Wilcox from Dallas. Wilcox was an on and off starter for the Cowboys for the last four seasons. He’s known for his big hits, but also some unreliable play that is sprinkled in as well with his reckless nature. In 2016 he played more under control and regained his starting spot midway through the year. He’s more of the heavy hitter, and a specialized player who can help on run support.

For speed, the team drafted Texas A&M safety Justin Evans. In his two seasons as a starter for the Aggies, Evans had 165 tackles, six tackles for loss and five interceptions. His fast play gives him an incredibly high ceiling, but also a lot of risk if he misses.

Isaiah Johnson and Alex Gray are the roster hopefuls of the bunch. Johnson was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent last May. He was released in September during final roster cuts and was signed to the practice squad. Gray was a three-year starter at Appalachian State. After the draft was over, he had multiple teams call him and offer him contracts to play, but as a linebacker. the Bucs were the only team to offer him as a safety, and he accepted.

Long Snapper

I don’t know much about the long snapper, but I know Garrison Sanborn has been in the NFL doing it since 2009. As one of the most consistent long snappers, he was one of the highest paid ones in the league at one point. This move made sense for Tampa Bay.

Punter

There’s not  much to say here about Anger, either. He helped make the Buccaneers one of the best punt units in the entire NFL in 2016 and looks to continue that trend in 2017.

Kicker

After a year where he was the worst starting kicker in the National Football League, Roberto Aguayo has some real competition this year in camp. Nick Folk has been in the NFL for 10 years, and has a Pro Bowl under his belt. He also broke the Cowboys’ single-season record for most points by a placekicker (131) during his rookie season. The reason the team brought Folk in is because he’s the exact opposite of Aguayo’s narrative. Folk has done it all before, including the post season where he’s nailed a game winner.

We’ll see if this motivates and focuses Aguayo or causes him to crumble.

Click the next page to see my final 53-man roster prediction.