Jenkins’ “Way Too Early” Projected Bucs’ 53-Man Roster

Quarterbacks – 3

QB Jameis Winston
QB Drew Stanton
QB Justice Hansen
Analysis: The Bucs keep three quarterbacks on the roster, Winston, Stanton, the veteran, and add undrafted free agent Justice Hansen from Arkansas State.

Running Backs – 5

RB Peyton Barber
RB Dare Ogunbowale
RB Andre Ellington
RB Ronald Jones
RB Shaun Wilson
Analysis: The Bucs keep Peyton Barber as the number one back as they hope Ronald Jones turns a corner. They also brought in Andre Ellington as a veteran who’s in position to replace Jacquizz Rodgers as the experienced, change-of-pace back and keep Dare Ogunbowale, who the Bucs brought in last offseason and had some good snaps in preseason. Shaun Wilson will also return to provide depth and serve as a return specialist.

Wide Receivers – 5

WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Justin Watson
WR Bobo Wilson
WR Damarkus Lodge
Analysis: The Bucs will keep five wide receivers, three of which are young and relatively unexperienced in the NFL, but they have enough experienced talent at the top of the roster to get away with only keeping five on staff.

Tight Ends – 4

TE O.J. Howard
TE Antony Auclair
TE Tanner Hudson
TE Donny Ernsberger
Analysis: Four tight ends will make sense for the Bucs to keep, even with the loss of Cam Brate. O.J. Howard is the clear weapon of the group and his blocking ability allows him to stay on the field for all three downs. Antony Auclair was able to get valuable experience when Howard went down last year, and Hudson and Ernsberger were two guys who survived the cuts that many undrafted free agents see and remained on the practice squad in 2018.

Offensive Line – 9

LT Donovan Smith
LG Ali Marpet
C Ryan Jensen
RG Dru Samia
RT Jonah Williams
OL Alex Cappa
G Reuben Holcomb
OT Leonard Wester
OT: Caleb Benenoch
Analysis: In 2018, with a new coaching staff and Winston on the last year of his contract, the Bucs will have a new-look and upgraded offensive line with two new starters stepping out of the draft. Smith returns on his one-year deal, Jonah Williams and Dru Samia will be building blocks for the Bucs offensive line going forward in my battle plan and Cappa, Holcomb, Wester and Benenoch return to the roster for depth.

Defensive Line – 5

NT Vita Vea
DT Gerald McCoy
DE Will Gholston
DT Jerry Tillery
DE Charles Omenihu
Analysis: Like I’ve said in my Battle Plan, I see the defense being extremely versatile and variable with a lot of different looks from both 3-4 under and 4-3 packages. Vea serves as your true nose tackle in 3-4 and can line up next to McCoy as a 3-tech in 4-3. I also see Gholston improving in 3-4 sets while Tillery and Omenihu work in as rotational guys throughout.

Outside Linebackers – 5

SLB Carl Nassib
WLB Jason Pierre-Paul
SLB Kendell Beckwith
WLB Noah Spence
SLB Adarius Taylor
Analysis: If healthy and playing at their best, you’ve got a good core with Beckwith, Nassib and Pierre-Paul. It’s going to be interesting to see how Bowles’ defense works with Pierre-Paul and how he’ll rush when they take him out of his three-point stance coming off the edge. This also might be Spence’s last chance to prove he belongs, and if he can’t do it with Bowles’ aggressive scheme and coaching than he might not be in Tampa much longer. Taylor returns to provide depth and experience.

Inside Linebackers – 4

ILB Kwon Alexander
ILB Lavonte David
ILB David Long
ILB Kevin Minter
Analysis: Alexander and David are the starters in both the 3-4 scheme and in nickel defense. Joseph and Minter are valuable backups. Minter brings experience to the table, while Joseph has speed and hard-hitting ability, but must learn how to cover at the NFL level.

Cornerbacks – 6

CB Jason McCourty
CB Carlton Davis
CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Amani Oruwariye
CB Ryan Smith
CB Javien Elliot
Analysis: McCourty is the veteran needed to replace Brent Grimes and bring experience to the secondary. Davis should only get better in his second year in the league, Hargreaves should bounce back from his injury and provide a solid nickel corner, and then Smith, Elliot and Oruwariye provide depth as the rookie adjusts to life in the NFL.

Safeties – 4

FS Justin Evans
SS Tyrann Mathieu
FS Jordan Whitehead
SS MJ Stewart
Analysis: The Bucs now look at a safety position where Mathieu enters to bring some much-needed experience to the position and hope that Evans can be the explosive playmaker they drafted him to be, now in his third year. Similar to SR’s Battle Plan, I have Whitehead moving over to free safety and Stewart transitioning to safety to enhance his physical play while hiding some of his limitations in coverage.

Specialists – 3

K Cairo Santos
P Mitch Wishnowski
LS Garrison Sanborn
Analysis: Santos returns as the Bucs’ kicker, while Wishnowski is signed as a free agent out of the University of Utah. Wishnowski participated in this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl and earned the Ray Guy Award, given to the nations’s top punter, in his sophomore year. Long snapper is a toss up but if the Bucs don’t fill the position via free agency, then I see Sanborn returning to camp to compete for the spot.

What Do You Think?

Did you like my Bucs’ 2019 Offseason Battle Plans? 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.