The preseason is over. The hay is in the barn. On Thursday, September 9, the Bucs will begin the defense of their world championship against the visiting Dallas Cowboys.

In Tampa Bay’s last preseason game, things couldn’t have looked much better for the starting offense. Plenty of depth players proved themselves as well, making final roster cuts a difficult process for the Bucs front office and coaches.

I’ve donned my G.M. hat one final time to offer my final 53-man roster prediction for the Bucs.

Bucs Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (3)

QB Tom Brady
QB Blaine Gabbert
QB Kyle Trask

There’s never been any doubt about how the Bucs quarterback room would look going into the season. Still, it was very encouraging to see Trask look like an NFL quarterback against the Texans. The rookie has a long way to go, but he solidified that he is clearly better than Ryan Griffin already. It’s not much, but it’s something.

Running Backs (4)

RB Ronald Jones
RB Giovani Bernard
RB Leonard Fournette
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Bucs RB Giovani Bernard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

No surprises in the running back room. Vaughn’s performance in the preseason was so listless that cutting him was tempting, but I don’t see the Bucs carrying just three running backs. One surprise might be that Jones seems to be establishing himself as the “starting” running back, whatever that means for a Bruce Arians offense. If Jones’ confidence remains high, Fournette’s role could diminish.

Wide Receivers (7)

WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Antonio Brown
WR Scotty Miller
WR Tyler Johnson
WR Jaelon Darden
WR Jaydon Mickens

I have mixed feelings about starting Darden as a return man in Week 1. Darden is more explosive and creative as a returner than Mickens, but not as sure-handed. Mickens had zero fumbles and muffs in the return game last year. At the same time, Mickens didn’t do much in preseason games despite an impressive training camp. Does Travis Jonsen have a shot to stick? The Bucs like him, but it’s hard to see what he’s done to earn a roster spot.

Tight Ends (3)

TE Rob Gronkowski
TE O.J. Howard
TE Cameron Brate

Will the Bucs keep a fourth tight end on the final roster? With Tanner Hudson in Arians’ doghouse and Codey McElroy still very raw, it doesn’t look like it. Both guys are talented, and at least one will stick on the practice squad.

Offensive Linemen (9)

RT Tristan Wirfs
RG Alex Cappa
C Ryan Jensen
LG Ali Marpet
LT Donovan Smith
G Aaron Stinnie
OT Josh Wells
C Robert Hainsey
OL Nick Leverett

Bucs G Aaron Stinnie – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Eight of these players are locks. Leverett has had a great camp and can play four spots on the o-line. It sounds like Bucs coaches have a real affinity for how he plays the game. Brad Seaton had a chance to grab the No. 9 OL spot, but didn’t play well enough in the preseason finale, allowing two sacks

Bucs Defense (24)

Interior Defensive Linemen (7)

NT Vita Vea
DT Ndamukong Suh
DE Will Gholston
NT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DT Steve McLendon
DT Khalil Davis
DE Pat O’Connor

Jeremiah Ledbetter made a great push in the Bucs’ final preseason game, playing lights out against the Texans. But will it be enough? I think Tampa Bay believes it can sneak him onto the practice squad, and that could impact the team’s cut downs. The play of Davis and O’Connor has given the Bucs some flexibility to cut McLendon if necessary. I still think their roster can be constructed in such a way as to keep seven interior defensive linemen, at least temporarily. So McLendon sticks on the roster … for now.

One thing to note: if McLendon is cut, it might be formality. As a vested veteran, he’s not subject to waivers. So even if McLendon is initially released, expecting him back in some capacity – even the practice squad – makes sense.

Outside Linebackers (4)

OLB Shaq Barrett
OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
OLB Anthony Nelson

The Bucs have to feel great about their outside linebacker room. Pierre-Paul is as healthy as he’s been in a long time, Tryon-Shoyinka looks incredible, Nelson had a strong preseason and Barrett is Barrett. If Cam Gill were healthy, the Bucs might have carried five outside linebackers. For now they’ll stick with one of the best foursomes in the NFL.

Inside Linebackers (4)

ILB Lavonte David
ILB Devin White
ILB Kevin Minter
ILB K.J. Britt

Bucs ILB K.J. Britt – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If there is a spot I’ll get wrong, it’s probably this one. It’s definitely possible the Bucs carry five off-ball linebackers. But why? David and White never leave the field, and Minter is one of the best backups in the league. Britt will clearly be the No. 4 linebacker, despite his athletic and coverage limitations. But Grant Stuard is not ready to play, and Joe Jones was behind the rookie in the preseason finale. There’s no reason to think either of those two have earned a roster spot based on preseason. Stuard will easily make the practice squad, so he’s around if the Bucs needed him anyway.

Cornerbacks (6)

CB Carlton Davis
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB Jamel Dean
CB Ross Cockrell
CB Dee Delaney
CB Antonio Hamilton

I know Hamilton didn’t play his best football against the Texans, but he’s still had a strong summer. Hamilton was great in the first two preseason games, and he’s a special teams standout. Delaney has been the biggest surprise of camp over the past two weeks. He’s flashed real ball skills and anticipation, breaking up a pass and intercepting two others on Saturday. The Bucs have to feel much better about their cornerback depth compared to where they were a year ago at this time.

Safeties (3)

FS Antoine Winfield Jr.
SS Jordan Whitehead
SS Mike Edwards

Bucs S Mike Edwards and OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Cockrell’s ability to shift to safety as needed could allow the Bucs to carry just three true safeties on the roster this season. Javon Hagan and Chris Cooper have had their ups-and-downs in camp, but Tampa Bay can get either of them on to the 16-man practice squad with ease. What’s the point of playing Cockrell at safety all preseason if you aren’t going to use him to gain roster flexibility?

Specialists (3)

K Ryan Succop
P Bradley Pinion
LS Zach Triner

The Bucs’ battery from a year ago returns intact. It’s as solid a group as there is in the NFL, especially with Pinion serving as the holder and kickoff specialist, in addition to punting.

Injured Reserve or P.U.P List

WR Justin Watson
OLB Cam Gill

Practice Squad (16)*

QB Ryan Griffin
Waiver Claim RB – TBD
WR Travis Jonsen
WR Cyril Grayson
TE Codey McElroy
OT Brad Seaton
OG Earl Watford
C John Molchon

DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
DT Benning Potoa’e
OLB Elijah Ponder
ILB Grant Stuard
CB Herb Miller
S Javon Hagan
S Chris Cooper
K Jose Borregales

*Practice squads may only have six players with more than 2 accrued seasons