SR’s “WAY TOO EARLY” PROJECTED BUCS’ 53-MAN ROSTER
Quarterbacks – 2
QB Jameis Winston
QB Ryan Griffin
Analysis: The Bucs go with two quarterbacks this year with Mike Glennon’s departure, and I’m projecting Griffin to beat out Sean Renfree, but that’s just a guess at this point.

Running Backs – 5
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
RB Christian McCaffrey
RB Charles Sims
RB Darius Victor
FB Quayvone Hicks
Analysis: Rodgers and McCaffrey will vie for the starting running back job and split carries, while Sims can catch passes out of the backfield and help on special teams. Victor takes over Peyton Barber’s “big back” role from a year ago, while Hicks serves as a lead blocker in the Bucs’ two-back set.

Wide Receivers – 6
WR Mike Evans
WR DeSean Jackson
WR Josh Reynolds
WR Adam Humphries
WR Shelton Gibson
WR Russell Shepard
Analysis: The Bucs’ receiving corps is revamped with three new additions in Jackson and Gibson, who add speed, and Reynolds, who adds size. With the ability to take the top off a defense, Jackson can help keep safeties back deep, in addition to make them pay when Evans is double covered. Jackson also gives Tampa Bay a proven veteran in case Evans misses time with an injury. Reynolds and Gibson are two talented young receivers that can vie for playing time and are eventual replacements for Jackson and Humphries. Shepard remains one of the best special teamers in the NFL.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston and TE Cameron Brate – Photo by: Getty Images

Tight Ends – 4
TE Cameron Brate
TE Jermaine Gresham
TE Luke Stocker
TE Antony Auclair
Analysis: Brate and Gresham give Dirk Koetter two starting caliber tight ends to be used in the passing game and also in the running game. Brate can learn from Gresham’s experience as he continues to develop into one of the league’s best. Auclair is another Stocker-type tight end that can help in the running game and develop into a contributor in time.

Offensive Line – 9
LT Donovan Smith
LG Kevin Pamphile
C Joe Hawley
RG Ali Marpet
RT Demar Dotson
G JR Sweezy
C Evan Smith
OL Caleb Benenoch
OT Leonard Wester
C Ben Gottschalk
Analysis: Tampa Bay’s offensive line remains intact from a year ago and the young players like Smith, Marpet, Pamphile, Benenoch, Wester and Gottschalk will benefit from another year’s worth of experience. Sweezy returning to action and competing for a starting guard assignment gives the unit a boost.

Defensive Line – 9
DE Robert Ayers
DE Will Gholston
DT Gerald McCoy
DT Clinton McDonald
DE Noah Spence
DE Trey Hendrickson
DT Akeem Spence
DT Sealver Siliga
DE Jacquies Smith
Analysis: Tampa Bay re-signs Gholston, Akeem Spence, Siligia and Smith to bolster the unit, and Hendrickson is added for his ability to rush the passer. The Bucs have four defensive tackles and five defensive ends, but both Ayers and Gholston can move inside and play tackle in nickel pass rush situations.

Bucs LBs Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR

Linebackers – 5
WLB Lavonte David
MLB Kwon Alexander
SLB Devante Bond
OLB Javancy Jones
OLB Adarius Glanton
Analysis: David and Alexander are two of the best and most athletic linebackers in the league. Daryl Smith is gone, but between Bond, Jones and Glanton a younger, faster, more athletic replacement should emerge. The Bucs can get away with five linebackers because they are in nickel defense over 60 percent of the time.

Cornerbacks – 6
CB Brent Grimes
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
CB Adoree` Jackson
CB Ryan Smith
CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
CB Josh Robinson
Analysis: The Bucs can stash Javien Elliott on the practice squad for one more year until Grimes departs. Hargreaves should be better with a season’s worth of experience under his belt, and Jackson adds speed and athleticism to the cornerback position, and will challenge Adjei-Barimah for the nickel corner role as a rookie. Smith continues to develop as an outside cornerback and teams with Robinson to excel on special teams.

Safeties – 4
FS Keith Tandy
SS Eddie Jackson
FS Chris Conte
SS Bradley McDougald
Analysis: Tandy, Conte and McDougald all have experience in Mike Smith’s defensive scheme and showed a good deal of improvement down the stretch. Jackson adds athleticism and playmaking ability to the secondary and comes from a winning program at Alabama.

Special Teams – 3
K Roberto Aguayo
P Bryan Anger
LS Dax Dellenbach
Analysis: Aguayo may lose his kicking job to an unsigned veteran kicker. That’s the big battle to watch in training camp. Dellenbach gets the first crack at replacing Andrew DiPaola, who tore his ACL in Week 17 and will miss the 2017 season. Anger is one of the league’s best punters and was rewarded with a new, long-term deal last December.

Did you like my Bucs’ 2017 Offseason Battle Plans? Let me know what you think in the article comments below.

Mark Cook’s version of his Bucs’ 2017 Offseason Battle Plans hits PewterReport.com on Thursday, followed by Trevor Sikkema’s on Friday.