SIKKEMA’S “WAY TOO EARLY” PROJECTED BUCS’ 53-MAN ROSTER
Quarterbacks – 2
QB Jameis Winston
QB Seth Russell
Analysis: Winston goes into the season as the obvious starting guy with a lot of new weapons at his disposal. This year he needs to cut down on the mistakes and bring up the consistency/production. As for Russell, he’ll get to have the familiarity of Cannon on the second string to smooth out his transition and his return from injury.

Toledo RB Kareem Hunt – Photo by: Getty Images

Running Backs – 5
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
RB Kareem Hunt
RB Charles Sims
RB Joe Williams
FB Quayvone Hicks
Analysis: This depth chart would provide an even split between tough yards and explosive plays. I expect Hunt to eventually take over as the lead back, but with the running back position one that takes such a beating, it will be good to have the depth wherever they may need it.

Wide Receivers – 6
WR Mike Evans
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR Josh Gordon
WR Adam Humphries
WR KD Cannon
WR Russell Shepard
Analysis: If Tampa Bay somehow ended up with this receiving corps., they would go from basically the worst in the league in 2016, to Top 5 if not the best in the NFL. Gordon and Evans are both Top 10 receivers in the league when healthy, Smith-Schuster is an ideal WR3 or sub in for those two and Cannon can give you a home run play at any time.

Tight Ends – 4
TE Cameron Brate
TE Trey Burton
TE Luke Stocker
TE Tevin Westbrook
Analysis: The addition of Burton should serve as good depth and good production when the Buccaneers go two TE personnel with Brate like Koetter wanted to do with Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

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
Analysis: No new additions along the offensive line – as the fans roll their eyes. However, getting Sweezy back and healthy is like having a new addition. Here’s the thing. I get that the offensive line may need some help, and I am an advocate of strong offensive line pay as a priority. But I’m not going to tie up cap space when Donovan Smith is still young and improving and Demar Dotson already has his big contract to play RT. You’re not going to draft an offensive lineman early over getting top weapons or skills players in a deep skill player and shallow offensive lineman draft. And drafting an offensive lineman in the later rounds is nothing more than having Wester and Benenoch who are already there. I get that fans want better play from their offensive line; everyone does. But it doesn’t make sense to bring a big name FA in this year, draft a top one or draft a late one. It just doesn’t. If they don’t improve after this season, yes, you hit it hard with young weapons already in place next offseason.

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy and DE Noah Spence – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Defensive Line – 9
DE Robert Ayers
DE Melvin Ingram
DT Gerald McCoy
DT Clinton McDonald
DE Noah Spence
DE Derek Rivers
DT Akeem Spence
DT Dominique Easley
DE Jacquies Smith
Analysis: This would be one of the strongest defensive line rotations in the NFL. I would expect Ingram, McDonald, McCoy and Spence to be the starters, with top notch players behind them in Rivers, Easley, Ayers and Spence. That’s a very deep and talented group.

Linebackers – 5
WLB Lavonte David
MLB Kwon Alexander
SLB Devante Bond
OLB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
OLB Adarius Glanton
Analysis: I would give the starting SAM linebacker role to Bond for the time being, knowing that Revees-Maybin could develop into an even better option. Until then, he’d be a very strong special teams player, and that is key. When you acquire depth like I have done in this plan, you’re filling your roster with good football players. These aren’t just backups who won’t see the field. You’re building a good, deep football team on all three phases.

Cornerbacks – 6
CB Brent Grimes
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
CB Micah Hyde
CB Ryan Smith
CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
CB Josh Robinson
Analysis: Hargreaves would get the start outside opposite Grimes and Hyde would be the middle man since the Buccaneers play nickel formation so often. This would be an upgrade over Verner rotating in on only outside duties and a separate player rotating in on nickel duties wherever Hargreaves was not. Not having specific roles I think hurt this secondary last season.

Safeties – 4
FS Keith Tandy
FS Marcus Maye
SS Jahleel Addae
SS Bradley McDougald
Analysis: These four safeties are not only talented but also pretty interchangeable. All four at one point have played both coverage roles and strong safety help in the box. I would be very happy with any of these four players starting, but would assume Tandy and Addae would be starting in Week 1.

Bucs P Bryan Anger and K Roberto Aguayo – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

Special Teams – 3
K Roberto Aguayo
P Bryan Anger
LS Dax Dellenbach
Analysis: The only area of need I really didn’t address was kicker, and honestly, if Aguayo continues to struggle early into 2017, I would have no problem moving on and getting someone else in there. Anger was one of the best punters in the league last year, and with an even better special teams unit with him for 2017, I’d expect much of the same.

So there it is, my official personalized Battle Plan for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2017 offseason.

If at any point during your reading you went, “this guy’s an idiot” make sure to let me know in the comments below. I grew up on Madden and fantasy football drafts, so this was a lot of fun for me. I would love to hear your thoughts and some tweaks of your own on what you would do if you could make a blue print for Tampa Bay’s upcoming offseason.