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FAB 1. Early Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction

Tampa Bay’s 2019 preseason begins in Pittsburgh on Friday, August 9, which is the start of the Bruce Arians era with the Buccaneers. Preseason play will dictate starting jobs and playing time for some, and roster spots for others. Based on watching two weeks of training camp, here is my initial Bucs’ 53-Man Roster Prediction.

I’ll be back in a couple weeks prior to the preseason finale at Dallas on Thursday, August 29, to make my final predictions before roster cut-down day, which is on Saturday, August 31 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Remember, there aren’t two roster cut-down days in the NFL anymore – just one cut from 90 players to 53.

QUARTERBACKS – 2

QB Jameis Winston
QB Blaine Gabbert
Analysis: Having dealt with injuries at the quarterback position in both Arizona and Tampa Bay, respectively, the Bucs’ brain trust of head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht will probably keep three quarterbacks on the roster, but that will depend on how unproven Ryan Griffin fares in the preseason. If Griffin doesn’t impress he may not be worth keeping and the Bucs could put a young, developmental QB on the practice squad instead. What we do know is that Winston is having a very good camp and is the entrenched starter with Gabbert, who has also had his moments where he’s shined, as the entrenched backup.

RUNNING BACKS – 4

RB Peyton Barber
RB Ronald Jones
RB Dare Ogunbowale
RB Andre Ellington
Analysis: Barber’s experience and skill set will probably make him the opening day starter for Tampa Bay, yet Jones has made a ton of progress and looks like a brand new back – the type of runner Licht thought he was getting with last year’s second-round pick. Jones has bulked up and is running with more power, tackle-breaking ability and confidence. And Jones has improved his hands, which is critical in Arians’ offense, which throws the ball to the backs quite a bit. Ogunbowale has had a great start to camp and has also bulked up to 220 pounds. He’s a gifted receiver and route runner and is challenging Ellington, a wily veteran who knows Arians offense, for the role of third-down back.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 6

Bucs WR Breshad Perriman – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Breshad Perriman

WR Justin Watson
WR Scotty Miller
WR Bobo Wilson
Analysis: The first three receivers – Evans, Godwin and Perriman – are locks to make the roster. Evans has had a dominant camp and seems poised for another Pro Bowl season in Arians’ offense. Godwin looks as polished as a 10-year veteran in his third season in Tampa Bay and should eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time. Perriman has been a great addition as his 6-foot-2, 215-pound size shows up in the red zone, and his 4.3 speed makes him a vertical threat. Perriman and Winston already have a better downfield connection than Winston and DeSean Jackson ever did. Watson, a second-year receiver, has made some nice plays, but he needs to be more consistent catching the ball. He’s not a bigger version of Adam Humphries – yet. Humphries caught everything. Miller was making strides as a deep threat and run-after-the-catch guy until tweaking his hamstring. Still, he has a good shot at making the team, as does the improving Wilson, especially if he can show some juice in the return game on punts and kickoffs.

TIGHT ENDS – 3

TE O.J. Howard
TE Cameron Brate
TE Antony Auclair
Analysis: The Bucs love their three tight ends with Howard ready for a Pro Bowl-caliber season if he can stay healthy for 16 weeks. Howard has a chance for a monster year in Arians’ offense, which likes to attack teams vertically down the middle of the field. Brate is back and healthy, and looks like he did in 2017 when he had a breakout season. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has some two- and three-tight end sets in his arsenal. And with Howard getting most of the attention, look for Brate to exploit some favorable one-on-one match-ups. The Canadian Auclair is entering his third year of American football and is really developing nicely. He’s become more than just a blocker. Auclair has really improved his route running and his hands in the passing game.

OFFENSIVE LINE – 9

LT Donovan Smith
LG Ali Marpet
C Ryan Jensen
RG Alex Cappa
RT Demar Dotson
OL Earl Watford
C-G Evan Smith
OT Caleb Benenoch
OT Cole Boozer
Analysis: Tampa Bay will likely keep nine offensive linemen, on one of those nine was probably going to be Michael Liedtke before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. That shuffles the deck a bit among the reserves, but the starters are set. Donovan Smith has battled a sore Achilles injury, but is set at left tackle next to Marpet at left guard. Marpet is already playing at a Pro Bowl level. This blocking scheme seems better suited for Jensen’s style of smash-mouth play and he looks more comfortable than he did a year ago, which was his first season in Tampa Bay. All eyes have been on Cappa at right guard, and he’s made tremendous progress in both run blocking and pass protection since making the transition from playing left tackle in college. Dotson is healthier than he was a year ago and has had a solid camp. Watford is a veteran newcomer familiar with the scheme and can play all five offensive line positions. He’s probably the first guy off the bench if there is an injury. Evan Smith had offseason hip surgery and looks fresher – even at age 33. He likely sticks as a backup center-guard unless one of the young guys really rises up in the preseason. Benenoch is back at tackle where he belongs and has made some strides. He’s been cross-trained at left and right tackle, while the athletic Boozer has improved and is making his mark at right tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINE – 6

Bucs DTs Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

DT Ndamukong Suh
DT Vita Vea
DT Beau Allen
DE Will Gholston
DE Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DE Jeremiah Ledbetter
Analysis: The Bucs hope that Vea’s knee injury isn’t too serious and that he just misses the preseason. He’s a future star at nose tackle, and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has used Vea’s athleticism up and down the line of scrimmage at both three-tech defensive tackle and also at defensive end. If Vea misses time, the veteran Allen, who has bulked up to around 330 pounds this offseason, is a capable starter. Suh has been a tremendous addition to the defensive line. He’s a no-nonsense tackle who plays with power and aggression. Gholston has bulked up to over 300 pounds and finally looks comfortable in a defense in Tampa Bay. He’s always had a 3-4 defensive end build and he’s playing with power and confidence as a run stopper on the strong side. Nunez-Roches has had an outstanding camp and is versatile enough to play all three spots and he’s also a factor on special teams. Ledbetter has made huge strides in camp and is focused on making the 53-man roster. He’s added some size and can back up Gholston or Suh.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

MO Lavonte David
MIKE Devin White
MO Deone Bucannon
MIKE Kevin Minter
MIKE Devante Bond
Analysis: David will miss the preseason as he recovers from meniscus surgery and was having a stellar camp before injuring his knee. Such a cerebral player, David already knows Bowles’ scheme and should flourish in it this year. White, the team’s first-round pick, has really come on after a so-so first week of camp. He’s playing fast and confident and making plays as he continues to grasp the scheme. Bucannon will start in place of David at the MO ‘backer spot until David returns. He’s a fast player that excels in coverage and is aggressive enough to be effective in run support and as a blitzer. Minter is a wily veteran MIKE linebacker that has served as a mentor to White as they both come from LSU. He knows Bowles’ defense inside and out and is great blitzer and run stuffer. Bond has really improved as an inside linebacker after spending his first few years in Tampa Bay at strongside outside linebacker. He’s an athletic core special teams player who is learning both the MIKE and MO positions.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

SLB Carl Nassib
WLB Noah Spence
WLB Shaquil Barrett
SLB Anthony Nelson
SLB David Kenney
WLB Jason Pierre-Paul*
Analysis: Nassib is the starting SAM outside linebacker on the strong side and seems ready for a big contract year as a strong, quick and aggressive pass rusher. Spence has made huge strides as an outside linebacker on the weak side after toiling away as a 4-3 defensive end where he was miscast over the last three seasons. Spence isn’t strong in coverage, but can rush the passer and has given Smith fits off the edge. Barrett has been a nice veteran addition and can rush the passer from the strong side, the weakside or blitz inside lining up over a guard. A knee injury has slowed Nelson’s progress, but the Bucs like what they see so far from him as an edge-setter on the strong side. Kenney is a dark horse to make the team, especially since he missed the first 10 days of camp with an Achilles injury. But he has unreal anticipation and burst off the ball as an edge rusher and an interior blitzer, and could light it up in the preseason as a pass rusher. Pierre-Paul won’t count against the 53-man roster as he should start the year on the NFI-Injured Reserve list and be eligible to return at mid-season following his car crash in May. At least that’s the plan for now.

CORNERBACKS – 5

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Carlton Davis
NCB Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB Jamel Dean
CB Mazzi Wilkins
Analysis: Coaching matters in the NFL, and cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross has done an outstanding job of working with his young corners, especially Hargreaves, who is flying around with confidence and making plays. Hargreaves looks to be locking down one starting spot and Davis appears to have a tight grip on the other cornerback job. He just needs to make more plays on the ball. Murphy-Bunting is a future star at cornerback and has the ball skills that will allow him to play early as a rookie, especially in the slot in nickel defense where he has shined in camp. Dean is a developmental talent and will be a good player for years to come, but the fact that he’s sidelined with an injury is slowing his progress. Wilkins has flashed some playmaking ability in camp and could make the team as the fifth cornerback as Ryan Smith, a special teams star, will begin the season with a four-game suspension. The Bucs could also keep four cornerbacks and six safeties as M.J. Stewart can play both positions.

SAFETIES – 5

SS Jordan Whitehead
FS Mike Edwards
SS Kentrell Brice
SS-NCB M.J. Stewart
FS Justin Evans
Analysis: Whitehead has gained 10 pounds of muscle this offseason and looks like a legit safety this year. He’s always been a physical player, but has been real solid in coverage in camp. Edwards is a playmaker at the cornerback position with interceptions and sacks. He’s flashed right out of the gate and should start alongside Whitehead. D’Cota Dixon really impressed in camp as a rookie and had a chance to make it if not for a season-ending injury. Instead, Brice, a veteran makes the team along with Stewart, who is versatile enough to play nickel, outside corner or strong safety. Stewart is seeing time as a blitzing safety and a run stopper, and has made strides in coverage. Still, his lack of elite speed is apparent and he’s still in the trail position too often while covering slot receivers. Evans hasn’t played or practiced since November due to a toe injury on one foot, followed by a heel injury on the other. Evans has plenty of talent and playmaking ability, but can he stay healthy?

SPECIAL TEAMS – 3

Bucs K Matt Gay – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

P Bradley Pinion
K Matt Gay
LS Zach Triner
Analysis: The Bucs’ special teams battery is completely knew this year. Pinion replaces Bryan Anger and will handle punts and kickoffs, while Triner is the new long snapper. The preseason will determine if Gay, a fifth-round pick with a booming leg, is accurate enough to win the kicking duties over veteran Cairo Santos, who has limited range. The guess here is that Gay gets the job.