FAB 4. 3 Undrafted Free Agents To Watch At Bucs Rookie Mini-Camp

We aren’t going to be able to tell too much about the team’s 2019 draft class during the Bucs rookie mini-camp because in the offseason it’s essentially flag football where the only element that can truly be evaluated is the passing game and pass coverage because of the non-contact environment.

We’ll still be able to eyeball the likes of inside linebacker Devin White, the team’s first-round pick, and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, the Bucs’ fourth-rounder, and form our first impressions based on their speed, fluidity and how they move around the field, but we’ll know more about cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean and strong safety Mike Edwards, who were Tampa Bay’s Day 2 picks, and wide receiver Scotty Miller, the team’s sixth-rounder, because of the positions they play as opposed to defensive tackle Terry Beckner, Jr., the Bucs’ seventh-round pick.

Bucs OLB Kahzin Daniels – Photo courtesy of Charleston

Having said that, here are three rookies – all undrafted free agents – we will be keeping an eye on during the rookie mini-camp. One of those players, Charleston defensive end Kahzin Daniels, is actually blind in one eye. Daniels had a school-record 34.5 sacks in four years playing opposite John Cominsky, who was drafted by Atlanta in the fourth round.

Very few of Daniels’ coaches and teammates even knew he was blind in one eye until his senior season. Many NFL teams didn’t discover that until just weeks before the draft.

“That’s a credit to him and how he was brought up, and his perseverance and whoever mentored him,” Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles said. “It can be nothing but a plus to help him in life and in football.

“He’s a good football player. Obviously, he’s aggressive up front. He can rush the passer. I look forward to getting him in and seeing what he can do.”

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Daniels needs to add some size, but will line up at weakside linebacker behind Jason Pierre-Paul and Noah Spence where he’ll have a chance to rush the passer. Daniels, who blazed a 4.70 in the 40-yard dash, had 55 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks seven quarterback hits and one forced fumbles during his senior year.

The other two players are wide receivers, which is a position the Bucs want to continue to stockpile talent at after losing Adam Humphries to Tennessee in free agency and trading DeSean Jackson to Philadelphia. Tampa Bay added Breshard Perriman in free agency and the team is thrilled with how he’s performed in offseason workouts, showing blazing speed and improved hands.

The Bucs drafted undersized speedster Scotty Miller from Bowling Green in the sixth round this year, and are hoping that Justin Watson, last year’s fifth-round pick, steps up and contributes on offense in 2019.

But Tampa Bay is also high on a pair of undrafted free agents in Buffalo wide receiver Anthony Johnson and Ole Miss wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge. Both Johnson and Lodge are bigger receivers at 6-foot-2 in the mold of Chris Godwin, with Johnson weighing 209 pounds and Lodge at 202 pounds. They will be competing with the likes of Miller, Watson, Bobo Wilson and K.J. Brent for one of three available roster spots behind Mike Evans, Godwin and Perriman.

Johnson ran a 4.50 at his pro day and has sneaky speed and the ability to go deep, which is valued in Bruce Arians’ aerial attack. Johnson, who is known for making great adjustments to the ball when it’s in the air, totaled 133 catches for 2,367 yards (17.8 avg.) with 25 touchdowns from quarterback Tyree Jackson. Johnson had 76 receptions for 1,356 yards (17.8 avg.) and 14 TDs in his first year as a starter in 2017 and had slightly less production last year with 57 catches for 1,011 yards (17.7 avg.) and 11 TDs.

While the dip in production might have hurt his draft stock, Johnson showed consistency with back-to-back years of 1,000 yards receiving and double-digit touchdowns.

Lodge’s game is similar to that of Johnson’s, but he’s a little slower, running a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash and his production wasn’t as dynamic. Part of the reason is because Ole Miss had a plethora of great receivers over the past couple of years including D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown, who were both drafted this year. The trio called themselves N.W.O. – Nasty Wide Outs – in college.

Last year, Brown led the way for the Rebels with 85 catches for 1,320 yards (15.5 avg.) and six touchdowns, while Lodge had 65 receptions for 877 yards (13.5 avg.) and four scores. Metcalf hauled in 26 passes for 569 yards (21.9 avg.) and five scores before he suffered a season-ending neck injury.

Lodge’s build is a little slighter and physically, the long, lanky receiver resembles Josh Reynolds of the Los Angeles Rams in the fact that both fluid players have great body control and are contortionists when making the catch.

The Ole Miss star had 122 catches for 1,790 yards (14.7 avg.) and 14 TDs in his college career.