FAB 3. Early Bucs’ 53-Man Roster Prediction

It’s hard to believe that the start of Tampa Bay’s 2018 training camp is less than two weeks away, but the veterans report to One Buccaneer Place on Wednesday, July 25. With that said, I thought it would be fun to look at Tampa Bay’s potential 53-man roster, predicting a few training camp surprises that shine in the preseason. Take a look and let me know what you think in the article comments section below.

QUARTERBACKS – 2
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
QB Ryan Griffin
QB Jameis Winston*
Analysis: Conventional wisdom says that the Bucs keep three quarterbacks – the third being Ryan Griffin – because Winston is slated to begin the season with a three-game suspension as result of an NFL investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual conduct that occurred two years ago. Yet Winston won’t count against the roster for those first three games, so the Bucs will start the year with two QBs on the active roster. I don’t think Griffin has done enough in three years to gain the trust of the Bucs’ brass and if Winston weren’t suspended, he would need a heck of a training camp to change some minds at One Buccaneer Place. But Winston’s suspension assures that Griffin will remain on the roster this year.

RUNNING BACKS – 4
RB Peyton Barber
RB Ronald Jones
RB Charles Sims
RB Shaun Wilson

Bucs RB Peyton Barber – Photo by: Getty Images

Analysis: Barber is the Bucs’ “bash” and Jones is Tampa Bay’s “dash.” These two backs will set the tone on first and second downs with power, wiggle and speed. Sims will likely remain as the third-down back because Dirk Koetter and the coaching staff trust him in pass protection and in the passing game. I expect that Wilson will pick up from where he left off in OTAs and be the surprise of training camp and the preseason on offense. Wilson will supplant Jacquizz Rodgers as the fourth running back on the roster because of his youth, upside, receiving ability and kick return ability.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 5
WR Mike Evans
WR DeSean Jackson
WR Chris Godwin
WR Adam Humphries
WR Justin Watson
Analysis: The first four receivers – Evans, Jackson, Godwin and Humphries – are locks to make the roster. Expect Evans to have an even better year than he did in 2017, while Jackson is used better than he was a year ago, seeing some time in the slot and catching more short passes that can showcase his yards-after-catch ability. An improved Godwin will see more playing time and more targets in 2018, and Humphries will remain a steady presence on third down. If Watson doesn’t end up on injured reserve as this year’s “hurt, redshirt rookie” (see Kenny Bell in 2015, Davante Bond in 2016 and Stevie Tu’ikolovatu last year), I think Tampa Bay’s fifth-round pick will make the 53-man roster as a special teams player and a developmental receiver, beating out Bobo Wilson and Freddie Martino.

TIGHT ENDS – 4
TE Cameron Brate
TE O.J. Howard
TE Antony Auclair
TE Alan Cross
Analysis: The Bucs feel really good about the three undrafted rookie free agents – Donnie Ernsberger, Tanner Hudson, and Jason Reese – but don’t be surprised if the same four tight ends that were on the roster last year make the team again this year. Brate and Howard are two of the league’s most talented tight ends. Expect Brate to earn every penny of his new deal this year and for Howard to make big strides towards being a dominant tight end in his second year in the league. Auclair is an athletic blocking tight end on the rise, and Cross is a reliable utility player on offense as an H-back and a fullback, and a special teams demon.

OFFENSIVE LINE – 9
LT Donovan Smith
LG Ali Marpet
C Ryan Jensen
RG Caleb Benenoch
RT Demar Dotson
C Evan Smith
OT Leonard Wester
G Alex Cappa
OT Cole Gardner

Bucs OL Caleb Benenoch – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: With Smith, Marpet, Jensen and Dotson, Tampa Bay’s starting offensive line is set at four of the five spots with the lone exception being right guard. Last year’s starter, J.R. Sweezy, isn’t on this list because of the youth movement the Bucs have with Benenoch and Cappa, who was this year’s third-round pick. Sweezy missed the offseason coming off a broken leg and was released, while Benenoch showed improvement and Cappa made a good first impression. Wester is a solid backup at right tackle that can also play left tackle, but the real surprise is Gardner, who was very impressive in the offseason and showed a great deal of improvement. I expect that offseason performance to translate to camp when the pads come on.

DEFENSIVE LINE – 9
DE Jason Pierre-Paul
DT Gerald McCoy
DT Beau Allen
DE Vinny Curry
DT Vita Vea
DE Will Gholston
DE Noah Spence
DT Mitch Unrein
DE Will Clarke
Analysis: Tampa Bay went from having an empty cupboard along the defensive line to an overflowing pantry in just one offseason. The Bucs keep nine defensive linemen to insure the team will maintain its pass rush even if there is a major injury or two. Pierre-Paul, Allen and Curry are three new starters alongside McCoy, and new defensive line coach Brentson Buckner will rotate the line and play every active player on Sundays. Gholston and Unrein bring run-stuffing ability, Spence brings the speed off the edge, and Vea has the ability to play both the run and the pass. Clarke is an improving player who had a good offseason. He might do enough to stick as the team’s 53rd player on the roster.

LINEBACKERS – 6
WLB Lavonte David
MLB Kwon Alexander
SLB Kendell Beckwith
OLB Adarius Taylor
MLB Riley Bullough
OLB Jack Cichy

Bucs LB Lavonte David– Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: David and Alexander are two of the best, fastest, hard-hitting linebackers in the NFL. They are the Bucs’ two starting linebackers on all three downs. Beckwith missed all of the offseason while recovering from a broken ankle. He might start training camp on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but he’ll eventually make the 53-man roster as the team’s starting strongside linebacker and backup middle linebacker. Taylor is a top special teams player and backup weakside linebacker behind David. The instinctive Bullough has made gains with his quickness this offseason and should stick as a reserve MIKE. Cichy, the team’s sixth-rounder, has a lot of promise and should contribute on special teams as a reserve linebacker.

CORNERBACKS – 6
CB Brent Grimes
CB Carlton Davis
NCB Vernon Hargreaves
NCB M.J. Stewart
CB Ryan Smith
CB David Rivers
Analysis: This position has seen a real upgrade in talent and ability this offseason. Rookies Davis and Stewart, the team’s two second-round picks, have injected talent and swagger to the cornerback position. Davis, who is long and physical, has star power and will likely start opposite the aging, yet still effective Grimes on the outside. Hargreaves appears destined to be nothing more than a slot cornerback in nickel defense and will get a real test in training camp from Stewart, a physical rookie defensive back with better ball skills. Smith appears to be more confident and competent after a year’s worth of playing defense under his belt. He’ll still star on special teams. Rivers was the big surprise this offseason. He has the length and the talent to fend off Javien Elliott and undrafted free agent rookie Marko Myers.

SAFETIES – 5
FS Justin Evans
SS Chris Conte
FS Keith Tandy
SS Jordan Whitehead
FS Josh Robinson

Bucs FS Justin Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: Evans has flashed Pro Bowl ability this offseason and really seems to have a good grasp of the defense as the Bucs’ centerfielder. Whitehead missed most of the offseason with a minor injury, but should be ready to go for training camp. He’ll compete with Conte, who will likely be the starter at strong safety due to his experience. Tandy and Robinson are valuable special teamers with Tandy having a better aptitude to play defense if called upon.

SPECIAL TEAMS – 3
P Bryan Anger
K Chandler Catanzaro
LS Drew Ferris
Analysis: Anger is the only punter on the roster and he’s a lock to make the roster. The same could be said of Ferris, as he’s the only long snapper on the team right now. Catanzaro has had a solid offseason making over 80 percent of his kicks in practice, including a 58-yarder to end the mandatory mini-camp early. He’ll receive a challenge from rookie Trevor Moore, who kicked well in the offseason, in training camp. But with his experience and guaranteed contract, look for Catanzaro to prevail and handle the kicking duties for the Bucs this year.