FAB 3. Battle Of The Bucs’ Backups: Defense

Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the battles for the Bucs’ backup spots on offense, let’s finish up this analysis by turning to the defense. All of Tampa Bay’s starters on defense return from 2019, so the competition will be fierce for the reserve roles in training camp this year.

Sixth Defensive Lineman

Jeremiah Ledbetter
Patrick O’Connor
Benning Potoa’e

Bucs DL Pat O’Connor – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: The top four defensive line spots on the depth chart appear to be filled with nose tackle Vita Vea, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, defensive end Will Gholston and reserve tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Khalil Davis, the team’s sixth-round pick this year, has the inside track to replace Beau Allen at defensive tackle and the fifth spot on the depth chart at defensive line. So there will be a battle royale between Ledbetter, O’Connor and Potoa’e for the final spot on the depth chart. The Bucs love O’Connor’s toughness, quickness and determination. He’s come a long way over the last two years and has added size to his 6-foot-4, 270 pound frame. O’Connor’s value is as a nickel interior rusher. Ledbetter got off to a hot start in training camp, but then cooled off and got injured. At 295 pounds, Ledbetter is the most versatile and can play all three interior positions, but his best spots are at defensive end and defensive tackle rather than nose tackle. His size gives him an advantage, but he’ll have to outperform O’Connor in camp and the preseason to seal the deal. Potoa’e is an undrafted free agent who played at Washington with Vea. He’s a 290-pound nose tackle that will prove he is versatile enough to play more than one position.
Inside Track: Ledbetter

Fourth Outside Linebacker

Quinton Bell
Kahzin Daniels
Michael Divinity
Cam Gill
Nasir Player

Analysis: Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul return as the starters. Barrett, who made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with a franchise-record 19.5 sacks, was tagged as the team’s franchise player, while Pierre-Paul was re-signed to a two-year deal. Expect both to be double-digit sackers in Todd Bowles’ defense. Tampa Bay couldn’t afford to keep Carl Nassib, and Anthony Nelson, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, will likely be the third outside linebacker on the depth chart to replace him.

That leaves an open roster spot for the fourth edge rusher, and the Bucs like 2019 practice squaders Bell and Daniels so much that the team didn’t draft an outside linebacker this year. Divinity, Gill and Player are undrafted free agents that will offer competition. Divinity hails from LSU and is the most recognizable name, but didn’t test well at the NFL Scouting Combine. Gill brings speed off the edge, while the 271-pound Player brings size and power. All three will likely be competing for a practice squad role while Bell and Daniels duke it out for the final spot on the 53-man roster at the OLB position. The 253-pound Bell has more size than the 240-pound Daniels, and that might make him the leading contender heading into camp.
Inside Track: Bell

Fourth Inside Linebacker

Jack Cichy
Noah Dawkins
Chapelle Russell

Bucs LB Jack Cichy – Photo by: Getty Images

Analysis: Lavonte David and Devin White are two of the most athletic, dynamic and productive inside linebackers in the NFL. David is a Pro Bowl-caliber player who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, while White shook off an early injury to become a playmaker for Bowles’ defense by midseason. Kevin Minter returns as the veteran reserve inside linebacker capable of backing up either White or David, so that leaves one more inside linebacker spot available on the depth chart. Cichy has the inside track if he can stay healthy, as he has been a core special teams player the last two years and really developed on defense last preseason. Cichy has seen both of his seasons in Tampa Bay end prematurely due to injury. Dawkins was added last year after training camp and has legit 4.41 speed, which helped him contribute to special teams. He’s the biggest threat to Cichy due to his athleticism, but he has to prove in camp and in the preseason that he knows Bowles’ defense. Russell is the Bucs’ seventh-round draft pick and is a long shot to make the team due to his suspect tackling and instincts.
Inside Track: Cichy

Fifth Cornerback

M.J. Stewart
Mazzi Wilkins
Parnell Motley
Herb Miller

Analysis: Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean cemented the top three spots on the depth chart with their play on defense last year, especially down the stretch. Veteran Ryan Smith returns to claim the fourth spot on the depth chart, but his real value is on special teams where he is an ace. That leaves one more spot open on the depth chart. Stewart, a second-round pick in 2018, should have the inside track for the job, but his lack of speed and athleticism has made him a liability on defense, and he might struggle to beat out a less-heralded player for a roster spot. Wilkins and Motley pose the biggest threats to take Stewart’s spot on the depth chart. Wilkins was a practice squad player who was signed to the active roster down the stretch, and Motley, an undrafted free agent, hails from Oklahoma and is battle-tested from playing against some quality receivers in the pass-happy Big 12 conference. Miller offers great size and length at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and could be a dark horse.
Inside Track: Wilkins

Fourth Safety

Andrew Adams
D’Cota Dixon
Justin Evans
Deiondre’ Hall
Javon Hagan

Bucs S Andrew Adams – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Analysis: The top three safeties on the depth chart are Jordan Whitehead, Mike Edwards and Antoine Winfield, Jr., who was Tampa Bay’s second-round pick in April. If he was healthy, Evans would be among those names and a potential starter at free safety, but he’s battled foot injuries since 2018 and missed all of the 2019 campaign. Adams led the Bucs in interceptions in 2019 and was re-signed last year after camp to steady the ship at free safety after Edwards, who was the team’s third-round pick, struggled. He brings the most experience to the safety position. The Bucs were high on Dixon, a former undrafted free agent, in training camp, but a shoulder injury in August required surgery and cost him his rookie year. If Evans is healthy and can return to form, he’s the guy to beat. But Dixon and Adams are serious contenders, too. Newcomers Hall and Hagan appear to be long shots.
Inside Track: Adams

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