The Bucs made an interesting decision when they finalized their initial 53-man roster, keeping just three safeties on the team. Every fan knows starters Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith, while the third on the list, Miles Killebrew, is here for his work on special teams more than his defensive position.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Tampa Bay is planning to operate with only three safeties once the season begins, though. There were a couple of players that if the numbers went a different way would be on the active roster. The Bucs cut Ifeatu Melifonwu, J.J. Roberts and Rashad Wisdom at the end of camp. All were put on the practice squad, although Wisdom was recently released for safety Silas Walters. Plus with Sean Murphy-Bunting in the fold, he can also find himself at safety in need be.

In fact, head coach Todd Bowles made it clear that the Bucs have a plan to add another safety to the mix, with veteran defensive back Melifonwu appearing to be the leading candidate to fill that role.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles Explains Roster Move

“Well, we can bring somebody up,” Todd Bowles said. “I mean, we have some guys on the practice squad. It was good for the numbers thing. ‘Iffy’ (Ifeatu Melifonwu) wasn’t eligible to be picked up by another team, so, you know, he’ll be probably on the roster and somebody we’re looking to elevate.”

That last part is particularly important. Melifonwu was among the Bucs’ final roster cuts, but because of his status, Tampa Bay did not have to worry about losing him to another team because he wasn’t subjected to the waiver wire due to his veteran status. That gave the Bucs some flexibility when constructing their initial 53-man roster.

Bucs S Ifeatu Melifonwu – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Rather than use one of those 53 spots on Melifonwu immediately, Tampa Bay could allocate the roster spot elsewhere and potentially elevate him from the practice squad when needed. It’s a little bit of roster gymnastics, but it allows the Bucs to maximize their depth at other positions while still having a safety they clearly value waiting in the wings.

Melifonwu also gives the Bucs an intriguing option. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he brings the type of size and athleticism that Tampa Bay likes in its secondary. He has experience playing safety and has spent time in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins before joining the Bucs.

Bowles’ comments suggest Tampa Bay doesn’t view his initial absence from the 53-man roster as an indication that the team has moved on from him. He’s actually a different type of safety than what Bowles particularly likes. Bowles typically goes for players with smaller size players that are more agile. Melifonwu is bigger in size and physicality, which is in line with the overall team’s ideology this season of getting bigger in several areas.

Bucs Have Versatility In The Slot

The modern NFL roster is increasingly about versatility. Defensive backs in particular are expected to move around, and Todd Bowles has never been afraid to use players in different roles. That’s why it was important to keep J.J. Roberts, too. He’s a player that when healthy, can play several spots, including nickel corner.

A safety who can play nickel, or a corner who can handle safety responsibilities or a linebacker capable of matching up in coverage can effectively give a team more depth than the position designation on the roster would suggest.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Tampa Bay has typically used safeties in the slot. Antoine Winfield Jr. was a starter there in 2022, and Tykee Smith was a starter there in 2024. When Christian Izien was here, he was primarily a safety that also played nickel during the 2023 season. Bowles and the Bucs have diverted slightly with cornerback Jacob Parrish going there last season, and it looks like Keionte Scott will do so this season.

But of course, a team will always need backups for every position, including nickel. Bowles has a couple of options that he can go with during any occasion.