TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 8.
Like last year, this year bodes very well for the contributions of the draft class, with all seven picks making the 53-man roster, in addition to undrafted free agent wide receiver Kameron Johnson out of Division II Barton College.
You'll see some names that might surprise you in here too, with tight end Ko Kieft -- the Bucs' 2022 sixth-round draft pick -- not making the cut. Veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard and running back Chase Edmonds are also missing because of injuries that forced them to miss significant time during camp. The roster will be cut to 53 players before the 4 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday.
Here is a projection for the Bucs:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, John Wolford
Note that the Bucs initially carried only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster last year, and it wasn't until Wolford was pursued by the Los Angeles Rams that he got promoted from the practice squad.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker
Edmonds missed the majority of camp because of injury, and I can see him on the 53-man roster for a day before starting the season on injured reserve. Ramon Jefferson and DJ Williams are the odd men out.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Cody Thompson, Kameron Johnson
Like Shepard, Rakim Jarrett has also missed time with an injury, as has Johnson, but Johnson's performance the final week of camp -- including an impressive joint practice against the Miami Dolphins -- clinches him a spot. Thompson's playmaking -- including a touchdown in the second preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars -- and physicality as a blocker help him clinch a spot.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Devin Culp
Culp, the Bucs' seventh-round draft pick out of Washington, beats out David Wells and Tanner Taula for the fourth and final spot by showing continued improvement as a blocker.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, Brandon Walton, Justin Skule, Robert Hainsey, Elijah Klein
Klein, the Bucs' sixth-round draft pick, stepped in to start at offensive tackle against the Jaguars in the second preseason game on a night's notice, having never even practiced the position. This should be a good sign for the rookie.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, William Gholston, Earnest Brown IV
Brown beats out C.J. Brewer and Lwal Uguak for the sixth and final defensive line spot. Defensive tackle Mike Greene, who made the initial 53-man roster last year, did not see any action this preseason.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Lavonte David, K.J. Britt, SirVocea Dennis, J.J. Russell
Britt replaces Devin White as a starter inside next to David, and Russell -- who led the Bucs with 11 tackles in the first two preseason games -- beats out FSU third-year inside linebacker Vi Jones and former FSU undrafted free agent Kalen Deloach for the fourth spot.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (6): Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Markees Watts, Jose Ramirez
I have the Bucs taking six outside linebackers because coach Todd Bowles feels this might be one of the team's deepest position groups, with Ramirez registering three sacks at Jacksonville in the second preseason game and Watts registering a fourth.
CORNERBACKS (5): Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall, Josh Hayes, Tyrek Funderburk
Funderburk's missed time because of a foot injury but gets the late nod over Keenan Isaac. Both have arguably outperformed Josh Hayes in practice, but Hayes' value is as a gunner on special teams.
SAFETIES (5): Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, Tykee Smith, Tavierre Thomas, Christian Izien
Winfield and Whitehead earn the starting safety jobs. Smith earns the starting nickelback job and also can play safety. Thomas serves as a backup nickelback and also plays safety. Izien, the Bucs' starting nickelback last year, makes the team as a safety and also can play nickel.
SPECIALISTS (3): Jake Camarda (P), Chase McLaughlin (K), Zach Triner (LS)
McLaughlin did miss two kicks this preseason -- from 51 and 42 yards -- but Bowles opted not to bring in competition late in camp.