TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the 2023 NFL regular season at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Quarterback Tom Brady may be gone, but the Bucs are still feeling the weight of his presence with a $35 million cap hit (the Bucs' $75.35 million in dead money is the most in the league this year). They've had to undergo an entire roster makeover, filling out the team with youth.
It's likely to not recognize several names, with almost every rookie draft pick and several undrafted free agents and practice squad members making the team -- even in some starting roles. The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Bucs:
QUARTERBACK (2): Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
As coach Todd Bowles announced earlier this week, Mayfield has been named the starter over Trask. John Wolford misses the cut, but he could then join the practice squad as the third quarterback and suit up as an emergency quarterback on game days (a new NFL bylaw allows for this without counting against the active game day roster).
RUNNING BACK (3): Rachaad White, Sean Tucker, Chase Edmonds
Tucker's preseason performance catapulted him into the No. 2 spot over Ke'Shawn Vaughn, with Edmonds serving as the third-down back, assuming he's healthy (he missed some time this preseason because of an undisclosed injury). So, going with just three running backs here after originally having four because of the Bucs liking a lot of these younger linebackers.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Deven Thompkins, Rakim Jarrett, David Moore
With Russell Gage going to injured reserve, Palmer, who had two touchdowns this preseason, steps into the No. 3 receiver role. He's an outside guy though and a deep threat, which is where Thompkins and Jarrett come in -- who both make it over Kaylon Geiger. Kade Warner, who had a quiet preseason but was steady throughout practices, makes the practice squad.
TIGHT END (4): Cade Otton, Ko Kieft, Payne Durham, David Wells
In July, Tanner Taula was projected to grab the fourth tight end spot, but it was Wells, who was on the practice squad last year, that leapt over him in the pecking order. In fact, he spent much of camp and the preseason outplaying Durham, as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Tristan Wirfs, Matt Feiler, John Molchon, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, Robert Hainsey, Nick Leverett, Brandon Walton, Justin Skule
With Ryan Jensen going to injured reserve, Robert Hainsey will once again serve as the starting center. While Nick Leverett is capable of serving as a backup center, he struggled in that role this preseason, so he will be the backup guard with Molchon serving as a true backup center.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, William Gholston, Greg Gaines, Logan Hall, Patrick O'Connor
Going lighter here and taking six defensive linemen instead of seven because the Bucs got so thin at outside linebacker last year and with that position's propensity for "boom or bust," they could really benefit from developing multiple players at that spot. This is assuming Kancey, who has been dealing with a strained calf, is ready for Week 1.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6): Shaquil Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, Yaya Diaby, Cam Gill, Markees Watts
Coach Todd Bowles said this would likely be the hardest position to make cuts for a reason. Gill wasn't projected to make the roster in July, with Jose Ramirez grabbing final spot. But Gill has a knack for showing up under the lights, producing 1.5 sacks this preseason and Ramirez only got in three defensive plays this preseason because of injury. There could also be a scenario where they keep Ramirez and hope Gill clears waivers because of Ramirez's draft status. Watts is an undrafted free agent out of UNC Charlotte that came out of seemingly nowhere. He had a sack and a forced fumble in the first preseason game and turned a lot of heads.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Lavonte David, Devin White, SirVocea Dennis, K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell
Russell wasn't originally slated to make the team, but the 2022 undrafted free agent who was a member of the practice squad last year had an interception in the first preseason game and forced a fumble in the second, which made this interesting.
CORNERBACK (6): Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean, Dee Delaney, Zyon McCollum, Christian Izien, Josh Hayes
In July, Izien was projected to make the team as a safety, which is where he played at Rutgers, but he settled in nicely as a nickel cornerback and forced a fumble in the third preseason game. Delaney, who had an interception in the second preseason game, and Hayes, are both capable of playing safety as well.
SAFETY (3): Antoine Winfield Jr., Ryan Neal, Kaevon Merriweather
Winfield, Jr. moves from nickelback to his old free safety spot, with Neal eager to prove last season's success was no fluke and clinching the other starting spot. Nolan Turner, who looked strong at the opening of camp, fizzled, but he could certainly find himself a spot on the practice squad again this year.
SPECIALISTS (3): Zach Triner (LS), Chase McLaughlin (K), Jake Camarda (P)
This one was already decided when the Bucs waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship earlier this week, as Blankenship missed a 55-yard field goal and a 32-yarder in the second preseason game. Thompkins wins the punt and kick returner competition.