TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 8. Outside linebacker Randy Gregory's unexcused absence from mandatory minicamp and active litigation with the NFL creates some uncertainty in projecting the 53-man roster prior to training camp. So does the competition for the left guard position, which will really pick up steam once the pads come on.
But based on observations from minicamp, here is the Bucs' 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, John Wolford
Note that the Bucs initially only carried 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 (4): Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker
White wins the starting job, while Irving serves as the punt and kick returner, where his tackle-breaking ability should serve him well.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Sterling Shepard
The last spot came down to Shepard and Rakim Jarrett, with Shepard getting the edge because of his experience -- if he can stay healthy -- and Jarrett making the practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, 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, Sua Opeta, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, Ben Bredeson, Brandon Walton, Justin Skule, Robert Hainsey
In this scenario, Opeta and Bredeson -- both veterans entrenched in the left guard competition -- make the 53-man roster with sixth-round draft pick Elijah Klein making the practice squad.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall, William Gholston, Greg Gaines, Mike Greene
This is the same exact defensive line the Bucs opened the season with last year, but they're expecting better results between a slimmed down Vea and a healthy Kancey, who missed all of training camp and three regular season games with a calf injury.
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 beats out FSU undrafted free agent rookie Kalen DeLoach, who signs to the practice squad.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (6): Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Markees Watts, Jose Ramirez
With Gregory's status up in the air, he's not on this list. Diaby is the only clear starter in this group, although Braswell, a second-round pick, is expected to grab that role with Nelson continuing his rotational role.
CORNERBACKS (6): Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Tykee Smith, Josh Hayes, Bryce Hall, Tavierre Thomas.
Smith, a third-round pick, grabs the starting nickelback job over Thomas. Tyrek Funderburk, an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State, was a ball hawk in minicamp (an area this secondary has needed to improve over the last few years) and at the very least, he's signing to the practice squad.
SAFETIES (3): Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, Christian Izien
Izien, the Bucs' starting nickelback last year, makes the team as a backup safety, where he trained this offseason.
SPECIALISTS (3): Jake Camarda, Chase McLaughlin, Zach Triner
Camarda serves as the punter, McLaughlin the kicker and Triner the long snapper.