Bucs Post-Draft Roster Reset

With the dust settled from the 2023 NFL Draft and undrafted free agency, the Bucs have done a good job at filling out their roster. The team selected eight players over the three-day draft and added 20 more after its conclusion in the mad scramble that is undrafted free agency.

There are still tweaks to be made and players to add, but that will come as the offseason rolls on. The Bucs currently have 88 players committed to their roster – two shy of the 90-man offseason limit.

Here is a look where their roster stands after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft. Draft picks are labeled with an asterisk (*) and undrafted free agents are labeled with a double asterisk (**).

BUCS POST-DRAFT ROSTER RESET

QUARTERBACKS – 2

Kyle Trask
Baker Mayfield

Analysis: The battle for the starting spot is solely between Mayfield and Trask, but the Bucs will add a third quarterback to the roster in the coming months. General manager Jason Licht’s recent remarks suggest it will be a veteran quarterback with experience in the league. Yet that quarterback will serve in a mentor-leadership role and will not be someone thrown into the competition. 

RUNNING BACKS – 6

Rachaad White
Chase Edmonds
Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Patrick Laird
Sean Tucker**
Ronnie Brown**

Analysis: White seems primed for a breakout year in 2023, and with the team moving on from Leonard Fournette in the offseason, he is the clear-cut No. 1 back. Edmonds, who pursued the Bucs in free agency, will serve as the team’s third-down back. Vaughn will continue to serve as the team’s third running back, while contributing on special teams. But he could be challenged by Tucker, an undrafted free agent, should he be cleared from his medical condition. Laird and Brown could be practice squad candidates with a good showing in training camp. 

WIDE RECEIVERS – 10

Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Russell Gage
Deven Thompkins
Kaylon Geiger
Trey Palmer*
Rakim Jarrett**
Kade Warner**
Taye Barber**
Ryan Miller**

Analysis: The top three receivers are set in stone but behind them the competition is wide open. Thompkins is the incumbent return specialist but could be challenged by Palmer, the team’s sixth-round draft choice, who brings game-changing speed. Geiger spent all of last season on the team’s practice squad and was elevated to the active roster three times.

The Bucs brought in four receivers in undrafted free agency with Jarrett headlining the class. Projected to be a fifth-round pick, Jarrett brings speed to the position, while Warner and Barber are instinctive receivers who find ways to get open. Miller is making the transition to receiver from tight end after a productive career in college. The Bucs could potentially roster three rookies behind Evans, Godwin and Gage if they impress in camp.

TIGHT ENDS – 6

Cade Otton
Ko Kieft
Dominique Dafney
David Wells
Payne Durham*
Tanner Taula**

Analysis: Otton returns as TE1, with Kieft serving in a versatile role as the team’s blocking specialist. Durham, a fifth-round pick, provides a large red zone target, who can provide the Bucs with different looks in 12 personnel. While Wells, Dafney, and Taula, an undrafted free agent, will battle it out in camp for a potential fourth tight end spot.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – 18

Tristan Wirfs
Nick Leverett
Ryan Jensen
Luke Goedeke
Brandon Walton
Robert Hainsey
Matt Feiler
Aaron Stinnie
John Molchon
Dylan Cook
Grant Hermans
Justin Skule
Michael Niese
Cody Mauch*
Luke Haggard**
Silas Dzansi**
Chris Murray** 

Raiqwon O’Neal**

Analysis: There is a lot in flux for the Bucs this year at offensive line with question marks everywhere. At center, how does Jensen bounce back from a devastating injury he suffered in training camp last year? Wirfs is likely making a move to the left side, and there will be new starters at right guard and right tackle and potentially left guard. Who will win those jobs? Tampa Bay brought in Feiler, who has experience at both left guard and right tackle. 

The Bucs drafted Mauch in the second round, who will move from left tackle to guard and should be in the mix to start along with Leverett, Stinnie, and Hainsey. The team is high on Goedeke’s prospects at right tackle but he will face competition from Walton and Feiler for the starting job. Molchon is going into his fourth season with the team and offers versatility along the interior. While Murray and Haggard are intriguing undrafted free options who could stick as the 10th lineman. The rest of the bunch are practice squad options or developmental players.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN – 8

Vita Vea
Logan Hall
Greg Gaines
Pat O’Connor
Deadrin Senat
Willington Previlon
Mike Greene
Calijah Kancey*

Analysis:  The Bucs could still add to the position and even bring back Will Gholston, but are happy with the room they have now. Vea led the team in sacks last season (6.5), and Kancey, the team’s first-round pick, has the ability to be a special player from day one. Hall has bulked up to nearly 300 pounds and is in line for a bigger role this season.

Gaines was brought in for rotational depth and will likely back up Vea at nose tackle. O’Connor is a special teamer who has improved on defense each year, and Senat is another option at nose tackle, though he is undersized. Greene and Previlon likely land back on the team’s practice squad unless Gholston isn’t re-signed. Then there is room for one on the roster with the Bucs keeping six defensive linemen.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 9

Shaq Barrett
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Anthony Nelson
Cam Gill
Hamilcar Rashed
Charles Snowden
YaYa Diaby*
Jose Ramirez*
Nelson Mbanasor**

Analysis: The Bucs invested heavily at the outside linebacker position starting with the return of Nelson on a two-year deal. Barrett will attempt to be ready to go Week 1 after tearing his Achilles at midseason. Tryon-Shoyinka needs to be more consistent and prove he can be a finisher when it comes to bringing down the quarterback.

In the draft, the team doubled up at the position with Diaby and Ramirez, who could both make contributions year one. However, Ramirez will need to beat out Gill, who returns from injury last season, to make the team with special teams a key factor in that decision. Snowden and Rashed are camp bodies who could land on the practice squad.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 8

Devin White
Lavonte David
K.J. Britt
Ulysees Gilbert
J.J. Russell
SirVocea Dennis*
Jeremy Banks**
Brandon Bouyer-Randle**

Analysis: Bucs fans rejoiced with David’s return for an 11th season, while White’s trade request has fans feeling upset with the former Pro Bowler. White is set to play on his fifth-year option and while he could hold out, it’s likely he plays Week 1 for the team or risks losing an accrued year of service.

Britt returns as the top backup, but will be challenged by Dennis, the team’s fifth-round selection. Elsewhere, Banks, whom Tampa Bay signed as an undrafted free agent, could make a push for the fourth linebacker spot, unseating Britt. The rest of the group will be fighting for one or two practice squad spots in camp.

CORNERBACKS – 9

Carlton Davis III
Jamel Dean
Zyon McCollum
Dee Delaney
Anthony Chesley
Don Gardner
Duron Lowe
Derrek Pitts Jr**
Keenan Isaac**

Analysis:  The outside spots are locked down with Davis and the return of Dean in free agency. The Bucs will need to figure out who will be the starting nickel corner and that player could ultimately come from the safety spot. McCollum is expected to take a big jump this year by the team, but whether that comes at nickel or the top backup on the outside will be determined in camp.  

Delaney has shown steady improvement over the past two season and has some positional versatility. Chesley is another option in the slot, and spent the season on the practice squad before being promoted for the final few games of the year. Gardner impressed in camp last year earning a spot on the practice squad and will need to fend off the pair of undrafted free agents.

SAFETIES – 6

Antoine Winfield Jr.
Ryan Neal
Nolan Turner
Josh Hayes*
Kaevon Merriweather**
Christian Izien**

Analysis: As of now the Bucs are light behind starters Winfield and Neal. The former makes his return to his more natural position at free safety after spending last season in the nickel. The latter was PFF’s top safety last season and will man the strong safety spot.

Hayes, the team’s sixth-round selection, has played at safety, nickel, and outside corner, and will be firmly in the mix in the slot competition. Turner spent last season on the team’s practice squad. While the team feels like they got a pair of steals in Merriweather and Izien in undrafted free agency. 

SPECIALISTS – 6

Chase Mclaughlin
Jake Verity
Jake Camarda
Zach Triner
Jake Bates**
Evan Deckers**

Analysis: Camarda was quietly one of the best punters in the league down the stretch last year, and Triner is as steady as they come at long snapper. After the release of Succop, McLaughlin was brought in to be the team’s new kicker, but will need to stave off Verity in camp. Bates and Decker appear to be camp bodies.

*Denotes rookie draft selection
** Denotes undrafted rookie free agent

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