Bucs Rookie Mini-Camp Insider: May 11

The Bucs were back at it for Day 2 of rookie mini-camp at the team’s AdventHealth Training Center on Saturday, May 11 under hot and humid conditions once again. Every member of Tampa Bay’s 2024 draft class participated in the second day of rookie mini-camp. That includes running back Bucky Irving, the team’s third-round pick, and guard Elijah Klein, Tampa Bay’s sixth-rounder, both of whom signed their rookie contracts on Friday.

Here are some of Pewter Report’s observations from the second day of Bucs rookie mini-camp.

2 Bucs Rookies Have Gained Some Weight

The Bucs have taken a chance on a couple of undersized players from this year’s draft class. Tight end Devin Culp, a seventh-rounder, weighed 231 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, and it was in part his lack of size at 6-foot-3 that caused him to slide in the draft. But Tampa Bay was pleased to see him gain some weight since March and he reported at 245 pounds. That added weight will undoubtedly help him in the trenches as a run blocker and in pass protection.

“I’m pretty happy with my body weight right now,” Culp said. “I’m sitting at about 245, almost 250. If I can just maintain, manage between 240-250 I feel like I’ll find myself in a good spot. Obviously I don’t want to get too oversized. I’d still like to use my speed and quickness to my advantage. There are some big boys in this league out there on the edge, so I’ve got to make sure I’ve got some lead in the pants.”

Culp has gained about 10 pounds over his playing weight at Washington last year and will work with the coaches and the strength and conditioning staff to get to an optimal weight where he can not lose any of his speed.

“I was about 235 [at Washington],” Culp said. “Going down the road we’ll get a plan going just to see where they want me at weight management-wise – if they want me to maintain a lower 240 or a higher 240, 238 or whatever it may be.”

Bucs undrafted free agent linebacker Kalen DeLoach went undrafted because of his size. The Florida State star measured 5-foot-11, 210 pounds at the Combine in March. But he’s already put on some weight since then.

“At my pro day I was at 216, but I plan on being 220,” DeLoach said. “So just getting to 220 and play my role and wherever they need me.”

Legendary Bucs linebackers Derrick Brooks and Lavonte David only weighed 220 pounds, so DeLoach, who also runs a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, would be in some good company if he proves to the coaching staff he’s worthy of a roster spot and produce the way he did for the Seminoles defense.

Graham Barton Is Quite Comfortable Playing Center

The Bucs coaches and personnel men were marveling at how quick first-round pick Graham Barton was off the snap in the rookie mini-camp practices. Barton, who was an All-ACC left tackle at Duke the past couple of seasons, began his Blue Devils career by playing center as a true freshman in 2020. Barton got five starts at center that year and looks like has quickly taken to the position given his background.

Moving from offensive tackle where those lineman have much more open space to work going against edge rushers inside to center or guard can be quite a difficult transition. The reason being that defensive tackles line up only inches away and the action happens must faster inside as a result without the space on the perimeter to work with. Playing along the interior of the offensive line is truly like operating in a phone booth.

But given the fact that Barton has the previous experience, in addition to his supreme athleticism, the Bucs are confident that his transition inside will be smoother than it was in years past for players like Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa, Robert Hainsey, Luke Goedeke and Cody Mauch, who played offensive tackle in college, but moved inside as a rookie in Tampa Bay. The amount of initial quickness Barton showed in the first couple of rookie mini-camp practices makes the team confident he can play center in the NFL, especially with his high football I.Q. and his intelligence from playing at Duke.

Standout Moments From Bucs Mini-Camp Practice – Day 2

One of the standouts from Day 2 of Tampa Bay’s rookie mini-camp was second-round pick Chris Braswell. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound outside linebacker looks the part early on, even if it’s only been two days of practice without pads and without the rest of the team on the field.

On Saturday, he flashed some of the traits that drew the Bucs to him, as he looked extremely quick and fluid during bag drills, then he immediately showed well when the team transitioned to 11-on-11s. On his first snap, he demolished tight end Tanner Taula with a bit of a two-hand shove, showing some of the power to his game.

Undrafted free agent defensive tackle Judge Culpepper also stood out during the bag drills, as did 2023 sixth-round pick Jose Ramirez. Ramirez looks far more fluid than he did last year as a rookie, quickly proving that the work he has done on his body this offseason is paying off.

Staying on the defense, one of the big plays of the day came from linebacker BJ Davis, a tryout player out of East Carolina. During 11-on-11s, he stepped in front of a pass and took it the other way for a pick-six.

Offensively, it was interesting to see how the Bucs plan to use seventh-round tight end Devin Culp. The offense ran some 3×1 looks, with three receivers out wide and Culp lined up as the one away from the formation. It’s similar to how the Rams have used Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee in the past, and it could allow Tampa Bay to take advantage of Culp’s speed.

One of the receivers in those 3×1 formations was Jalen McMillan, who of course was a teammate of Culp’s at Washington. The tight end spoke with the local media before Saturday’s practice and said there’s comfort in having McMillan with him as both former Huskies transition to the NFL. Unsurprisingly, the two were roommates for rookie mini-camp.

Bucs rookie TE Devin Culp says there’s definitely some comfort in having Washington teammate Jalen McMillan with him here in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/4kd8pd6ONe

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) May 11, 2024

Tampa Bay’s rookie running backs showed well in the passing game on Saturday as well. Fourth-round pick Bucky Irving made one particularly good catch that saw him stretch out and haul in a wide throw as he cut across the middle of the field.

D.J. Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona, also showed some great hands during 11-on-11s. The 6-foot, 225-pound back didn’t prove to be much of a receiving threat  in college, catching just 18 passes over five years between Auburn, Florida State and Arizona. If he’s going to have any chance of sticking and cracking the 53-man roster or practice squad, the Lake Placid native will need to keep proving his worth as a pass-catcher while looking the part as a runner when the pads come on.

Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams Contributed To This Report

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