The Bucs have been one of many NFL’s finest groups at scouting undrafted free brokers and unearthing gems underneath common supervisor Jason Licht. It’s laborious to show an undrafted participant right into a key contributor, however it’s tougher to argue with Tampa Bay’s outcomes.
Probably the most notable names of the bunch are Cameron Brate, Adam Humphries, and Peyton Barber. Extra just lately, gamers like Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather, Rakim Jarrett, Sean Tucker, Markees Watts, Kameron Johnson, Ben Chukwuma, and JJ Roberts all made the 53-man roster.
With practically $2 million in ensures invested on this yr’s undrafted free agent class, Tampa Bay clearly believes a number of newcomers have respectable paths to creating the 53-man roster. Whereas a number of undrafted rookies will compete for roster spots this summer time, these 5 stand out due to their assured cash, roster alternatives, athletic upside, or long-term developmental potential.
Notice: Offensive sort out Paul Rubelt was given the very best assure at $277,500. Rubelt isn’t listed beneath, because the 6-foot-10 sort out tasks to be the group’s IPP (Worldwide Pathway Program) participant as a result of he was born in Germany. Which means he could have a roster exemption and won’t depend towards the group’s 53-man roster this season.
5 Most Intriguing Bucs Undrafted Free Brokers To Watch This Summer season
QB Jalon Daniels
Jalon Daniels has essentially the most title recognition right here, and he has already drawn headlines for working his method into the Bucs’ backup quarterback competitors. Daniels got here in a detailed second to Paul Rubelt after receiving $272,500 in assured cash. That makes the previous Kansas signal-caller all however sure to land a follow squad spot on the very least, however he has a critical likelihood to make it tough on the entrance workplace to maintain three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
Bucs QB Jalon Daniels – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Doing so means Daniels should move former undrafted free agent Connor Bazelak on the depth chart. The group is excessive on Bazelak, particularly after he impressed all through his preliminary preseason audition in 2025 and beat out former second-round decide Kyle Trask for the QB3 job. With that being stated, Daniels is an electrical participant on the place and gives a mix of intriguing traits that can be given a protracted look throughout subsequent month’s coaching camp and into the 2026 preseason.
Daniels gives critical dual-threat potential, possessing a strong arm to stretch the sector and fast legs to increase performs (ran a 4.65 40-yard time). The arm expertise is there, even when it requires some effective tuning to change into extra environment friendly making fast selections with the soccer. Between offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, one can anticipate some NFL teaching to easy out his rougher edges. If that occurs, Daniels is just 23 years previous, and his finest soccer might very nicely be forward of him.
Would Tampa Bay wish to threat one other group swooping in by waiving him throughout ultimate roster cuts if he has a productive summer time? I’d discover that fairly laborious to imagine, because the Bucs might view him as a developmental backup possibility past 2026, particularly with backup QB Jake Browning solely signed by means of 2026.
Daniels could not have a sensible path to taking part in, however he has the sort of athletic potential that may flip heads throughout the preseason if he creates explosive performs exterior the pocket.
WR Eric Rivers
There isn’t any query that Eric Rivers is a proficient large receiver. It was stunning to see one other group not take a Day 3 flier on Rivers, who has 4.33 velocity. Whereas game-breaking velocity is his calling card, he additionally showcased some polish at his place throughout a breakout 2024 season at FIU, the place he recorded 62 receptions for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns. That led to his switch to Georgia Tech in 2025. Rivers didn’t put up the identical numbers (46 receptions for 658 yards and two touchdowns), however he nonetheless led the Yellow Jackets in catches and yards.
Bucs WR Eric Rivers – Picture by: Kim Klement Neitzel – IMAGN Photographs
Tampa Bay invested $250,000 in Rivers regardless of the crowded path standing between him and a 53-man roster spot. Between Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Ted Hurst, that’s 4 large receivers who will obtain many of the taking part in time. Add in Tez Johnson because the fifth large receiver and shifty returner, and it turns into an intense competitors for the final spot.
To that finish, Rivers can be competing primarily with Kameron Johnson, who was a stable returner final season and has that have underneath his belt as a feather in his cap. That outlook doesn’t make it seemingly that he makes the group, and he’s been coping with a hamstring problem this offseason. But when he flashes throughout preseason video games, he might change into this yr’s coaching camp fan favourite due to his velocity and big-play potential.
G Henry Lutovsky
Jason Licht loves his offensive linemen. That’s his greatest energy relating to discovering high-quality gamers, evidenced by him constructing a Tremendous Bowl-winning offensive line in 2020 and retooling it fully round left sort out Tristan Wirfs in current seasons. One might wager that Licht was smiling ear to ear seeing Nebraska guard Henry Lutovsky sitting there simply ready for the Bucs to signal.
Not solely are the Cornhuskers his alma mater, however Lutovsky tasks to be the proper developmental offensive lineman to carry into the system and study from the remainder of the room in addition to offensive line coach Kevin Carberry.
Bucs G Henry Lutovsky – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
On the subject of his bodily profile, there’s a lot to love about his prototypical body. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 319 kilos, Lutovsky is imposing and possesses 34-inch arms and an 83-inch wingspan. It’s not simply dimension that catches your eye watching him; his play energy is for actual and evidenced by the 34 bench press reps he logged on the 2026 NFL Scouting Mix. With 49 video games performed and 28 begins between the left guard and proper guard spots, Lutovsky is a flexible inside offensive lineman that would use extra depth.
Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch are again to full well being, however he has an actual alternative to beat out Dan Feeney or Elijah Klein to make the group subsequent to fifth-round decide Billy Schrauth. Assistant common supervisor Mike Biehl supplied maybe the strongest endorsement of Lutovsky after the group signed him.
“He’s one of the ones we’re most excited about,” Biehl instructed Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds final month. “We’re excited about all these guys, but he’s a guy that was draftable. We target these guys that we think are draftable. We only had seven picks this year and we know we can’t get everybody, so we target guys like this. When they don’t get drafted that’s when we get excited because we feel like we’re getting another draft pick with a few of these guys, and he is one of those. He’s a throwback – big, physical, smart, tough. The kind of typical Bucs lineman. He’ll fit in the room well.”
Offensive line competitions not often generate the identical consideration as skill-position battles, but when Lutovsky impresses, he might quietly change into the following younger offensive lineman the group develops right into a key depth piece.
CB Ayden Garnes
Ayden Garnes didn’t obtain one of many bigger ensures to hitch the Bucs, however he’s betting on himself to make the group in a cornerback room that is still up within the air. The highest three tasks to be a mixture of Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, and Jacob Parrish. Past that trio, it’s anybody’s guess who earns the ultimate two spots. That makes Garnes one of many extra intriguing under-the-radar undrafted free brokers within the class. Throughout the second day of rookie mini-camp in Might, Garnes stood out with a move breakup whereas displaying the instincts and response abilities wanted to thrive in protection.
Bucs CB Ayden Garnes – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
That would play in Tampa Bay as he competes with the likes of Chase Lucas, Kemon Corridor, and Josh Hayes. That’s removed from essentially the most inspiring group on paper, as every of them are most identified for particular groups. With head coach Todd Bowles’ protection being a demanding one to study and grasp, maybe it’s the undrafted rookie who can emerge from the remaining.
Throughout his time with Arizona final season, Garnes recorded 43 tackles, eight move breakups, 1.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. At 5-foot-11 and 183 kilos with 4.43 velocity, he has an athletic construct. The Bucs are nonetheless looking for solutions behind their projected beginning cornerbacks coming into this season, which suggests Garnes may very well be competing for a job that finally carries actual defensive snaps.
S Ja’Qurious Conley
Todd Bowles appears to have modified the obstacles he positioned on cornerbacks and safeties. After Bowles spent years emphasizing having lengthy, athletic corners and quick, bodily safeties, the secondary has began to tackle a distinct form with Jacob Parrish projected to maneuver exterior regardless of being simply 5-foot-10 and roughly 200 kilos. That doesn’t simply apply to the cornerbacks competing; the protection room obtained larger with the addition of Ja’Qurious Conley from Charlotte.
Bucs S Ja’Qurious Conley – Picture courtesy of Charlotte
Conley is in contrast to starters Antoine Winfield Jr. or Tykee Smith, who stand 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, respectively. The Charlotte product seems to be each bit the half at 6-foot-1 and 214 kilos, and he used that to have a productive season with the 49ers final season. In 11 video games, he recorded 64 tackles and three interceptions. The flexibility to wrap up ballcarriers and take away the soccer was interesting sufficient for Tampa Bay to offer him a $180,000 assure.
Whereas that makes him a follow squad candidate, he has an opportunity to battle for a 53-man roster spot. It stays to be seen simply how the secondary shakes out, however there’s a risk of the group holding 5 safeties. That will imply Winfield, Smith, Miles Killebrew, and JJ Roberts all making the lower, with Conley battling with Rashad Knowledge for the ultimate spot.
Time is operating out for Knowledge to carve out a job in Tampa Bay, which might give Conley extra endurance. With a current historical past of uncovering ignored defensive backs, he has the dimensions and manufacturing profile to change into the following developmental venture price monitoring.
