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This Week’s Matter: Which Place On The Bucs Causes The Most Concern With Their Depth?
Level: The Bucs Secondary Is Razor Skinny
By Matt Matera
There’s been numerous consideration as regards to the depth at cornerback in Tampa Bay, and I’ll get to that within the second. However the security place is simply as skinny, too. It’s tremendous high heavy and stuffed with expertise, starring Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. However transferring previous the 2 of them on the depth chart, it’s very slim pickings for who might fill in as a starter if an damage happens.
The thought was that final 12 months’s coaching camp standout, JJ Roberts, could be the subsequent man up, however Roberts, who tore his ACL in a joint coaching camp observe with the Steelers final season, has but to observe through the offseason program. Technically up subsequent could be Marcus Banks or Rashad Knowledge, who’ve been with the workforce on the observe squad for 2 years and have performed very seldom.
Keionte Scott was drafted within the fourth spherical and he has some expertise at security, however the plan for him is to play him within the slot nearly solely as a rookie. Newcomer Miles Killebrew is a security by title on the roster, however will primarily play on particular groups.
So who’s coming in for Winfield or Smith if they’re injured need to miss a recreation? There will not be numerous supreme choices. The Bucs simply need to hope the duo can play a majority of the season. It might be no shock if a veteran security is added by the beginning of the season.
Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Cornerback is one other story. On paper the Bucs had a stable rotation going of Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison on the skin with whoever wins every job beginning there. Parrish also can play nickelback, clearly. However Morrison being sidelined already with what’s believed to be one other hamstring damage places the cornerback spot in jeopardy. It already seems like his accidents will probably be a factor to watch all 12 months lengthy after he missed seven video games as a rookie final 12 months attributable to hamstring accidents.
Tampa Bay introduced in some veteran cornerbacks, reminiscent of Kemon Corridor and Chase Lucas, together with some undrafted free brokers. Corridor and Lucas don’t have numerous expertise, and fairly frankly the reserve that has essentially the most begins is Josh Hayes, who’s extra of a particular teamer than a nook. Whereas Hayes has had a great offseason up to now with a pick-six at mini-camp, he’s struggled closely when he has needed to play on protection.
Bucs CB Josh Hayes – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
I don’t blame Jason Licht for not having essentially the most sturdy quantity of depth as a result of Tampa Bay needed to handle a number of different wants this offseason, together with inside linebacker, defensive deal with and out of doors linebacker. Nevertheless, this might turn out to be an enormous downside rapidly if the Bucs can’t make not less than another transfer earlier than the season begins and get a greater choice than Hayes as a fill-in starter.
Counterpoint: I’m Nonetheless Not Bought On The Depth At Guard In Tampa Bay
By Scott Reynolds
Matt Matera isn’t fallacious. The cornerback depth and security depth concern me too for the explanations he outlined. However I’m going to take a special place as a result of we’ve already seen how the dearth of supreme depth at guard torpedoed the Bucs offense final 12 months. Tampa Bay misplaced proper guard Cody Mauch after a Week 2 win at Houston for the remainder of the season, after which misplaced proper guard Ben Bredeson for a handful of video games as nicely attributable to damage.
Throw in the truth that Bredeson needed to begin the season at heart whereas Graham Barton changed Tristan Wirfs at left deal with till Week 4 and the whole offensive line was discombobulated. In actual fact, Tampa Bay’s beginning 5 up entrance didn’t play a single snap collectively in 2025, and that was detrimental to the offense. When wholesome, the Bucs offensive line is a high 5 unit.
Bucs LG Luke Haggard, C Ben Bredeson, QB Baker Mayfield and RG Elijah Klein – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs tried to get by with newcomers Mike Jordan and Dan Feeney, along with Elijah Klein and Luke Haggard, however there was a noticeable drop off from Mauch and Bredeson. In consequence, Tampa Bay’s offense averaged simply over 22 factors per recreation, which was a landing lower than the earlier season when the offense averaged 29 factors underneath Liam Coen in 2024. With the offensive line in disarray it negatively affected the play of working again Bucky Irving and quarterback Baker Mayfield, too.
So what did the Bucs do to bolster depth on the guard place? Properly, not a lot, actually. Klein and Haggard are again for one more 12 months as developmental reserves. The Bucs moved on from Jordan however re-signed Feeney.
Tampa Bay drafted Billy Schrauth within the fifth spherical within the 2026 NFL Draft, however is he a legit fill-in candidate as a rookie? Would he be any higher than the 35-year outdated Feeney, who was signed off the Payments observe squad? The knock on Schrauth has been his well being and sturdiness at Notre Dame, too. Is he going to be any higher than Klein, who was a sixth-round decide in 2024 and proved he wasn’t able to step in as a long-term substitute at guard final 12 months?
Bucs LT Ben Chukwuma and Saints LB Mike Rumph – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The very best reserve lineman the workforce has is definitely second-year offensive deal with Ben Chukwuma. He had two begins final 12 months at left deal with and carried out nicely regardless of being comparatively new to soccer – solely enjoying a couple of seasons at Georgia State. He’s really the first swing deal with as OT3 behind Wirfs and Luke Goedeke on the depth chart, forward of veteran Justin Skule, who’s again in Tampa Bay after a 12 months in Minnesota.
If I’m the Bucs I’m cross-training him at guard this summer time to extend his versatility and his worth. My title just isn’t Kevin Carberry, however I believe Chukwuma has the dimensions, athleticism and power to be a greater choice at guard than anybody else on the roster. I don’t suppose that’s the plan for him, however Tampa Bay ought to actually think about it.
