Updated 53-Man Roster Projections for Tampa Bay Buccaneers Post Preseason Week 3
With three of their four preseason games now in the books, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now enter one of the most difficult parts of regular season preparation, as roster cuts begin.
The team has already trimmed the roster down by 10 players, with five more required by Tuesday's deadline. More cuts will happen following the team's final preseason game on Thursday, which will force the Bucs to have trimmed what was once a 90-man active roster down to just 53 names.
Thursday's preseason finale will give Tampa Bay's decision-makers one more look at some of the players on the roster bubble, giving them one last chance to impress and attempt to keep their NFL dream alive.
Here are my current predictions for the Bucs final 53-man roster.
Overall Final Roster Prediction
1 of 10
QB
Jameis Winston
Mike Glennon
RB
Charles Sims
Bobby Rainey
Mike James
Jorvorskie Lane (FB)
WR
Mike Evans
Vincent Jackson
Louis Murphy
Russell Shepard
Kenny Bell
Rannell Hall
Robert Herron
TE
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Luke Stocker
Brandon Myers
Tim Wright
OL
Logan Mankins
Evan Smith
Donovan Smith
Ali Marpet
Gosder Cherilus
Kevin Pamphile
Kadeem Edwards
Jeremiah Warren
Patrick Omameh
DL
Gerald McCoy
Clinton McDonald
Henry Melton
Tony McDaniel
Jacquies Smith
George Johnson
T.J. Fatinikun
Larry English
LB
Lavonte David
Kwon Alexander
Danny Lansanah
Bruce Carter
Khaseem Greene
CB
Johnthan Banks
Alterraun Verner
Mike Jenkins
Sterling Moore
Isaiah Frey
Brandon Dixon
S
Bradley McDougald
Major Wright
D.J. Swearinger
Chris Conte
K
Patrick Murray
P
Jake Schum
LS
Andrew DePaola
Quarterback
2 of 10
The Bucs have a promising situation at quarterback for the time being, with top overall draft pick Jameis Winston locked in as the starter and a young veteran backing him up in Mike Glennon.
With plenty of NFL starting experience already under his belt, may fans expected Glennon to be traded this offseason, but the Bucs have opted to keep the former third-round pick as insurance in case something happens to their new franchise quarterback.
Winston has had an up-and-down preseason so far, but that's to be expected for a rookie starting quarterback playing behind one of the league's worst offensive lines. Bucs fans should expect more of the same throughout the season, with plenty of big plays intermingled with some frustrating decisions from the first-year signal-caller.
Don't expect the Bucs to keep an emergency quarterback on the active roster. Seth Lobato has seen limited work in the preseason but might be a decent option for the practice squad.
Running Back
3 of 10
Last year, Tampa Bay's backfield was expected to be a strength, but injuries and poor offensive line play turned it into a pedestrian unit that couldn't churn out yardage on a consistent basis.
This year, Doug Martin looks to be returning to his rookie-season form, fully healthy and down 20 pounds from a year ago. He's been impressive all throughout training camp and the preseason and has established himself as the team's lead back as the Bucs look toward the regular season.
Charles Sims has shown flashes of the talent that made him a high third-round pick in the 2014 draft, but consistency is still an issue. Bobby Rainey and Mike James will fight over the scraps, but they're both capable backs when healthy.
Dominique Brown and Joey Iosefa were waived by the team on Sunday, leaving veteran Jorvorskie Lane as the default starter at fullback, barring any new acquisitions.
Wide Receiver
4 of 10
Just like last year, the Bucs are set as far as their starting receivers are concerned, with Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson returning to lock up to top two spots on the depth chart.
The team's mission this offseason was to improve their depth at the position, and so far this preseason, they appear to have done just that. After Evans and Jackson, the Bucs will have some tough decisions to make regarding who makes the final 53-man roster at receiver.
Louis Murphy signed a three-year extension this offseason and brings valuable experience, so his spot should be secure. Russell Shepard likely would have earned a spot just based on his skills as a special teams ace, but he's established himself as a legitimate receiving threat during the preseason and should easily make the team.
It might be surprising to some, but the Bucs may end up keeping as many as seven receivers to avoid risking the loss of of their promising young pass-catchers should they try to stash them on the practice squad.
Kenny Bell has looked great in practice but struggled in game situations, but I'd be shocked to see them give up on him so quickly. Rannell Hall was a Senior Bowl standout who has kept a good thing going during Bucs camp, while Robert Herron has rebounded from a rough rookie season in 2014 to show plenty of improvement so far this year.
Don't be surprised if all three end up making the final roster, with rookie undrafted free agent Adam Humphries and sixth-round pick Kaelin Clay as candidates for the practice squad.
Tight End
5 of 10
The usual suspects return at tight end for the Bucs, led by breakout candidate Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is fully healthy and ready to deliver on the potential that made him a top-40 draft pick in 2014.
The Washington product will be joined by Luke Stocker, who re-signed with the team this offseason after putting together the best season of his career last year. Stocker filled in admirably as the team's starting fullback after Jorvorskie Lane went down with a season-ending leg injury, proving him to be a versatile asset to the offense.
Brandon Myers is decent at both blocking and catching the ball, and he gives the team an experienced veteran as depth. The Bucs traded away Tim Wright in the Logan Makins deal last preseason, but he was waived by the Patriots this year, and Tampa Bay snatched him up quickly. He hauled in six touchdown passes last year and should make the roster based on that red-zone potential.
Offensive Line
6 of 10
After failing to rebuild this unit through free agency last year, the Bucs spent two second-round picks on offensive linemen this year, and both should end up starting in Week 1.
Donovan Smith will likely be the team's starting left tackle, protecting the blind side of fellow rookie Jameis Winston. Small-school wonder Ali Marpet was thought to be more of a developmental player, but he's outplayed his competition in the preseason and in practice and should start at right guard.
Logan Mankins will start again at left guard, while veteran Evan Smith will try to bounce back from a poor 2014 season as the team's starting center again this year. Demar Dotson's knee injury should keep him out for the near future, which should give the newly acquired Gosder Cherilus the starting right tackle spot.
For depth, look for the Bucs to keep young, versatile players. Patrick Omameh can play either tackle of guard, while Jeremiah Warren can play either guard or center. Warren has been particularly impressive in preseason work, and should be the team's backup at center to Smith.
Both of Tampa Bay's fifth-round picks in 2014—tackle Kevin Pamphile and guard Kadeem Edwards—shouldn't be in any danger of losing a roster spot.
Defensive Line
7 of 10
Much like last year's team, the Bucs appear stacked at defensive tackle but full of question marks at defensive end.
Three-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy will anchor the entire group from his three-technique spot, while Clinton McDonald and Tony McDaniel rotate next to him as the nose tackle. Henry Melton has the ability to play inside or outside, and look for the Bucs to call on him to switch back and forth plenty this season.
On the edge, things are far more murky. Projected starters Jacquies Smith and George Johnson each tallied over six sacks last year, but neither has ever been a full-time starter at the NFL level. Behind them, look for the team to keep a promising youngster who is undersized but fast in T.J. Fatinikun, and a former first-round pick in Larry English.
Just missing the cut at defensive end should be former fourth-round pick William Gholston and Richmond product Lawrence Sidbury.
Defensive tackle Akeem Spence—who is currently recovering from back surgery—should rejoin the active roster somewhere around the midpoint of the season, which will give the Bucs even more depth up the middle.
Linebacker
8 of 10
Tampa Bay's groups of linebackers looks to be a huge improvement over last year's group, thanks to the addition of a veteran and a promising rookie who are perfect fits for the Tampa 2 scheme.
Bruce Carter was brought in on a four-year deal to presumably take over in the middle for the departed Mason Foster, but rookie fourth-round pick Kwon Alexander had other plans. The LSU product has exploded onto the scene, making huge plays both in practice and during preseason games, snatching the starting middle linebacker spot away from Carter.
That has moved Carter to the strong side, where he'll challenge Danny Lansanah for snaps. Lansanah should hold him off to keep the starting gig, but Carter gives the Bucs the veteran depth they sorely lacked at the position last year.
Lavonte David returns as the anchor of the unit, likely to rack up another 140-plus tackles for the fourth year in a row. The Bucs wisely locked up David with a five-year contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid 4-3 linebackers in the league.
The last linebacker spot should end up going to Khaseem Greene, who was signed after being released by head coach Lovie Smith's former team, the Chicago Bears.
Secondary
9 of 10
Tampa Bay will return their two starting corners on the outside, as Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner give the Bucs a decent pair of cover men who should be more comfortable in Year 2 of the Tampa 2 transition.
After those two, things get a bit shaky at corner, where Mike Jenkins and Brandon Dixon are likely to be the team's best depth on the outside. Jenkins spent most of the 2014 season on injured reserve, while Dixon is inexperienced but played well in limited action last year.
In the slot, look for former Dallas Cowboys nickelback Sterling Moore to win the starting job, with Isaiah Frey beating out Leonard Johnson as the backup.
At safety, Bradley McDougald returns as the unit's best playmaker after a promising 2014 season that proved the team needed to move on from overpriced players like Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron. A fully healthy Major Wright and his experience in the Tampa 2 should start opposite McDougald on the back end.
The reserve safeties should be two new faces, led by D.J. Swearinger, a second-round pick just two years ago who fell out of favor with the Houston Texans and was claimed off waivers by the Bucs this offseason. His skill set is similar to Barron's, but he's made a few big plays in practice and in preseason game action, showing the potential that made him such a high draft selection.
Despite spending most of training camp injured, don't be surprised if Chris Conte is kept over Keith Tandy, as Bucs head coach Lovie Smith greatly values players who have familiarity with him and his scheme.
Special Teams
10 of 10
This year's battles for the kicking and punting duties are rather interesting, with legitimate challengers at each spot who could potentially push the incumbents out of a job.
After Patrick Murray missed an extra point in the team's second preseason game, the Bucs brought back veteran Connor Barth to compete with the second-year pro, much like they did in last year's training camp. They each missed a field goal in Saturday night's loss to the Browns, so no ground was really gained there. I still expect the younger Murray to hold off Barth at the end of the day.
At punter, this may be the year the Bucs finally wrangle a younger, cheaper replacement for Michael Koenen. Jake Schum averaged 45 yards on his four punts Saturday night, and Bucs fans shouldn't be surprised if he's the team's new punter come Week 1.
The Bucs waived Andrew DePaola's only long-snapping competition on Sunday, securing his roster spot for the regular season.
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