Assessing Every Tampa Bay Buccaneers UDFA's Chances of Making Final Roster

Tony Romo. Arian Foster. Antonio Gates. Those are just some of the active ones.

From those names to all-time greats like Dick "Night Train" Lane, Warren Moon, John Randle and Kurt Warner, undrafted free agents have made a significant impact all throughout the history of the NFL.

Ever year, a new class of prospects enter training camps across the league with a huge chip on their shoulders, eager to prove to every NFL team they should have been drafted. Most never end up doing much, but many have carved out long and successful careers as role players, special team standouts and even superstars.

Just like every other team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to have found a few diamonds in the rough with this year's class of undrafted free agents. But how likely are any of them to make the final roster?

Here's my take on the chances for all of them.

LB Quinton Alston

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A second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2014, Quinton Alston also was a team captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes and enjoyed his most productive college season last year with 94 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

At 6'1", 232 pounds, Alston has the size and athleticism to be a good fit in the Tampa 2, but he's one of 11 linebackers currently on the roster, only half of whom are likely to make the final roster. The starters are likely set with Lavonte David, Danny Lansanah and Bruce Carter, and the addition of fourth-round pick Kwon Alexander and recent waiver pickup Khaseem Greene should leave very little room for a fringe player like Alston.

He's a solid player with an impressive senior-year resume, but Alston faces long odds to make the Bucs' final 53-man roster.

RB Dominique Brown

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A highly recruited dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school, Dominique Brown has the size to be an imposing runner, but he doesn't always maximize his strengths as a runner.

At 6'2", 234 pounds, Brown has a massive frame for the position and ran a 4.65 40-yard dash at his pro day, which is impressive for his size. But despite his measurements, Brown was never the punishing runner he could have been for the Louisville Cardinals. He only started 13 games in his career, and he lost the entire 2012 season to a torn MCL, forcing him to redshirt.

Tampa Bay's depth chart at running back won't help Brown's chances of making the squad, either. Doug Martin and Charles Sims will likely split the lion's share of the touches, with Bobby Rainey and Mike James fighting for the scraps. With Jorvorskie Lane returning from injury to battle with seventh-round pick Joey Iosefa for the fullback duties, it leaves little room for Brown.

DT Quayshawne Buckley

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An underrated player due to playing at a smaller school, Quayshawne Buckley's talent should have gotten him drafted. Originally committed to the Washington State Cougars, Buckley changed his mind and ended up with the Idaho Vandals, where he was a disruptive force in 2014.

As a senior last season, Buckley tallied 46 tackles and led the team with 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He was clearly dominant against lower-level competition, which may have led teams to question whether that dominance could transfer to the NFL level.

He was dismissed from the team following a DUI charge in early 2013, but he was reinstated prior to that season.

Buckley has his caveats, but the biggest obstacle in his way is the Bucs' loaded depth chart at defensive tackle. Tampa Bay is already four deep with veteran talent—Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald, Akeem Spence and Henry Melton—which will make it difficult for Buckley to crack the final roster.

DE Ryan Delaire

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One of the more promising players in this year's group of undrafted free agents, Ryan Delaire brings the kind of natural pass-rushing ability that allows him to challenge for a roster spot.

After transferring from Massachusetts, Delaire dominated his competition with the Towson Tigers, racking up 22.5 sacks, 32 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles over his two seasons.

He's a bit lean for a 4-3 end at 6'4", 250 pounds, but he proved his strength by putting up 22 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at this year's combine.

The Bucs have a lot of bodies at defensive end but very few impact players from top to bottom. George Johnson and Jacquies Smith figure to be the starters, but after that, it's a wide-open competition. Delaire has the talent, and the roster makeup suggests he's got one of the best chances to make the team out of any of the undrafted free agents.

DB Deshazor Everett

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A versatile cover man who was highly recruited out of high school, Deshazor Everett brings experience at both corner and safety to a Tampa Bay team that struggled in coverage for much of the 2014 season.

Everett enjoyed a successful career against top SEC competition, and his skill set fits what the Bucs look for in a defensive back. He's not the flashiest athlete, but he's a hard-nosed player who isn't afraid to tackle and can make his fair share of big plays in coverage.

Everett had an up-and-down performance during Tampa Bay's rookie minicamp, getting beaten deep by Kenny Bell but responding with an impressive interception of Jameis Winston during one-on-ones.

Everett has the talent to stick in the NFL, but Tampa Bay's depth chart doesn't give him a very easy road to a roster spot. They don't have the most stellar defensive backfield, but they've got enough solid bodies at both corner and safety to make it tough sledding for Everett to land on the final roster.

S Chris Hackett

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Arguably the best value out of all the undrafted free agents signed by the Bucs this year, Chris Hackett was projected by many analysts to be drafted in the middle rounds, only to see him fall out of the entire draft.

Hackett lacks any flashy individual traits, and a 4.81-second 40-yard dash at the combine didn't do his draft stock any favors, either. Still, he's a balanced player who is solid in most areas, and I doubt anyone would have been shocked to see him drafted anywhere on Day 3.

He's got the talent to make it in the NFL, but Tampa Bay has quite a logjam at safety, especially after claiming former second-round pick D.J. Swearinger off waivers. Hackett will need a stellar training camp to beat out the more experienced field for a roster spot.

WR Rannell Hall

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After an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, Rannell Hall took going undrafted in stride and responded by having an equally strong showing during Tampa Bay's rookie minicamp.

Overshadowed by first-round pick and teammate Breshad Perriman, Hall is used to proving he belongs, after receiving just two FBS offers coming out of high school.

He's got adequate size at 6'1", 200 pounds, with the bulk and toughness to make tough catches over the middle. His best asset is his body control, which allows him to make tough catches and bail out quarterbacks on bad throws.

Not only was Hall one of the more eye-opening players at the rookie minicamp, he also is looking at a receiver depth chart that is fairly advantageous. He could easily challenge for the fifth receiver spot, and his willingness to do whatever is asked of him will give him an edge.

LB Josh Keyes

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A former safety who transitioned to outside linebacker, Josh Keyes is the type of undersized but athletic player who would be a perfect fit in the Tampa 2.

Keyes is a disruptive player who spent plenty of time in opposing backfields over the past two seasons, notching 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, leading the Boston College Eagles with 11.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2014.

His experience at safety helps him in coverage, and he's a solid tackler who made a career-high 66 stops last season.

Much like fellow undrafted linebacker Alston, Keyes will face quite a challenge to make the Bucs' final roster with a fairly deep group of linebackers. He'll have to make quite an impression during training camp to beat out some more experienced teammates.

DT Caushaud Lyons

One of the most intriguing players in this year's group of undrafted free agents, the Bucs grabbed themselves a disruptive talent in Caushaud Lyons, who dominated lower-level competition with the Tusculum Pioneers.

At 6'5", 295 pounds, Lyons has a massive frame with the room to add more bulk.

He showed off impressive athleticism at his pro day workout, running a sub-5.0 40-yard dash, a 30.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump. A gym rat who can bench press 475 pounds and squat 600 pounds, Lyons wants to coach football and own a gym when he hangs up his cleats.

Just like fellow undrafted free agent Buckley, Lyons faces long odds to make the Bucs' final roster thanks to the depth at defensive tackle. At least one of the two should end up on the practice squad if they don't make the team, but they won't last long there and should get snatched up by another team.

WR Josh Reese

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One of two UCF Knights receivers to sign with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent, Josh Reese was highly recruited out of high school. He received offers from both the Florida State Seminoles and the Florida Gators before choosing the Knights.

Reese caught just 39 passes for 552 yards last season, but six of his receptions went for scores. The former Miami Central High School star also has experience as a punt returner, which could help his chances of landing a roster spot with a Tampa Bay team that struggled mightily in that department last year.

Reese is a versatile player who can make some big plays, but he'll face stiff competition in training camp as both a receiver and a return specialist. His teammate Hall has a much better chance of making the final roster, barring any injuries.

LB Michael Reynolds

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A versatile athlete with a knack for making splash plays, Michael Reynolds is one of three linebackers brought on by the Bucs as an undrafted free agent.

Reynolds led the Kansas Jayhawks with seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 2014, adding four forced fumbles, the most of any player in the Big 12.

At 6'1", 240 pounds, Reynolds has the size to survive in the middle but also the athleticism to play on the outside.

As is the case with Alston and Keyes, Reynolds will have a tough time beating out more experienced veterans for a roster spot in Tampa Bay. However, he has the skills to be a valuable practice squad player, should he make an impression in training camp.

DE Jamal Young

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One of the more unheralded players in this year's group, Jamal Young is raw and undersized but has tons of natural talent and upside.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht had plenty of good things to say about the former Southern Miss Golden Eagles sprinter who went on to play his football with the Jones County Junior College Bobcats, per Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com:

"

He's a traits guy. Lovie [Smith] loves traits guys – size and speed. He may be raw, but this is the time where you take a shot. He jumped out of the gym. He had a 36-inch vertical, a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump. He ran a 4.67 in the 40-yard dash. He really only played one more year of football and that was at JUCO, but he was explosive.

"

If there's one position where the Bucs need explosive playmakers, it's at defensive end. It wouldn't shock me at all to see the coaching staff fall in love with his physical traits and give him a roster spot over more experienced players who have yet to make a significant impact.

LS Courtland Clavette

It's hard to most position players to make enough of an impact in training camp to land a roster spot, but doing it as a long snapper can be a much easier road.

Courtland Clavette clearly has the talent necessary for the position, as evidenced by the video above. After not receiving any FBS offers, Clavette went to to handle the long-snapping duties with the Brown Bears all four years he was there, in addition to throwing the shot put and discus.

Clavette's only competition currently on the roster is Andrew DePaola, and his experience should definitely serve him well. He's got as good a chance as any of this year's undrafted free agents to make the final roster.