TAMPA, Fla. – With the preseason over and roster cuts looming, now is the perfect time to project the 53-man roster for the Buccaneers. Let’s take a look.
QUARTERBACKS (2)
This position is clear cut. The rookie Winston will be the starter. Glennon, who has started 18 games over the past two seasons, is a very capable backup. Seth Lobato is likely to end up on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACKS (4)
Martin has had an outstanding preseason and will hold on to the starting job. Sims and Rainey are decent backups and Lane will be the only fullback on the roster. Mike James is on the roster bubble, but the numbers are working against him.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
Shepard has shown he is more than a special-teams player. Clay likely makes the roster as a return man. Bell is on the bubble. He got off to a great start in camp but didn’t do much in the preseason games.
TIGHT ENDS (3)
The Bucs cleared out a logjam by trading away Tim Wright. Seferian-Jenkins and Myers are capable as receivers and blockers. Stocker is a blocking specialist and also could get some work at fullback.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Dotson could open the season on short-term injured reserve. That could clear the way for second-year pro Kadeem Edwards to keep a roster spot. But depth remains a major concern on the offensive line and the Bucs could look to add players who were released by other teams.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
This unit is loaded on the interior and veteran Da’Quan Bowers could be the odd man out. The outside pass rush remains a major concern, but the Bucs have big hopes for Johnson and Smith.
LINEBACKERS (6)
David, Alexander, Lansanah and Carter are locks to make the roster. The final two spots could come down to special teams, where Greene and Keyes are capable of contributing.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (10)
Frey and Dixon are on the bubble, but both are capable of contributing on special teams. Tandy and Wright are in competition with Chris Conte for the final roster spot. Conte could lose out because he missed almost all of training camp with a hamstring injury.
SPECIALISTS (3)
It is basically a coin flip at kicker with Brindza, Patrick Murray and Connor Barth. Schum stepped up and beat out veteran Michael Koenen.