Tag: Bucs roster

2024 Buccaneers offseason preview: Tight end

The Bucs’ tight end room could use some strengthening in the offseason, but will Tampa Bay bolster it with needs looming elsewhere?

No position group has received less attention on the Buccaneers roster in the past two years than the tight ends. With greater needs at other positions, that pattern is unlikely to change in 2024.

Since the departure of Rob Gronkowski at the end of the 2021 season, the Bucs have spent minimal free agent money and modest draft capital on tight ends. The addition of Kyle Rudolph in in 2022 was less than impactful, and veteran Cameron Brate was a shell of his former self. Both struggled to stay healthy enough to get on the field, much less make a difference on it.

When Tampa Bay drafted Cade Otton in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, he practically became their TE1 by default, taking 66% of the offensive snaps to Brate’s 29.2% and Rudolph’s 6.5%. Otton entered the 2023 season as the starter and was perfectly adequate, catching 60 of 86 targets for 610 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs.

Unfortunately, “perfectly adequate” was the ceiling for the Bucs’ tight ends in 2023. Ko Kieft, also a 2022 Bucs draft pick, is not an NFL-caliber receiving option and 2023 fifth-round pick Payne Durham rarely ran a route. All three tight ends struggled in run support and were not often used as pass blockers.

There is little question the Bucs offense would benefit from an upgrade in tight end talent. The problem is the Bucs have too many other glaring needs to truly dedicate resources to improving the group.

This year’s rookie tight end class is thin from top to bottom. Georgia TE Brock Bowers is easily the best prospect in the class, but he will be long gone by the time the Bucs are on the clock late in the first round. Tampa Bay might have a shot at Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders or Ohio St. TE Cade Stover on Day 2 of the draft, but taking either would mean forgoing bigger needs and value at edge rusher, inside linebacker, safety and along the interior offensive line.

There are more options at tight end in free agency, but whether any of them represent a true upgrade is dubious. PFF’s Brad Spielberger named Patriots TE Mike Gesicki as a potential fit for Tampa Bay. However, Gesicki is notorious for being a “receiver-only” tight end. He adds nothing as a blocker which appears to be a driving factor for the tepid interest in his services.  Gesicki is two years removed from his best seasons with the Dolphins and was relegated to minimal roles in Mike McDaniels’ first season as head coach and with the Patriots last year.

If the Bucs entertain any free agents at all, they will likely target inexpensive value signings, a hallmark of Bucs general manager Jason Licht as of late. Former Broncos and Eagles TE Albert Okwuegbunam flashed in Denver in 2021, but injuries and team dysfunction derailed his career. He could be a low-cost, low-risk signing to reinforce Tampa Bay’s tight end depth.

Expectations for any significant moves at tight end in Tampa Bay should be low. Licht tends to value a draft and develop strategy over splashy free agent signings or blockbuster trades. Otton’s improvement as a receiver in 2023 will likely keep him the starter in 2024 while Kieft and Durham will get their own opportunities to prove their long-term viability. At most, a more or two at the fringes of the tight end depth chart will make for some training camp intrigue and preseason hype.

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2024 Buccaneers offseason preview: Wide receiver

Tampa Bay’s number one priority will be trying to bring back one of its franchise legends for 2024 and beyond.

When it comes to wide receiver, the Buccaneers’ 2024 offseason is about one thing: Mike Evans. Arguably the best offensive player in Bucs’ history, Evans has come to a career-defining inflection point. Does he re-sign with Tampa Bay, likely making him a Buccaneer for life, or does he leave for more lucrative pastures in free agency?

As it has for most of Evans’ career, Tampa Bay’s 2023 offense went as far as its star receiver could take them. Earning his second All-Pro nod, Evans led the Bucs in receiving yards (1255), targets (136) and touchdowns (13), in which he also led the NFL. Evans recorded his 10th-consecutive 1000-yard season, making him the only player to begin his career with 10 straight 1000-yard seasons and now trailing only Jerry Rice all-time.

Evans did everything a player in a contract year wants to do: perform like a superstar. Now, Bucs general manager Jason Licht will have to pony up to keep Evans in Tampa Bay, which he appeared unwilling to do before the 2023 season started.

Spotrac estimates Evans’ market value at $23.8 million average per year, which would make him one of the top 10 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. Given his value and consistency, the ask is not unreasonable. Tampa Bay could theoretically afford Evans, but with $32 million in cap space, some cap maneuvering and possibly casualties would be required.

The trump card would be Baker Mayfield, who benefitted more than anyone from Evans’ stellar season. If Mayfield would be willing to drop his asking price, even if only for 2024, the Bucs could run it back with Mayfield and Evans running the ship.

Without Evans, there would be a gaping hole on the Bucs offense, but the team would not be bereft of talent. Chris Godwin still has some juice, recording his third-consecutive 1000-yard season and leading the Bucs in receptions (83) despite fewer targets (130) than Evans.

New Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen indicated a different role for Godwin next season akin to how the Rams use Cooper Kupp out of the slot. After some relatively down years in yards after catch and catch rate, Godwin could benefit from a shift in his usage that plays more into his skillset.

Behind Godwin, Trey Palmer flashed considerable promise in his rookie season, catching 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. He may well have piled on much gaudier stats with a little more chemistry with Mayfield, as he was often creating separation without being targeted. A little more ball security certainly would have helped too, as Palmer fumbled three times in 2023.

Deven Thompkins saw action mostly as a punt returner and gadget player on offense, taking end-arounds and often being used in motion to stress defenses. His speed and versatility should secure him a spot on the 2024 roster.

Veteran David Moore was clutch late in the season, but he is the most likely player to follow former offensive coordinator Dave Canales to Carolina, as he did from Seattle to Tampa Bay. Undrafted rookie Rakim Jarrett was a preseason star, but a crowded receiver room limited his opportunities in 2023. That is unlikely to change in 2024, regardless of Mike Evans’ ultimate landing spot.

An Evans departure is unlikely to prompt a corresponding free-agent addition given the talent on the roster and cap limitations. Instead, the Bucs would most likely seek to replace Evans with one of the many tantalizing wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft class.

Though they would miss out on top prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze, the Bucs could find a new starter with one of their first two picks. LSU WR Brian Robinson or Oregon WR Troy Franklin may not have Evans’ rare blend of size and speed, but both are highly talented receivers that could be available when the Bucs are on the clock in the first round. FSU’s Keon Coleman is the closest the Bucs would get to a trait-for-trait replacement of Evans.

In the second round, Florida WR Ricky Pearsall, Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk and USC WR Brendan Rice all have starter potential. Even if the Bucs retain Evans, these receivers could still be on the table. After all, Evans is now on the wrong side of 30 and Godwin is creeping up that way himself. Whether or not the Bucs commit to Evans for another three or four years, it could be time for the Bucs to begin looking at their next generation of receivers.

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2024 Bucs offseason preview: Running back

The Bucs found a versatile back in Rachaad White, but they could use someone else to lighten his workload in 2024.

For nearly a decade, the Buccaneers sought a running back who could be a dangerous offensive weapon and a reliable ball carrier. Rachaad White is as close as they have gotten in a long time.

White’s 1,539 yards from scrimmage in 2023 is the most recorded by any Bucs player since Doug Martin in 2015. He managed to do this despite running behind one of the worst run-blocking offensive lines in the league, limiting him to a mere 990 rush yards for just 3.6 yards per attempt.

Overall, the Bucs averaged -0.166 EPA per play when running down, sixth-worst in the NFL, with a league-worst 32% success rate. White is not wholly without blame, as he recorded -110 rush yards over expected, among the worst in the NFL per Next Gen Stats. A pure running back Rachaad White is not.

Instead, White found his calling as a versatile weapon, recording the third-most receiving yards (549), third-most yards per reception (9.6) and the third-highest catch rate (91.4%) among all running backs (minimum 45 targets).

Suffice to say, Rachaad White is entering the 2024 offseason as the incumbent starter in Tampa Bay. That is not likely to change.

However, White’s ascendence does not preclude the addition of more help. White may be a victim of his own success, recording 336 total touches, second-most of any NFL player behind only Christian McCaffrey. That level of work is rarely sustainable and is more likely to shorten White’s career.

The Bucs had little choice but to lean heavily on White as the rest of their running backs were simply unreliable. Chase Edmonds had his moments as the change-of-pace back, but his history of injuries continued in Tampa Bay. Edmonds missed four games despite taking just 63 touches in 2023.

After Edmonds, the Bucs had next to no production at running back. 2020 third-rounder Ke’Shawn Vaughn played his way out of Tampa Bay thanks both to his unwillingness to ride the pine and his total ineffectiveness, averaging 1.8 yards per carry last season.

Undrafted rookie Sean Tucker flashed in training camp, but after averaging 1.5 yards through Week 3, he did not touch the ball for the rest of the season.

The Bucs can ill-afford to go another season hoping that White can power through one of the heaviest workloads in the NFL or that Edmonds and Tucker will provide sufficient depth. More talent is needed.

The draft is the most obvious answer to Tampa Bay’s depth issues. The Bucs need a back who can take some of the grittier carries from White, who thrives in space but struggles with chaotic between-the-tackles running. Washington’s Dillon Johnson and Notre Dame’s Audric Estime are bigger, more powerful backs known for toughness and hard-nosed running, a perfect complement to White’s finesse and speed.

At 5’8 and 195 pounds, Southern Miss RB Frank Gore Jr. would be less thunder to White’s lightning and more of a second bolt across the sky. Gore Jr. has excellent movement skills and was one of the hardest running backs to bring down in college football last year, breaking 67 tackles.

The Bucs are less likely to rely on a veteran to be White’s principal backup, but they could still explore the free-agent market. Damien Harris was a non-factor in Buffalo last year, but his success in New England was not so long ago to be completely forgotten. Harris’ 15 touchdowns in 2021 are a testament to his ability to get tough yards even against a stacked line.

The Bucs could also look at former Packers RB A.J. Dillon, who did not pan out the way Green Bay hoped after taking him in the second round of the 2020 draft. Nevertheless, he was a versatile piece of the Packers offense behind starter Aaron Jones, averaging 8.9 yards per reception in his NFL career.

Regardless of who the Bucs add to the running back room, the real key to improving the run game is improving the offensive line. Such an undertaking does not manifest overnight, so the Bucs still need to pair line upgrades with help for Rachaad White this offseason.

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Bucs sign 14 players to futures contracts for 2024

The Bucs are set to bring back a number of their practice squad staples with futures contracts next season.

2023 may be over for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team is getting ready for 2024.

The team announced on Tuesday that it has signed 14 players to futures contracts in the NFL. Essentially, a futures contract is exactly what it says on the tin — it’s a contract that guarantees the right to a player but doesn’t activate until the following league year. This is usually done to ensure that certain players stick with the team on the futures/reserve list and cannot negotiate with other squads.

Here’s the full list of players that signed a futures contract with the Bucs:

  • DL C.J. Brewer

  • T Silas Dzani
  • OL Luke Haggard
  • CB Keenan Isaac
  • WR Cephus Johnson III
  • RB Patrick Laird
  • S Richard LeCounte III
  • WR Ryan Miller
  • CB Quandre Mosely
  • OLB Jose Ramirez
  • OL Logan Stenberg
  • TE Tanner Taula
  • WR Raleigh Webb
  • TE David Wells

Only players who were not on the team’s active roster at the end of their season are eligible for a futures contract. As a result, all these players have been affiliated with the Bucs on their practice squad throughout the season, and all will return at training camp to compete for a spot on Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster for the 2024 season.

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Bucs LB Devin White will not play Week 15, absence ‘not injury related’

Devin White is a healthy scratch for today’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. He isn’t playing on Sunday, but the change does not appear to be related to that foot injury.

According to NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales, White will not be active on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers — however, the absence is reportedly “not injury related.” As a result, LB K.J. Britt will step in for White once again.

The reason for White’s absence, if it is not injury-related, is unknown. Britt performed well in place of White in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, where he recorded eight total tackles. White has been hurt with a foot injury for some time now, last appearing in a game in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Bucs waive RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Vaughn had been inactive on game day since Week 10.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are waiving a member of their running back corps.

The team announced on Friday that it is waiving running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who joined the team in 2020 and has played sparsely through his career in Tampa Bay. Vaughn initially got playing time to start the year, but he’s been inactive since Week 10.

Vaughn has had a rough 2023, amassing just 42 yards on 24 carries for an abysmal 1.8 yards per carry. Vaughn has been inactive for some time in favor of Bucs rookie Sean Tucker, who the team signed as an undrafted free agent. While no corresponding move was announced, it is likely that Vaughn’s release comes at the need for a defensive lineman on the practice squad to be activated to the active roster due to a continuing injury to DL Vita Vea — Deadrin Senat (who would be on his third elevation) or C.J. Brewer would both be candidates for such a thing.

Vaughn may be brought back to the practice squad, but as it stands, he’s had 103 carries for 384 yards (3.7 YPC) and two touchdowns.

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Bucs make series of roster moves ahead of Week 15

The Buccaneers are elevating a practice squad player to the active roster, and that usually comes with some shuffling around.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made a number of changes to the roster ahead of their Week 15 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

The primary move is to bring up wideout David Moore from the practice squad to the active roster, as he’s hit his elevation limit for the year otherwise after his third one against Atlanta. The team made a few lateral moves — it signed Evan Deckers to the practice squad due to a Zach Triner injury, it waived and then subsequently re-signed cornerback Keenan Isaac to the practice squad and then released linebacker Vi Jones to make room for him.

Moore has seen increased playing time on special teams and on offense after an injury to WR Rakim Jarrett saw him go to IR. Deckers will serve as the team’s long snapper if Triner cannot go and Isaac will return to the team after getting a few reps here and there during the year on special teams. Isaac also cleared waivers, which means he’ll be able to be elevated another three times.

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Bucs promote Keenan Isaac to active roster, sign David Wells to practice squad

Practice squad moves have increased as injuries have worsened for the Bucs.

The Bucs are shoring up their depth as injuries have begun to plague them.

The team announced on Thursday that cornerback Keenan Isaac has been elevated to the active roster. On top of that, the team re-signed tight end David Wells to the practice squad after cutting him the previous day.

Isaac’s promotion comes with grim tidings. Starting cornerback Jamel Dean recently suffered a bad ankle injury against the San Francisco 49ers, and while the team appears to have avoided something major, he’ll likely miss some time. Cornerback Carlton Davis is dealing with a hip injury, too, but he’ll likely play through it on Sunday.

Isaac hasn’t appeared in game for the Bucs this season. The team also has players like Derek Pitts Jr. to rely on, too, but the move gives the Bucs a few more options with its cornerback depth.

Bucs place WR Rakim Jarrett on injured reserve

The Bucs did not reveal what specific injury Jarrett is dealing with.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without one of their wide receivers for at least four weeks.

The team announced on Wednesday that Bucs wideout Rakim Jarrett has been placed on injured reserve. The team did not specify what injury Jarrett has, nor did they announce a corresponding roster move to be made after the placement.

Jarrett has been relatively quiet this year, but he made his biggest play in Tampa Bay’s most recent game. In Week 11 against the 49ers, Jarrett caught a deep ball from QB Baker Mayfield for a 41-yard gain. Across the season, he’s been targeted nine times and caught four passes for 60 yards.

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Bucs put in unsuccessful waiver claim for RB Michael Carter

The Bucs were looking for running back help in the former Jets back, but the Cardinals had waiver priority.

The Tampa Bay Buccanneers tried to get some help for their woeful running game, but the waiver claim system denied them the opportunity.

The New York Jets released veteran running back Michael Carter a few days ago, and when waiver claims came in on Wednesday, he was awarded to the Arizona Cardinals. But the Cardinals weren’t the only team that tried to claim him, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport — the Washington Commanders and the Bucs attempted to claim his as well but were lower than Arizona in the waiver order.

The Bucs could certainly have used the help. Outside of lead back Rachaad White, the rest of Tampa Bay’s running backs — Chase Edmonds, Sean Tucker and Ke’Shawn Vaughn — have combined for an abysmal 94 yards on 53 carries, or 1.7 yards per carry. With that in mind, the team could have used a veteran presence to shake things up, and it tried to do so but was denied.

Carter has only had eight carries this year but has 38 yards for 4.8 yards per attempt. His best season came in 2021, when he ran for 639 yards and four touchdowns.

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