Bucs final 53-man roster prediction: Rookies storm roster to help keep team in playoff hunt for another season

The preseason is over and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will now begin the process of final roster cuts as it prepares its initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season.

It's a really sad time of year and it's easily the worst part of the offseason process. A lot of guys that busted their tails will be looking for new jobs simply because the numbers didn't work out.

"That's definitely the saddest part about being in the NFL," Bucs defensive lineman Calijah Kancey said after Thursday's joint practice with the Dolphins. "When you build a relationship with guys, and then you come in the next day trying to talk about a life problem or anything, just trying to catch up with them, and you look up and the locker is empty. It's always a surprise."

With all that being said, it's just part of NFL life. So, let's dive into our 53-man roster prediction before final cuts begin.

**Please note a single asterisk (*) denotes rookies and double asterisks (**) denote rookie undrafted free agents. Also, I'm predicting Rakim Jarrett starts the season on short-term IR, so he'll make the team, so to speak, just not the initial 53-man roster.**

Quarterback (2)

IN: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
OUT: John Wolford

The skinny: Mayfield is obviously the guy, here, so the main attention belongs to the backup quarterback position. Wolford didn't play on Friday night and despite Todd Bowles saying a couple weeks ago that the QB2 competition was still open, it's safe to say Trask wins the job after a solid game against the Fins. Wolford will slide to the practice squad and get called up, when/if needed.

Running back (3)

IN: Rachaad White, Bucky Irving*, Sean Tucker
OUT: Chase Edmonds, D.J. Williams**, Ramon Jefferson**

The skinny: Edmonds has been nursing an injury since the beginning of camp and that's been his problem, lately: staying healthy. He missed four games last year, four games in 2022, and five games in 2021. 2020 was the last time he played a full season. The Bucs can stash him on the practice squad and give the youngsters the opportunities they deserve, as Irving and Tucker have looked really good over the summer.

Wide receiver (6)

IN: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan*, Trey Palmer, Kameron Johnson**, Cody Thompson
OUT: Rakim Jarrett, Tanner Knue**, Latreal Jones**, Cephus Johnson III, Ryan Miller, Raleigh Webb, Sterling Shepard

The skinny: Bucs legend Ronde Barber said during the broadcast that the coaching staff told him Johnson was making the team and he said Jarrett probably won't be ready for the start of the season, so that settles two big parts of this equation. After him, it's gotta be Johnson taking the WR6 spot. Not only has he proven to be an effective receiver during the preseason, he plays special teams, and did you see that block he had in the second quarter during Johnson's 11-yard end-around?? He's doing everything required of a depth receiver and it will pay off in a roster spot.

Tight end (4)

IN: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Devin Culp*
OUT: David Wells, Tanner Taula, Sal Cannella

The skinny: This room is chalk. There isn't much debate, here. Maybe Kieft finds himself on the outs, but he's a really good special teamer and the staff knows how to use him. I think that keeps him in the fold.

Offensive line (9)

IN: Tristan Wirfs (LT), Ben Bredeson (LG), Graham Barton * (C), Cody Mauch (RG), Luke Goedeke (RT), Robert Hainsey, Justin Skule, Elijah Klein*, Brandon Walton
OUT: Luke Haggard, Xavier Delgado**, Ryan Johnson**, Avery Jones**, Lorenz Metz (IPP)

The skinny: The top-9 are set, easily, with the starting five and then Hainsey and Klein as an iOL, Skule at swing, and Walton as an inside-outside guy who can play tackle and guard. Maybe the Bucs keep eight guys, but when considering the eight active offensive linemen rule on game day to push rosters to 55, the Bucs will carry nine.

Defensive line (6)

IN: Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, Will Gholston, C.J. Brewer
OUT: Mike Greene, Earnest Brown, Judge Culpepper**, Lwal Uguak, Brandon Matterson**

The skinny: Brewer ends a strong summer with a good game against the Dolphins, which propels him onto the 53. It's certainly fair to wonder if Gholston makes the team, but his motor, experience, and understanding of the defense gets him in, at the end of the day. Brown can slide to the practice squad, probably along with Uguak, to continue their development.

Outside Linebacker (6)

IN: YaYa Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, Chris Braswell*, Jose Ramirez, Markeese Watts
OUT: Shaun Peterson Jr.**, Jay Person**, Daniel Grzesiak**

The skinny: This is another room that's chalk and looks to be a decent rotation if everyone stays healthy. That's a bit worrisome considering both Diaby and JTS have missed time in camp with injuries, but they should be good to go by Week 1. The quartet of Nelson, Braswell, Ramirez, and Watts has the potential to surprise some people outside The Bay if they can continue to develop.

Inside Linebacker (4)

IN: Lavonte David, K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell, SirVocea Dennis
OUT: Vi Jones, Antonio Grier Jr.**, Kalen DeLoach**

The skinny: I initially had DeLoach making the 53, but Brewer's strong game against the Dolphins knocked him out of the picture. That's nothing on DeLoach, either, as the Bucs also typically carry four linebackers since the top-2 play nearly all the snaps. That'll be the case, this year, with LVD and Britt.

Cornerback (6)

IN: Jamel Dean (CB), Zyon McCollum (CB), Tykee Smith * (NB), Bryce Hall, Josh Hayes, Tyrek Funderburk**
OUT: Keenan Isaac, Chris McDonald**, Andrew Hayes

The skinny: Funderburk's out of his boot, but he still didn't play against the Dolphins. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict he'll be ready to go by Week 1, therefore, the Bucs keep him because they have plenty of guys they can mix in at nickel, whereas they don't have nearly as many perimeter options. If Funderburk does start the season on short-term IR, look for Isaac to make the team.

Safety (4)

IN: Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, Tavierre Thomas, Christian Izien
OUT: Rashad Wisdom**, Marcus Banks**, Kaevon Merriweather

The skinny: Thomas easily played his way onto the roster after bouncing back against the Dolphins. It's a toss-up between Izien and Merriweather, who both missed the preseason finale with injuries. I'm going to roll with Izien simply because he can play nickel, if needed.

Specialists (3)

IN: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jake Camarda (P), Zach Triner (LS)
PR: Jalen McMillan*
KR: Kameron Johnson
OUT: Nolan Cooney (P), Evan Deckers (LS)

The skinny: Cooney was clearly never going to take Camarda's job, even if the third-year punter had some off moments during the preseason. Deckers could win the longsnapper job, but the chemistry between Triner and Camarda during field goal holds and just the overall cohesiveness with Triner gets him on the 53. Irving should get the first crack at the kick returner position, but it's really an unknown thanks to the new kickoff rules. As for punt returner, let's go with McMillan since he's so fluid with his movements.

Final Word

A good chunk of the Bucs' roster was already set coming into training camp because of Jason Licht's ability to bring back key free agents like Mayfield, Evans, and others. While that's a good thing, it's not always guaranteed to bring the same results. 2021 as a successful year, but in hindsight, some more fresh blood could've gotten the Bucs past the Rams and possibly back to the Super Bowl.

Regardless, there is plenty of fresh blood on this roster, as a combination of nine draft picks or undrafted rookies make the squad. That raises the Bucs' ceiling, but ultimately, they have to prove they can make things happen on the field.

Overall team health aside, if the EDGE rotation can be effective, the corners continue to develop, and Barton lives up to his first-round billing, then this is certainly a roster that can double-digit games, most likely around 10-11, in 2024.