NFL coaching camps are virtually right here. The Buccaneers start their program with rookies reporting on July 22 at AdventHealth Coaching Middle in Tampa and veterans becoming a member of a day in a while July 23.
This is a take a look at three place battles that could possibly be probably the most heated.
Left guard
Projected starter: N/A
Gamers to observe: Ben Bredeson, Sua Opeta, Lorenz Metz, Xavier Delgado
It is an open competitors for the beginning left guard function on Tampa Bay’s offense. On the staff website’s unofficial depth chart, left guard is the one offensive place with out a starter listed.
2024 free-agent additions Bredeson and Opeta headline the competitors. In late Could, Fox Sports activities NFC South reporter Greg Auman shared that Opeta started Tampa’s offseason exercises with the first-team offense.
He is detailed because the projected starter on the staff’s Professional Soccer Focus depth chart, whereas ESPN lists Bredeson because the No. 1.
Primarily based on each’s manufacturing final season, it is apparent why the Bucs would wait to call a starter.
Bredeson was one of many worst guards in soccer final season, per PFF. Amongst 82 guards to play at the least 300 snaps in 2023, the previous Big was the 72nd-ranked pass-blocker and 78th in run-blocking.
PFF knowledge exhibits that Opeta was solely marginally higher with the Eagles. He allowed 25 whole pressures and three sacks in 311 pass-rush alternatives. His 57.9 pass-block grade ranked forty eighth, and he acquired a fair worse grade (50.2) as a run-blocker, rating sixty fourth.
The Bucs added Metz through the league’s Worldwide Participant Pathway Program and Delgado as an undrafted free agent. Whereas neither has performed an NFL snap, might each be that a lot worse than Bredeson and Opeta had been? If that’s the case, scouting could be the larger situation in Tampa.
Exterior linebacker (3-4 protection)
Projected starters: Yaya Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Gamers to observe: Randy Gregory, Chris Braswell
Diaby had a wonderful rookie season in 2023, ending fifth in Protection Rookie of the 12 months voting after recording 7.5 sacks, forcing one fumble and recovering two. He started the season as a backup however began the ultimate 9 video games, together with the playoffs.
Tryon-Shoyinka, Tampa’s first-round choose in 2021, had a career-high 5 sacks. Nonetheless, after beginning the primary 11 video games, he was moved to the second unit and performed lower than half of the staff’s defensive snaps the remainder of the season.
The Bucs added former Broncos and Cowboys edge-rusher Gregory in free company and drafted Braswell within the second spherical (No. 57 total) of April’s draft. Whereas Diaby’s spot ought to be protected, both one might squeeze Tryon-Shoyinka out of a beginning function.
Broad receiver (11 personnel)
Projected starters: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer
Gamers to observe: Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan
Evans and Godwin are entrenched as Tampa Bay’s high two wideouts. Evans had his tenth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2023 and is one shy of matching Jerry Rice’s all-time report for many by a large receiver in NFL historical past.
In the meantime, Godwin has 4 1,000-yard seasons since 2019, and his 5,323 yards throughout that span ranks because the league’s Thirteenth-most, per Stathead.
The battle to observe is the one figuring out who would be the third extensive receiver in units with one tight finish and one operating again.
Palmer is the incumbent and completed final season with 39 receptions, 385 yards and three touchdowns.
The entrance workplace took a flier out on Shepard, a former faculty teammate of quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2015 at Oklahoma. Accidents have derailed his once-promising profession, however his rapport with Mayfield cannot be denied. Throughout their season collectively, Shepard had 86 receptions, 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Rookie McMillan, chosen within the third spherical (No. 92 total), is arguably the larger risk to Palmer’s put up. In a pre-draft analysis, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote that whereas the previous Washington Huskie should “show he can deal with the physicality of enjoying inside on the subsequent stage… he has three-level potential as a cross catcher and will likely be an intriguing possibility for a staff that prioritizes size and pace from the slot.”
Whereas Godwin has primarily stuffed the slot function throughout his profession, he lined up out extensive on 61.6 p.c of his snaps in 2023, his highest price since 2018. If the Bucs select to maintain Godwin on the skin, McMillan could possibly be their finest third possibility.
