Tight End Position Outlook & Which Undrafted Players Could Make the Roster | Bucs Insider

We are back after a little break every time this year, at this time of year, the office is closed, there's not a lot going on, but now we are officially close enough to training camp that we feel like we have this to talk about During that week, were you trying not to think about the fact that when you got back, training camp will be right around the corner a little bit, it's always a little bit like already almost over. But then it's like, but it's exciting that

the whole season is in front of you. And I think training camp is such a fun time, especially for our show, talking about all the different position battles and what the roster is gonna look like. It's it's a very fun time to sort of speculate about that and think about what we're excited to watch at training camp.

And so I know that is the point of training camp in so many ways, is to figure out when you have ninety how you get down to fifty three and you get to watch these maybe some undrafted guys that could sneak in there or different draft picks and what it could look like. So for you, what are the biggest things that you feel like you're going to be watching as it goes from There was really two intertwined major goals of training camp, and you just named

one of them. Take your ninety people that you take into on your roster into camp and fashion the best possible fifty three man regular season roster. And then at the same time, you're trying to get your playbooks installed so you're ready for the Dallas Cowboys and the teams that come after. But first things you have to do is you have to get from fifty three and um, here's an here's a possible way that that could be

laid out, and it might not be exactly this. I do believe the Buccaneers go into camp with a goal of how many they want in each position, but sometimes you have to tweak it here and they're depending on what you have and what you need in players being injury.

You might keep nine offensive linemen or ten defensive backs, or you may have to keep an extra receiver because Chris Godwin isn't quite ready to go, and so you might lose a running back tighten But this is a pretty typical um layout of of how you might get to fifty three by position um. And so you can see by looking at that where the Buccaneers have the least and the most trim. I mean, there's thirteen wide receivers.

Now a lot of those guys are undrafted. You know, there's four or five undrafted free agents, and not to the mean those guys, those undrafted free agents make it almost every year, but not all of them. Right, So and then look at all You've got sixte dbs, you might keep nine, you might keep tents. So there's some things to figure out there. But then at a place like tight end, you've only got six at the moment, and you're probably keeping four, could be five, could be three.

So yeah, yeah, inside Liebracker exact, there's like no fat to trim off that spot, particularly because when you look at it, it's Devin White, Lavante, David, your obvious starters, and then your two draft picks from last year, kJ Britten, Grant Stewart, and then the only other two are a

pair of undrafted free free agents. So you know that that's a spot where if you're in that group, you're feeling pretty good probably, so This just gives you an idea of where the competition is probably gonna be the

most heated. Yeah, that's going to be interesting. And so now one of those spots you mentioned tight end, and we know that's been very talked about, of course because of Gronk and retirement and then people hoping he was just kidding and then him doing another interview that made it sound like he wasn't just kidding, and now you never know, we're just we're always gonna What was that they said about Brady, We're going to leave the light on for you, having I imagine that would be the

case the door unlocked, leave the door unlocked for Gronk. But though he could probably get in even if that's true, that's true, Gronk feels like he can show up no matter what. So now, looking at that, what do you think about the tight end position? If we just let's go with the fact that Gronk doesn't come back, yeah, I mean, it looked like he wasn't having any fun at all. Why would he possibly stay retired? So looking at the fact that he's probably not coming back, now,

what does that mean for this position? Who's on the roster? Do you think they add someone from outside of it. What do you think that position group is going to look like. Well, I've been calling it the ninety man roster because that's what you take to camp, but at the moment, that's only eighty nine after they are released some brandly opinion. So, um, there is a spot open, and you don't leave a spot open. They will sign somebody. It could be another arm draft of fra Age, you

could be anybody, but they will sign somebody. They could use that spot to bring in another tight end. Last year we took seven tight ends in training camp. This year we only had four, I mean six. Um, so they could sign a veteran free agent because right now you have cam Brad, who's great, we love him, He's got like two and thirty five career catches, and then you've got five other guys who have combined for one career catch. So you may love Kadot and you may

love co Keith. He may love these guys, but they're they're not proven. So the Bucks could go, let's get approven option in here and see how what works out best. And I was just looking at the available tight ends that are out there that names you would recognize and this is what he came up with is probably the five most recognizable names that remain unsigned. Um. What jumps out at me here is that most of these guys

are pretty up there. You know, Jared Cook has had a brilli productive career and he even had four yards last year, so he's the most productive of the group from last year. But he's also thirty five and he's basically been mostly a pass catcher, not really much of a blocker. The youngest got on the list is Blake Jarwin. Didn't have a lot of production last year because the Cowboys kind of have focused on Dalton Schultz, but he did a few years ago have a couple productive years,

so maybe that's an option. Eric Ibran and Kyle Rudolph probably better blockers then Jared Cook, So maybe you're looking more in that direction. And I don't know if the Bucks are looking at any of these guys, but these are the most prominent names out there, and they they all have something to offer, but they all have Well, maybe he's a little bit you know, he's a little bit up there, or maybe he's not a great blocker,

or maybe he hasn't had unproduction lately. So um, you know, you just have to judge, is does this guy have something that he can offer the team? Is there more possibly on the bone there than what they showed last year? Do you see pass catching or blocking as being the priory? Because obviously, if somebody is still an unsigned free agent, the odds are they're not incredible at both or they wouldn't be unsigned. So what would you say if someone is better at one the other, which one do you

think the Bucks need more of? Right? I think ideally the Bucks would like to find a tight in who they know can block well and then maybe add something in the passing game, because cam Braid is your number one tied in at the moment, and he's had a great career and he's a good blocker, but he's that's not been the main thing, right His main thing is as catching. He's especially good in the red zone. Um. You know, he's good at moving the chains, he's reliable,

he's got great hands. Uh. You know, we love a lot about cam Bride, but he's had to learn how to block during his NFL career, right, he didn't come in as a blocking tight end. Uh so, um, I think you would want to pair him with a guy that was a good blocker, like if you're doing two tight insets, uh, and then and the guy that could they could give you blocking but also perhaps be a little bit of a threat in the past game. And

that could be kay Doton. It could be and and that's why the Bucks drafted him in the fourth round and and probably felt like they got a little bit of a steel. I know some draft analysts have said that was a little bit of a steel because due a terrible quarterback play at Washington last year and his own injuries, his last year wasn't as productive as the year before when he probably would have gone a little

higher in the draft. So maybe the Buck's got a steel and he's a potential two way tight end, but again it's not proven. Plus he hasn't practiced yet due to coming back from an injury, so it would maybe be nice to have a veteran option in that same mold and then just see which one works out best. Okay.

And then as we talk about some of the different positions we mentioned tight end and some areas that you think guys can need to either step up or what it looks like now as you trim to your fifty three UM we know that JPP no longer part of the team, and so there are definitely some snaps up for grabs in that position room. So how do you see that group shaking out in terms of the number of people that make the roster, who's going to be stepping into the most production. Do you feel like there's

anything that still needs to be added there? You know, last year we got a little bit of a break from this kind of conversation because the Bucks, famously after winning the Super Bowl, brought everybody really was not great for our show. In the off season, we were like, well, it's gonna look like it number last year team. That's

what you got. So generally, camps at every team every year had some battles like at right guard for the Bucks this year, and I mean left guard, and some places where you're expecting a younger guy to step up for a departed veteran, And in this case, I think the most prominent of those is Joe try On Showinka, the first round pick from two thousand twenty one, who is probably going to step in as the other outside

linebacker for Jason Pierre Paul opposite Shack Barrett. Now. Last year, as has been the story that has all the coaches have been telling about Joe from his last year is that they really asked him to play a lot of different positions. They actually play a lot of different roles, and it was tough. It was tough for rookie. It's tough for Rickie to learn and adapt at one spot and to have to play inside and outside and drop

off the ball sometimes. That was a lot on his plate and he produced pretty well, but maybe not as much as you're hoping for this year. Now, presumably he's going to get a shot to stick and to focus at one of the outside linebacker positions, being edge rusher,

and the Buccaneers are hoping he'll blossom in that. And Shack Barrett during the off season during minicamp was glowing about Joe and saying he thinks he's capable of getting double dug sacks this season, which would be cool because we know Shaq Barrett is a very good shot at kidd right. He's done it. He's done it two out of the three years that he's been with the team and just missed it the other year, so you would not be surprised at all. Shack Barrett got inside right

Joe also did that would be too multi multi. Yeah, and the Bucks have only had that twice in their whole history, with Sap and Cheetyana too and two thousand with Sap and Marcus Jones. But it's really actually not all that uncommon. It's happened for at least two teams every year for the fast past nineteen years. I know, I was shocked when I looked at it. I started, I'm gonna go to this graphic first, and I'll get

back to that. But this is a list of all the players in team history who have at least twenty sacks, because I didn't want to include maybe some guy who had one sack in one game or something. Uh. Shack has the highest rate of sacks per game at point eight to uh even a little bit more than Simeon Rice, who has the most decorated pass rusher, him and Lever

semon A those decorated pass rushers in team history. And Shaquille Barrett has more sex per game than than all of them, And if you multiply that out for seventeen games, it's close to fourteen sacks. So he's obviously a very good bet to be good ten. Now getting back to what I was saying before, Um, yeah, two teams like last year, I think it was Pittsburgh in Arizona had at least two guys that had doubleged sex and at least two teams have had that for nineteen straight years.

I started looking it up to see how common it was. I couldn't believe. I had to keep going. It took me in like half an hour. It looked at this not so interesting. I would have not thought that. It also shows how important it is. Yeah, And I think what it really shows is that when you have two good or more than two good edge rushers, they really

help each other. Yeah, because you can't just say we're gonna double team this guy, right, So somebody's always getting a better opportunity when you have a real threat on both sides. And now I think that especially how strongly the Bucks feel about their interior alignment, could also help with that. As you look at what they're gonna have to do about a team Hicks and Vita Via and then hopefully Logan Hall as well. But that's going to also help them. Again, you have two incredible ede dressers

and guys like that in the middle. I would not want to be in an offensive. Yeah, and and then don't don't even sleep on Devin White, who's a great blitz Glenbecker who had nine sacks two seasons ago. Yeah, that's going to be incredible. All right, Well, we're gonna look at us a few of the questions we have here. Um we have let's see, Gerald wanted to know which

receivers do you see us keeping? Okay, yeah, you know what, this is actually the probably the most discussed topic at every single training camp because, like we showed before, there's always a ton of them because there's just they just have so many reps and they're running hard on every place, so you need you need a ton of receivers. So I think we saw we had thirteen. A common total is six. Um, so you know every year and then during camp, one guy will look great for a week

and one guy. It's hard to sustain though, So sometimes you're really excited about something rookie and then by the end of virus you're like, well, yeah, I would say, obviously, I would think there's a decent chance to keep my captains, right, that feels I mean, I know you're going out on a limb here, but yeah, that feels like a good idea. I'm gonna play the odds on Chris Godwin and say he's not ready for the start of the season. Quite ready, but he's not so far away that they want to

put him on PUP. And I thought you were about to say that he wasn't going to be on the team, and I was like no, I was like, I think the big contract we gave them press your opinion on these things. But I was going to say something yes, so um, I would guess that he's not gonna they don't think he's gonna miss the first six games. I hope that's the case, so he won't be on PUP. So I'm playing the eyes in the middle there, which

means he has a roster spot. And then I think the bugge is probably and I'm keeping seven because he's not ready to play. Russell Gage. I think it's pretty much a lock. So then then let's have just lay out what we're talking about here. We're talking about Scotty Miller, We're talking from Jalen Darden, We're talking Brashad Perryman, Tyler Johnson, UH rookie Devin Tompkins had a nice camp. I'm almost

certain I'm forgetting somebody right now. Maybe not. Um, So we got the three I already said, and then all those guys, I guess keep four more Tyler Scottie. I think Jalen probably ends up winning the kick return job again, so he's there for that reason. So that's six. And then one other from among Brashad Perryman, Devin Tompkins. I just feel like I'm forgetting somebody right now, but I hope not. I think, Yeah, that seems like a reasonable group. Okay,

are this is sort of related? Um for some reason. I don't think the name is popping up, but it says from the undrafted Ricky Wide receivers and dbs, who

do you think has the best chance of making the roster? Yeah? Well, I mean the best evidence that we have on the receivers is that Coach Bowls when asked about, you know, some young guys that had stood out, and generally with questions like that, he answers more broadly, like a lot of guys did well, right, because if you point out one guy, then you're not pointing out of the guys. And sometimes you don't even want people to know someone's

doing really well. You want to stash him on your practice squad, or you're wanting to the guys the guys that you don't want people talking about, aren't the guys you know we're going to make the team, or the guys that you're pretty sure aren't gonna make the teams, the guys in the bubble you don't want people finding

out about them. But coach specifically brought up the young undrafted rickie out of Utah or Utah State Devin Tompkins, who had just enormous numbers last year, as did a bunch of our undrafted free agent right receivers, and he apparently really impressed during O t s and minicamp, and coach says he was very excited to see what he

does in training camp when the pad's gone. So on the other side, I think you'd have to go with the North Carolina cornerback Tyler Mingmichael because of all the undrafted free agents at the buck and your signed and we don't really get into numbers of salaries very much. That's kind of almost like a team policy, like we don't talk about guys salaries. Let's say they got a

big contract, like Chris Godwin or something like that. But we do know that of all the undrafted Brookies whom you can give any amount of signing bonus that you want to, essentially that he got by far the highest signing bonus, which is guaranteed money, because you've already given it to him, right, So he got by far the most guaranteed money of any of the guys at the Buck in your sign which means he was a very coveted guy, and among not just Bucks but other teams.

So this is a guy that obviously comes in with, you know, a lot of expectations, not necessarily to make the team, but he would probably have the best chance, I would think contract stuff. James had asked how much cap space is the team sitting on the last time I looked at was about eleven or twelve million. It will probably cost you know, a couple to get our last two uh drafting guys under contract. But it's somewhere around that eleven or twelve million, which is not a

terrible number. I think I remember seeing it was right about the middle of the pack like in the league in terms of cap space. And you think about that, you go, okay, well, what are we going to spend that on? Before the season starts and maybe that happen. We talked about maybe signing it tied end. But also it's not the end of the world to go into the season with a little cap space left over. A because if you're in the thick of it and you need to make a trade, you have some cap space

to work with. And b if you if you don't spend the cap space, you can roll it over to the next year, so you don't have to rush out and make sure that you use every penny of your cap space. All Right, we'll close with this. Re Que said, who is projected to start opposite Winfield Jr. That's a very good question, and I think the answer isn't going

to be just one name. Um, you could make it simple and say Antoine Winfield is probably the starting free safety either a little bit interchangeable in this defense and in most defenses nowadays. But I think when Winfield would be a great strong safety, but his his awareness and the way he cleans up plays as a free safety are just too important to move him. So Jordan Whitehead was basically more of the same strong safety has departed, so you look at who's more of a Jordan white

antipe player. It's definitely so it could be Kean O'Neil, right, because he's more as a linebacker at the point that

he's a hitter and he's good in the box. But Mike Edwards is obviously such a good ball hawk, and coaches have said this offseason that they became more um, what's the word I'm looking for, the more confident in his open field tackling, which may have been a bit of an issue for him earlier in his career, but as he gets better at that, then you check it off and you're like, you don't worry about him putting. As you've seen he's he often switched with Jordan Whitehead

and came in in more obvious passing time. Can you leave him in for every down even expected running downs? So if you just want to make it a one to one competition, it would probably be Kean O'Neil and Mike Edward. But what I think will probably more likely happen is that the Buccaneers will have a variety of packages using the versatility of guys like Mike Edwards and Logan Ryan, and you have Cannon Neil and I think you're just going to see different sub packages interesting, so

it's not maybe just one answer to this question. Okay, well that's gonna do it for us with Buccaneers inside our Live presented by Miller Lte. Thanks so much for the awesome questions and for being with us, and we'll see you next week.