Heading into this season, the Bucs have three established names within the secondary – security Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean, who was re-signed this offseason. However in addition to these three, who within the secondary could be counted on?
The group has introduced in loads of younger gamers, however how will they be capable of contribute and substitute the manufacturing of quite a few veteran losses? Throughout the roster in Tampa Bay, the group has gotten youthful and quicker, however it’s as much as some gamers to comprehend their potential and shock.
Bucs Want To Substitute Key Veteran DB Losses
Bucs Ss Logan Ryan, Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Mike Edwards – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
With the cap scenario leaving them in a tough spot, it was at all times going to be unattainable to convey again everybody.
The Bucs did effectively to re-sign Dean to a market-friendly contract, nevertheless it meant saying goodbye to many defensive backfield members, together with two from the Tremendous Bowl LV-winning squad.
Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (Titans) and safeties Mike Edwards (Chiefs), and Keanu Neal (Steelers) have all moved on to new groups. Logan Ryan remains to be a free agent and will return, however his full-time starter days are behind him. Ought to Ryan not re-sign, between the 4 of them, which means changing 31 begins, 213 mixed tackles, and 6 of the group’s 10 interceptions final season, which was far few too for the group’s liking.
That’s a variety of manufacturing on paper, and it’s unclear the place it should come from but.
The place Does The Bucs’ Depth Chart Stand At Cornerback?
So the place does that go away the secondary? Let’s check out the present depth chart at cornerback first, with the presumed starters in daring and presumed backups unbolded.
Cornerback:
1. Carlton Davis III
2. Jamel Dean
3. Zyon McCollum
4. Dee Delaney
Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
At cornerback, the Bucs have probably the greatest duos in Davis and Dean. Each are 26, and every shall be a beginning exterior cornerback for the following couple of seasons. Though each are strong starters and value their respective paydays, neither performed all 17 video games final yr.
Davis appeared in 13 video games and has not performed a full season since being drafted in 2018. Ditto for Dean, somebody who solely turned a full-time starter in 2022.
Whereas these two have their very own query marks relating to sturdiness, it will get murkier past them from an experience-level standpoint.
Tampa Bay thought extremely of Zyon McCollum, buying and selling what would have been a fourth-rounder this yr to pick him within the fifth spherical final yr. Whereas some late-round cornerbacks in his class blossomed (Tariq Woolen, DaRon Bland), McCollum spent a variety of time as a backup and had rising pains relating to his tackling and protection.
Nonetheless, his athleticism makes it simple to get enthusiastic about his potential. Ought to he take the following step, he’s a lanky cornerback who will again up Davis and Dean, who’ve had drawback staying wholesome, or maybe see a while at nickelback. As Antoine Winfield Jr. settles again into his customary free security function, that could be a place for grabs.
The place Does The Bucs’ Depth Chart Stand At Nickel Cornerback?
Let’s check out the present depth chart at nickelback subsequent, with the presumed starters in daring and presumed backups unbolded.
Nickelback:
1. Dee Delaney
2. Josh Hayes
3. Chris Izien
In addition to the younger guys, the one different returning veteran within the room is the versatile Dee Delaney. Delaney can play cornerback and security, however he may even see most of his enjoying time as an additional cornerback on passing downs. He was first rate final yr coming in when accidents arose and has expertise enjoying underneath head coach Todd Bowles. That has worth, however being a depth man is his possible ceiling. Delaney is presently the beginning nickelback, however that may possible change in coaching camp because the group’s rookies rise up to hurry in Todd Bowles’ protection.
One other contender for that job is Josh Hayes, the Bucs’ sixth-round choice again in late April. Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo lately profiled him and what he brings to the desk, however it’s unfair to count on him to hit the bottom operating.
He has expertise enjoying as a slot nook, however like McCollum, he should work on his tackling. As Queipo famous in that article, Hayes was credited with 21 missed tackles and an extremely excessive 21.9% missed deal with charge at Kansas State in 2022.
Coming from Rutgers, Chris Izien had encouraging and constant manufacturing. His mixed tackles ranged between 65 and 85 in his 4 seasons there, and in simply 9 video games in 2020, he had 4 interceptions. Having 4.43 pace aids his trigger, as does his aggressive play fashion. Safeties coach Nick Rapone commented earlier this offseason that he performs “along with his hair on hearth.”
The place Does The Bucs’ Depth Chart Stand At Security?
Let’s end up with a have a look at the present depth chart at security, with the presumed starters in daring and presumed backups unbolded.
Free Security:
1. Antoine Winfield Jr
2. Chris Izien
3. Josh Hayes
Sturdy Security:
1. Ryan Neal
2. Kaevon Merriweather
3. Josh Hayes
Every security place has a high-level starter, however the depth behind them has a complete of 1 profession NFL deal with. Winfield and Neal, like Davis and Dean, may show to be a potent duo, particularly if Neal has a breakout season.
Bucs DB Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Winfield is without doubt one of the extra underrated gamers within the league, particularly on the defensive facet of the ball. He makes performs all around the area and, as talked about, he shall be doing so again at free security. From protection to run help and even getting after the quarterback (4 sacks in 2022), he’s a jack-of-all-trades participant.
Down the stretch final season, Neal graded out as one of many league’s greatest safeties. The Bucs did effectively to amass him on a low-cost deal, and he has the prospect to be one of many greatest bargains from free company.
Behind them, questions come up. Nolan Turner returns as somebody the group likes and has chosen to maintain round. However he’s unproven and spent a lot of final season being elevated up and down from the observe squad.
Like Izien, Kaevon Merriweather comes into Tampa Bay as an undrafted participant trying to make the group. With the security room depth barren earlier than their arrival, every could have the prospect to.
Merriweather had some buzz as being a Day 3 decide however in the end went undrafted. He discovered an ideal alternative with the Bucs, and if he retains enhancing as he did at Iowa, he has a robust likelihood to make the roster. He might not ‘wow’ anybody along with his pace or athleticism, however he can carve out a job as a bodily participant and a high-character man and somebody who can fill in. Bowles commented after OTAs this week about what he sees in them and their potential match on the roster.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“On movie, what we favored about them [is] they’re each very bodily gamers,” Bowles mentioned. “They’re each superb open-field tacklers – we like that about them. The psychological half, they’re getting down. Clearly, each guys are studying two totally different positions.
“Izien is studying robust [safety] and nickel and Merriweather is studying each security spots – it’s a bit bit a lot. I like their research habits, I like the way in which they impart on the sector. I feel they’re getting it.”
After shedding a number of members within the defensive backfield, the secondary, like the remainder of the roster, is being neglected from the surface. Loads of expertise stays, however the depth shall be examined this season.
If the secondary can substitute the misplaced manufacturing and have a strong yr, it should drastically support the Bucs’ capability to remain in video games and decide up some wins. With that in thoughts, they may look to exit and show their doubters mistaken.
“I find it irresistible, I like being an underdog,” Winfield mentioned this week after observe. “It’s at all times nice that manner, it’s higher.”
