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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Breaking down depth at safety position

By Cory Kinnan

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Justin Evans #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after defending a pass in the second quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Justin Evans #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after defending a pass in the second quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, SC – SEPTEMBER 16: Defensive back Mike Edwards #7 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates an interception against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/GettyImages)
COLUMBIA, SC – SEPTEMBER 16: Defensive back Mike Edwards #7 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates an interception against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Todd Bennett/GettyImages) /

The Rookies:

Third round pick Mike Edwards is all the talk at camp right now as he has picked up the playbook quickly and was being used in a variety of ways on the Buccaneers’ defense during mini-camps. When speaking with The Athletic’s Greg Auman, he had this to say about the former Kentucky Wildcat:

"“[Edwards] can do a lot for this team. He could be the starting safety, he could be a part of the nickel package… Mike is a really smart guy who understands the defense” (Auman via The Pewter Plank)."

Again, Bowles deploys a variety of packages featuring multiple defensive backs, and Edwards looks to be a key contributor in those disguises as well as having a chance to beat out Whitehead and Brice for the starting job opposite Evans. While the pick was questionable on day-two of the draft, it is already paying dividends for Tampa Bay early on.

Next. Buccaneers: 4 heated camp battles to watch closely. dark

The Buccaneers also signed two undrafted free agents in Lukas Denis and D’Cota Dixon this offseason to potentially compete for a roster spot. Both went undrafted, and it is a deep room, so these two will have to show a ton of versatility and willingness to play special teams if they want to hang around in Tampa Bay.

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