Five undrafted free-agents with the best chance of making the Buccaneers roster
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in ‘win-now’ mode and that means they don’t have time to wait around and determine what projects to keep and which ones to let go.
Instead, the Buccaneers must make swift decisions and maintain a roster full of players who can best put them in position to win a championship.
That simply doesn’t bode well for many undrafted free-agents who have the dream of making the roster.
As we continue to prepare for the upcoming season, here are the undrafted free-agents with the best chance of avoiding the cut and potentially making the Buccaneers roster.
5. DE Benning Potoa’e / LB Nasir Player
We’re going to kick off our list with one tie and that happens to be with players that will be competing for spots in the front-seven.
Benning Potoa’e was a linebacker at Washington until being converted to a defensive end during his final season with the Huskies. He finished seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and offers great versatility at the position.
Nasir Player is one of the most talked about and exciting undrafted free-agents for the Buccaneers and there’s certainly a belief that he has the talent to compete for a back-up position at linebacker this season. Player had 14.5 sacks in his career and was absolutely dominant at East Tennessee State.
He’ll have some work to do to make the roster, but there’s certainly promise and potential for both of these guys in the front-seven.
4. WR Josh Pearson
There’s plenty of talent and depth at the wide receiver position for the Buccaneers coming into this season and four of the six open slots for the 53-man roster are already essentially filled with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller and incoming rookie Tyler Johnson.
Those two other spots will have plenty of competition with guys like John Franklin, Justin Watson, Bryant Mitchell and others.
Josh Pearson is one of three undrafted free-agent signings and while many analysts don’t have as much love for him, he has talent and raw skill that just simply can’t be taught.
He’s a big WR- at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds- and he showed his dominance at the FCS level. Don’t be surprised if Pearson becomes one of the leaders during preseason competition as his pure talent becomes more and more prevalent.
3. LB Michael Divinity Jr.
Michael Divinity Jr. has had some off-the-field troubles that led to him not being drafted.
Divinity Jr. served a six-game suspension during his final season at LSU for violating the team’s drug policy and there have been some NFL franchises who were leery on taking a chance on him, despite the obvious talent.
That being said, the Buccaneers elected to make the signing and they won’t be sorry in the end. Divinity Jr. is a guy who has great length and versatility. He played inside and outside linebacker at LSU and he’ll be a nice fit for that 3-4 odd-man scheme.
2. QB Reid Sinnett
Now, hear me out with this one.
I don’t believe that Sinnett is ready to play over Blaine Gabbert or Ryan Griffin, but there’s a reason that the organization elected to sign him: They see potential in him.
Sinnett may only earn a spot on the scout team and he could potentially be the third-string QB if the team elected to cut Gabbert or Griffin.
While it doesn’t seem likely on the surface, I just believe we’re going to see the rookie QB get his opportunity. Bruce Arians is looking past the present and there would be nothing better than finding that diamond in the rough and giving him a chance to develop over the course of the next couple of seasons.
1. CB Parnell Motley
Parnell Motley is one of those players who was an absolute surprise that he didn’t end up drafted.
While Motley certainly wasn’t going to be drafted in the mid-rounds, he showed plenty of talent and ability with Oklahoma.
He finished his career ranked fifth in the school’s history in pass breakups with 33 and was named a first-team All-Big 12 player during the 2019 season.
Motley enters a defensive backfield that has talent, but doesn’t have a ton of proven depth.
He’s going to have an opportunity to make an impact early and earn himself a spot on the roster before it’s all said and done.