Training Camp: These Tampa Bay Buccaneers are firmly on the roster bubble
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2020 season looking to put an end to a 12-year streak of missing the playoffs and there’s certainly a renewed hope.
The Buccaneers brought back every key player from last year’s defense and made the addition of Tom Brady at quarterback, as well as Rob Gronkowski at tight end.
While the Bucs faithful hope to see a major run in the postseason this year, there are several Tampa Bay veterans who are hoping to lock up their roster spot.
Here’s a look at four Buccaneers veterans who are on the roster bubble as we inch closer to the start of training camp.
4. Matt Gay
Matt Gay is the starting kicker heading into the season, but that doesn’t mean he will hold on to that position.
Gay left a lot of points on the field last year, making just 77.1 percent of his kicks and missing five extra-point attempts.
While there is promise surrounding Gay in his second year with the franchise, let’s not pretend that there aren’t doubters. Tampa Bay brought in K Elliott Fry to compete and many believe he has the leg and accuracy to win the job. While Gay still has the inside track, he certainly has pressure heading into training camp to perform at a high level and earn his spot on the roster.
3. Justin Watson
It’s expected that the Buccaneers will take six wide receivers on the regular roster, though there will certainly be room for others with the expansions.
That being said, Justin Watson is simply a name to watch.
The Bucs already have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, rookie Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller as basically guaranteed roster spots. There has been discussion that Bruce Arians may not be all that impressed with Watson- as he was drafted by the previous regime- and that could lead to him being cut and replaced by one of the undrafted free-agents at wide receiver this season.
I believe that Watson will make the roster, but there’s no doubt that he’s on the bubble heading into training camp.
2. Dare Ogunbowale
Dare Ogunbowale may be listed as the second-string running back coming into the season, but that doesn’t mean he will hold on to that spot.
Ogunbowale is expected to be that ‘third-down back’ who fights for the hard yardage, but there’s also growing belief that he simply may not be needed with the selection of Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the NFL Draft.
If Vaughn is able to fill that role and surpass Ogunbowale and if the Bucs ended up signing another veteran running back to a minimal deal- as many have still speculated they will- there simply may not be a spot for Ogunbowale.
That doesn’t even take into account the Bucs’ draft selection of Raymond Calais, who could come in and steal a roster spot.
1. M.J. Stewart
M.J. Stewart has talent, no doubt, but the Buccaneers haven’t figured out a way to use him.
Though he has shown ability, he hasn’t matched the production of his fellow draft mate Carlton Davis and time just seems to be ticking.
Tampa has tried him on the outside. They’ve also lined him up at safety and nickelback and he just hasn’t found a home. Stewart may find himself as the ‘odd-man-out’ before it’s all said and done in that secondary and that could lead to him getting cut.
Stewart is certainly in a ‘prove-it’ year and he enters training camp on the roster bubble needing to step up and find his role on the defense.