Buccaneers: The right and wrong moves in first round of roster cuts

For better or for worse, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to make roster cuts

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a massive amount of roster cuts beginning Friday morning as they attempt to get the active roster down to 53 to begin the season.

The Buccaneers, who will kickoff the 2020 season in just a little over a week against the New Orleans Saints, made several expected moves but also some unexpected ones, as well in regards to the roster.

Here’s a list of the players who were waived from the roster Friday (so far) as the Buccaneers prepare for the beginning of the season, first reported by The Athletic’s Greg Auman:

Since the inception of the list, defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter has also been informed that he is being waived from the roster. That leaves the Buccaneers with seven cuts to go at the time of this writing.

The right and the wrong moves in the first round of roster cuts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Looking at the moves made by Tampa Bay this preseason, many of them are expected and can’t really be argued with.

It was pretty much a guarantee we were going to see guys like the two tight ends cut with the amount of talent the Bucs possess at that position.

The two most ‘unexpected moves?’ The waiving of K Matt Gay and RB Dare Ogunbowale. Just earlier this week, Bruce Arians talked about both guys in high regard and it seemed as if Gay was at least in line to win the position- even when Ryan Succop was added to the roster for competition.

Ogunbowale was said to be the ‘third down specialist’ and he was also a captain on special teams. When Bruce Arians said that special teams would go a long way in determining the final roster spots, most believed that meant Ogunbowale was safe. However that wasn’t the case.

While I pegged him as a guy that would be cut a couple of days ago when the Bucs signed Leonard Fournette, I still believe that there could’ve been a role for Ogunbowale, especially in how much he contributes on special teams. That being said, you still can’t count this as the ‘wrong move.’

QB Reid Sinnett is expected to be on the practice squad this season and I think that’s the right move.

Overall, when you look at that list, you can’t come up with too many names where you say that the Bucs made a mistake. Instead, it seems they have a good idea of the talent and skill on their roster and are making the moves necessary to get the job done.