Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Three veterans who could be surprise cuts

Ross Cockrell – CB

This isn’t officially predicting that Ross Cockrell, or the next two entries for that matter, will be cut. The thing is though, if any veterans were to be shown the door, there would be some logic behind it.

It would certainly feel strange to see Cockrell go. He’s been in the NFL since 2014 but has been apart of the lives of Buccaneers fans since 2019 when he was with the division-rival Carolina Panthers, and with the Bucs since 2020.

The cornerback position is an interesting one for the Buccaneers. The team has no weakness, but if there’s one unit that we’d absolutely have to say can use some “tweaking” it’d be this one. Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting are a solid duo, albeit with strong safety help and MASSIVE front-seven help. Davis did have four interceptions which lead the team in 2020 though, with Murphy-Bunting adding one of his own. Jamel Dean provides solid depth as does Cockrell who also provides a veteran presence.

Elsewhere there is 2020 undrafted free agent Herb Miller, this year’s seventh-round draft pick Chris Wilcox, and the two veteran free agents in Nate Brooks and Antonio Hamilton. Hamilton, who the Bucs signed from the Kanas City Chiefs, absolutely has a shot at the fourth cornerback spot that Cockrell currently owns. Then there is undrafted free agent Cameron Kinley, who is already putting on a strong showing in mini-camp and is a player to watch.

With all of these new and returning corners, it’s not outside the realm of possibility to say that a veteran reserve like Cockrell may be on the outside looking in when the 2021 regular season finally kicks off, even such a move would potentially turn some heads.