3 position battles that will define Buccaneers training camp

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can already pencil in much of their depth chart and 53-man roster. 

While many players enter training camp with defined roles for the 2026 season, several others will be battling for starting jobs or simply fighting to earn a spot on the roster.

Three position groups in particular feature training camp battles worth keeping an eye on. 

3 position battles to watch at Buccaneers training camp 

Benjamin Morrison vs. Jacob Parrish for starting outside cornerback job

Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish were Jason Licht’s Day 2 picks during the 2025 NFL draft. Tampa Bay selected Morrison in the second round and Parrish in the third. 

Parrish earned the starting nickel cornerback job during his rookie season, while Morrison was a part of the outside cornerback rotation. 

Morrison missed seven games due to injury as a rookie, and sat out of OTAs due to a nagging leg issue. His injury concerns have made Parrish the leader in the clubhouse to win the starting job opposite Zyon McCollum, but the battle won’t be decided until the pads come on during training camp and potentially the preseason. 

Jake Browning, Jalon Daniels, and Connor Bazelak battle for QB2 and QB3 

Jake Browning is the clear frontrunner to win the backup quarterback job behind Baker Mayfield.

Browning has been in the NFL since 2019 and has made 10 career starts. That experience alone gives him a significant edge over the rest of the quarterback room. 

Jalon Daniels is a raw, developmental undrafted rookie, while Connor Bazelak enters his second season after spending his rookie year on the practice squad. 

Still, this is a battle worth monitoring. Daniels has been one of the biggest standouts through rookie minicamp and OTAs, and he has a lot of believers within the organization.

The team also valued Bazelak enough to bring him back for a second season, giving him another opportunity to compete for a roster spot. 

While Browning is the heavy favorite for the backup job, Daniels and Bazelak have plenty at stake. The QB3 job, a practice squad spot, and potentially the long-term backup quarterback role could be on the line based on their performances during training camp and the preseason. 

Chris Braswell vs. Anthony Nelson battle for the final edge rusher spot 

The Buccaneers bolstered their outside linebacker room this offseason, and it’s suddenly one of the deepest position groups on the roster. 

The additions of rookie Rueben Bain Jr. and veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad, along with the return of promising 2025 draft pick David Walker from injury,  have pushed Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson down to the bottom of the depth chart.

If the Buccaneers keep five outside linebackers as they did last year, Braswell and Nelson appear to be competing for the fifth and final spot. 

Braswell has failed to live up to expectations as a former second-round pick, totaling just 2.5 sacks through two seasons in Tampa Bay. 

Nelson, on the other hand, has been a reliable contributor since being drafted by the Buccaneers in 2019. He’s recorded at least 3.0 sacks in five consecutive seasons, and enters training camp with the clear edge over Braswell. 

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