The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released their initial 53-man roster on Sunday, but they’re already making changes and adding players let go by other teams, as is par for the course around the NFL.
The Buccaneers claimed cornerback Kevin Knowles through waivers after he was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs. Knowles is only 23 years old and was a core special teams coordinator for the Chiefs last season.
By bringing him in, Tampa Bay could be signalling their intention to move on from one of their longtime special teams aces.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers could move on from Josh Hayes after adding Kevin Knowles
The Buccaneers drafted cornerback Josh Hayes in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s set to enter his fourth season with the team.
Hayes has struggled defensively, but he’s managed to stick around as a gunner on special teams. He led the NFL in special teams tackles his rookie season with 14, and has remained a solid contributor ever since.
According to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, Knowles is in a similar boat, playing 231 snaps on special teams and notching 10 special teams tackles last season as a rookie. He’s a homegrown Florida talent, having attended FSU where he played nickel cornerback and also stepped in at safety.
The Bucs were likely enamored with his versatility and special teams ability, because they liked him enough to claim him off waivers and give him an instant roster spot. That could spell trouble for Hayes.
Hayes is entering the season on the injured reserve, so he doesn’t currently count against the 53-man roster limit until after the team’s first four regular-season games. When he’s back healthy, the team will have to make a decision on which player they want to keep around as a primary special teams contributor.
Knowles will have to make a strong first impression during the first four weeks of the season to stick around for the long haul. Tampa Bay has a deep cornerback room with Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish, Benjamin Morrison, Keionte Scott, and Ayden Garnes — along with veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting on the practice squad.
If the team is going to bring a player into that room exclusively for special teams, they better be an incredible player for that unit.
For now, Hayes has the advantage of familiarity and a proven track record in Tampa Bay. But Knowles gives the Buccaneers a younger, versatile alternative. His performance early in the season during Hayes’ absence could determine who ultimately gets the nod.
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