The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent a fifth-round pick on Pittsburgh linebacker SirVocea Dennis during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Through his first three seasons, a combination of injuries and inconsistent play have Dennis sinking to the bottom of the depth chart.
SirVocea Dennis could be on Buccaneers roster bubble entering 2026 season
The Buccaneers have been extremely, if not unrealistically high on Dennis throughout his career.
During the 2025 NFL Draft, they were universally expected to take a linebacker, but opted not to address the position because they were so confident in Dennis as the starter next to Lavonte David last season.
Dennis earned a 49.1 PFF grade, which ranked 72nd out of 88 linebackers. Where he really struggled was in coverage, where he ranked in the bottom five at the position.
Poor coverage at the linebacker spot became the defense’s biggest weakness throughout last season, and the team was forced to address the linebacker spot heavily this offseason.
They signed former Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone in free agency, along with former Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom, and drafted Josiah Trotter in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s important to remember that last season was Dennis’ first year as a full-time starter. He played in only four games in 2024 due to injury, and missed four games of his rookie season due to injury.
Expecting him to be a plus starter might’ve been wishful thinking on the Bucs' part, and at 26 years old, there’s still time for him to reach his potential. He’s still a solid run defender and blitzer, but his coverage needs a ton of work.
But time is running out for Dennis to unlock that next level of his game. The team is in now mode and head coach Todd Bowles is on the hot seat, so there’s no time for patience.
The team added three new linebackers this offseason, so while Dennis will still likely make the roster, he might struggle to get on the field or play a significant role.
Dennis needs a strong offseason, and to make the most of every opportunity he gets. Another poor showing in 2026 will have the team looking for his replacement next offseason.
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