With Baker Mayfield having developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Jason Licht and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely spend most of their attention and capital on trying to create a defense that can keep pace with their high-flying passing game.
Even after spending some money in free agency to bring in veterans that can boost this defense, the bulk of the work in overturning this roster will come when Licht tries to once again nail it in the NFL Draft.
With the Draft just a few days away, and all signs pointing to Tampa focusing on some of the better defensive prospects in this class, these three players should consider themselves to be on very shaky ground with regard to their status on the depth chart.
These Tampa Bay Buccaneers players are on thin ice ahead of the NFL Draft
SAF Christian Izien
With Jordan Whitehead gone, the expectation is that Izien, who started 10 games last season, could move into his old role. However, if the Bucs are serious about moving Tykee Smith back to the safety position, Izien may find himself out of a role in Todd Bowles' defense.
Considering how even a washed Kirk Cousins was able to throw for 500 yards against this defense, Licht will likely use some of his draft picks on bringing in more defensive backs that can push Izien even further down the depth chart. His best hope for playing time is hoping Smith doesn't convert to safety.
LB Anthony Walker
Walker might be the nominal starting inside linebacker next to the great Lavonte David, but he could easily lose his starting spot in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a few solid linebacker prospects standing out as possible Tampa Bay targets, Walker is by no means locked in as a starter.
Be it South Carolina's Demetrius Knight Jr. in the third round, UCLA's Carson Schwesinger in the second, or Alabama's Jihaad Campbell at No. 19 overall, the need for both an immediate starter and an eventual successor to David in the middle could lead Tampa to bump Walker down a peg on the depth chart.
EDGE Chris Braswell
The Bucs used a Top 60 pick on Braswell with the thought that he could revitalize a lackluster pass rush, but the fact he was unable to break in with a unit that graded out as one of the worst in the league is not a very good sign for the Bucs as they try to retool their defense without spending a ton.
Braswell will be pushed even further down the depth chart this season, as the addition of Haason Reddick and the likelihood that Tampa Bay adds more pass rushers in the first three rounds of the draft has immediately put even more pressure on the former Alabama star to validate himself in this coaching staff's eyes.