The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had already put together an impressive undrafted free agent class, but it’s one that continues to grow.
Even though we are over three months removed from the NFL Draft, the Bucs add another UDFA as the team sorts through roster decisions at training camp. The Bucs announced deals for rookies Owen Wright and Jaden Smith, both of whom join the offense and crowded position groups.
There’s some method behind the madness, though. As the preseason nears the Bucs are dealing with a slew of injuries at key spots; Chris Godwin is on the PUP list and Trey Palmer, Ryan Miller, and Kam Johnson are all sidelined as well. It’s a situation creates the need for roster depth, which is the driving force behind these signings.
Injuries haven’t hit the running back room nearly as hard, but there’s just as little wiggle room there as there is at wide receiver. Bucky Irving and Rachaad White are the clear cut starters while Sean Tucker is pretty much locked in as the RB3. Perhaps there’s room for another back but it seems unlikely the Bucs would carry a fourth given the other roster battles and needs.
That logic also applies to Smith’s situation in the wide receiver room. Heading into the preseason portion of camp it appears at least three roster spots are locked up between Godwin, Mike Evans, and rookie Emeka Egbuka. A fourth spot is pretty much secured by Jalen McMillan which means that fifth — and likely final — wide receiver roster spot is up for grabs among as many as five players.
Of those guys, rookie Tez Johnson seems to have the inside track to winning a job. There’s a chance the Bucs carry a sixth receiver into the regular season but that might be a spot taken by Palmer.
We’ll see what happens but perhaps the biggest thing to take from all this is we are early in camp and the Bucs are already dealing with injuries that have prompted roster moves. It all seems precautionary but let’s hope it remains that way and nothing more serious happens to take important pieces off the board.
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