In the NFL, it's all about what you are willing to do to make your dreams a reality. For Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, that also means stepping away from what you do best, to give yourself a better opportunity.
Nash Hutmacher is a name few know outside of the Buccaneers' fan base. At 6'4", he is hard to miss, but his career thus far has been on the practice squad. The former Nebraska Cornhusker doesn't want to live his NFL career on the sidelines, so he is making a switch. Moving forward, Hutmacher is switching to offensive guard.
Here's a cool wrinkle: Bucs' Nash Hutmacher is moving from defensive tackle to offensive guard. Nebraska grad is 6-4, 310, spent rookie year on Tampa Bay's practice squad. Last played OL in HS. "The Polar Bear" was also a wrestler at Nebraska. Fun story to watch in training camp.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) May 6, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccanner's DT Nash Hutmacher switches to the offensive side of the ball
The winner in this move may not just be Hutmacher, but also the Buccaneers. Football fans are well aware of players who can play on both sides of the ball, but typically those spots are reserved for wide receivers or a DT that slides over to FB in short-yardage situations.
This move seems far more permanent. Still, the versatility, should it work, could provide the Buccaneers with depth on both sides of the ball, which is roster freedom.
Hutmacker has a ways to go before he can successfully transition to the offense, but it's a clear sign that the young interior lineman isn't going to sit around and hope he can get an opportunity: he is taking it.
The DT has never played on the other side of the ball past high school, but that doesn't mean he can't. If nothing else, his time along the defensive front should prove a valuable asset in his development. As a guard, he will already know how defensive linemen are coached.
Tampa has produced good offensive linemen, and they have good coaching on that side of the ball; that, too, will help Hutmacher's position change.
Over the course of his college career, the Cornhusker played in 49 games during his four seasons at Nebraska. In 2025, he went undrafted and joined the Ravens, but his time in Baltimore lasted only a few days before he joined Tampa.
Will this work? That isn't known, but it's a fantastic experimental opportunity that could give him a chance at taking a forward step in his career while also giving the Buccaneers security.
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