3 sleepers who will be key pieces of the Buccaneers success this season

With the final 53-man roster set, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin preparing for their season-opening game against the Washington Commanders. With a chance to win their fourth straight NFC South division title, Tampa Bay is set up to do so under quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles.

Part of the reason fans should have confidence is the fact that several players made an instant impact in preseason, many of whom using their performances to lock up roster spots.

Not everyone who stood out made the final roster, but it's impossible to see any of the top performers not sticking around whether it be on the practice squad or on the sidelines every Sunday afternoon.

WR Cody Thompson

With Todd Bowles benching the majority of the Bucs' starters in the preseason, Thompson has quickly shined as one of the team's starting wide receivers. After a three-catch, 26-yard performance in Tampa Bay's 17-14 win over Cincinnati, Thompson caught five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville.

Thompson ended the preseason on a strong note, totaling 45 yards on seven catches in the preseason finale against Miami. At 6'2" and 205 pounds, Thompson has worked on the outside and in the slot in the preseason, and has impressed in both roles.

“He’s really one of the guys we wanted to see tonight,” Bowles said. “He got a lot of time. He got a lot of plays. He made a lot of plays. Got to look at the totality of it, but he showed up. The lights weren’t too big for him. He knows assignment football. He understands the game, and he catches in traffic.”

His performance coming just days before of the final 53-man roster cut, the only wide receivers that made the cut are Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan, Kam Johnson. With a strong showing in preseason, Thompson may have locked himself in as an important piece of the practice squad.