Last year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers absolutely crushed the undrafted free agent market, with the team carrying nearly 20 players into training camp. Christian Izien stood out as not only the best UDFA that the Bucs signed but also a guy who worked his way into a starting role almost immediately.
That's the vibe the Bucs are hoping to ride into this year's class, as a repeat of how well the team did last season is very much in the cards.
Youth was an overall theme last season, as the Bucs had nearly two dozen rookies come to camp and generally have success. While Izien was an undrafted star, guys like Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby took important steps toward becoming high-impact players moving forward.
Payne Durham, Trey Palmer, and SirVocea Dennis also had important rookie seasons, and UDFAs like Sean Tucker and Kaevon Merriweather also found themselves playing meaningful minutes.
That was all by design, too. The Bucs didn't get so many rookies involved by accident, although injuries did cut into the roster. An effort was made to inject the roster with a shot of youth and it worked out fantastically.
Not every UDFA class is as great as the one Tampa Bay had last season, but some of the best players in NFL history have been mined from the leftovers of drafts past. Kurt Warner, Adam Vinatieri, Drew Pearson, and James Harrison all went undrafted but went on to have Hall of Fame careers (although Vinatieri is still waiting).
Nobody is expecting that out of the Bucs draft class, but it's a reminder that diamonds are out there and waiting to be found.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted free agent tracker 2024 (Updated)
Note: This list will be updated live with the latest UDFA signings the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make.
Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|
Marcus Banks | CB | Mississippi State |
Tyrek Funderburk | CB | Appalachian State |
Zack Annexstad | QB | Illinois State |
Judge Culpepper | DT | Toldeo |
Kalen DeLoach | LB | Florida State |
Zack Mathis | WR | North Dakota State |
Daymond Williams | DT | Buffalo |
John Dietl | TE | Shorter University |
Nolan Potter | OT | Northern Illinois |
Chris McDonald | CB | Toldeo |
Antonio Grier | LB | Arkansas |
Brendan Gates | TE | Kentucky |
Avery Jones | C | Auburn |
Daniel Grzesiak | EDGE | Cincinnati |
Rashad Wisdom | S | UTSA |
Xavier Delgado | OG | Missouri |
Shaun Peterson Jr | DE | UCF |