Rakeem Nuñez-Roches is back in Tampa Bay with a clearer sense of what he can bring to the Buccaneers now than when he first left.
At 33, the veteran defensive tackle believes his game is still very much on the rise, not in decline. That confidence comes after a three-year run with the New York Giants that produced his best season yet in 2024, when he piled up a career-high 52 tackles and added three sacks.
Nuñez-Roches said the breakthrough in New York was about everything clicking at once, and he pointed to the influence of defensive line coach Andre Patterson and former teammate Dexter Lawrence.
“Between my run technique, the things I learned over the course of time with AP, as far as the pass rush,” Nuñez-Roches said after Sunday’s training camp practice. “Looking at it differently. Even the things Dexter Lawrence used to tell me about, weight distribution of the shoulders.”
That growth matters now because Tampa Bay’s defensive line is dealing with uncertainty. Vita Vea requested a trade last Monday after entering training camp without a contract extension, leaving the Buccaneers with a possible hole in the middle if the star defensive tackle is moved.
Nuñez-Roches could be part of the answer. He spent five seasons in Tampa Bay before heading to New York, and Todd Bowles was his defensive coordinator for the final four of those years. That familiarity gives the Buccaneers a player who already knows the demands of Bowles’ aggressive system.
And with Bowles built around getting after the quarterback, Nuñez-Roches’ development as an interior pass rusher gives Tampa Bay another option inside if the need becomes real.
He’s also taking on a different kind of job at camp: veteran guide. Younger players are leaning on him, and he’s been answering questions while showing them what it means to keep grinding.
The Buccaneers have some young talent making noise, too. Outside linebacker David Walker has stood out in camp, and Nuñez-Roches said it looks like he wins almost every snap, calling him “something serious.”
In Other News...
Bucs Preseason QB Plan Suddenly Looks A Lot Less Certain
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Brownings status now bears watching because Tampa Bay had been counting on a relatively straightforward rotation at quarterback. If he cant go, the Buccaneers may have to redistribute those reps in a hurry, and Jalon Daniels is among the names that could be asked to handle more of the workload if the situation lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Joint Practice Turned Ugly And Luke Goedeke Is Central
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Luke Goedeke ended up in the middle of the days most notable flashpoint, with reports saying the Buccaneers right tackle threw a Jets players helmet a long way after the initial scuffle. Another altercation followed between Jets defensive tackle Darrell Jackson and a Bucs offensive lineman, and the escalating tension was enough to shut down the teams planned second joint practice. [Read more 🡒]
Gruden Just Added Intrigue To The Bucs Baker Mayfield Future
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Gruden has made no secret of his admiration for Mayfield, and it is easy to see why the fit keeps drawing attention around Tampa Bay. Even if a reunion remains a long shot, the idea of Gruden scheming for a quarterback of Mayfields caliber adds a fresh layer to the Bucs next-coach talk, because it invites the question of how much more could be unlocked if the team ever decided to change voices again. [Read more 🡒]