Todd Bowles came away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ preseason opener with a name he wanted to highlight, and it wasn’t one of the more obvious flash-play performers.
After reviewing the film from Tampa Bay’s win over the New York Jets, Bowles pointed to undrafted rookie linebacker Caden Fordham as a player who made a real impression. The Bucs’ coach said Monday that Fordham stood out at a position group with plenty of competition.
“I thought [Caden] Fordham had a heck of a ballgame at the linebacker spot and we don’t talk about him much with the depth there as well but I thought he played very well,” Bowles said.
Fordham backed up that praise with production in his NFL debut. He finished with three total tackles, including one tackle for loss, and added a pass defensed.
The linebacker arrived in Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent after five seasons at N.C. State, where he played in 48 games and piled up 252 total tackles. His college résumé also included 18 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Fordham also brings a little history with him to Raymond James Stadium. In his final college season, his Wildcats won the Gasparilla Bowl on the Buccaneers’ home field, and Fordham was named the game’s MVP after making 13 tackles and intercepting a pass. That made him the first defensive player ever to win the award.
Even with that strong showing against the Jets, the path to the 53-man roster is steep. Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom are all ahead of him at inside linebacker, and Tampa Bay kept only four players at that spot last season.
If the Buccaneers stick with that number again, Fordham would have to force his way into a fifth linebacker job and beat out Nick Jackson, John Bullock and Javin Wright for the chance.
For now, the more realistic path may be the practice squad, where Fordham can keep stacking good days and stay in the mix for a future role. On a 90-man roster packed with bodies, he already did the part that matters most early: he got noticed.
In Other News...
Jason Licht Faces Real Pressure As Costly Bucs Deals Backfire
The Buccaneers are starting to feel the weight of a few expensive bets, with CBS Sports putting Chris Godwin and Cade Otton on its All-Overpaid team. Both players were brought in to be important parts of the offense, but their contracts now stand out for all the wrong reasons as Tampa Bay works through the realities of roster building and cap management.
Godwins case is especially frustrating because injuries have kept him from delivering the kind of week-to-week impact the Bucs expected, while Otton has not produced at a level that matches his deal. With more contract decisions looming and a possible rebuild on the table if the Baker Mayfield situation cannot be settled, Jason Licht is entering a stretch where the margin for error is getting a lot thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Roster Battle Just Got More Crowded With Two New Additions
The Buccaneers have added two more names to the mix as roster competition continues to take shape ahead of the 2026 season. Tampa Bay signed safety Robert McDaniel and running back Barika Kpeenu, giving the team another look at a pair of players with different paths to the NFL, while moving on from defensive back Marcus Banks and running back Kadarius Calloway.
McDaniel arrives after a stint on the Washington Commanders' practice squad, and Kpeenu brings a college rsum from North Dakota State. For both players, the next step is straightforward enough: earn a spot on the roster or at least stick around on the practice squad, which is exactly the kind of depth battle the Buccaneers have kept churning through as they sort out the bottom of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Josiah Trotter Is Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Bucs Role
Josiah Trotter has spent training camp looking like more than a rookie trying to find his footing. The Buccaneers second-round pick has drawn notice for his physical style and feel for the game, earning steady praise from teammates and coaches while making a case that he belongs in the conversation right away.
The bigger picture is hard to miss for Tampa Bay. Trotter is being viewed as a possible long-term defensive leader, the kind of player who could line up with Rueben Bain Jr. as part of the teams next core, and he is also in the mix for meaningful snaps this season. With Lavonte David now retired, the Bucs are looking for the next linebacker who can carry that standard, and Trotter has already shown enough veteran-like polish to keep that search interesting. [Read more 🡒]