Tampa Bay’s first 53-man roster says a lot about where the team chose to spend its depth this year. The Buccaneers loaded up in the trenches, but that approach left the secondary looking thin, and it’s hard to ignore how risky that feels heading into the season.
The Bucs kept 10 offensive linemen and seven interior defensive linemen, a clear sign they wanted insurance up front. That makes some sense on the offensive side, where four of the five starters missed at least five games last season.
If those starters stay upright, Tampa Bay could have one of the league’s best lines. But that kind of depth is expensive, and over the course of a season, it usually gets tested.
On defense, the additions were just as aggressive. Tampa Bay brought in A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who is back for a second stint with the club, and also drafted DeMonte Capehart in the fifth round. With that much talent packed into the front, the Bucs were always going to have some difficult decisions to make.
Those decisions led to the part of the roster that stands out the most: only eight defensive backs.
That group breaks down to five cornerbacks and three safeties, which is a lean number for a league built around the pass. Offenses keep finding ways to put more catchers on the field, and defensive backs get hurt as often as almost anyone else. It is not hard to see why carrying so few at that spot could come back to bite Tampa Bay.
The safety group is especially light on proven defensive impact. Miles Killebrew made the team, but his value has long been tied to special teams.
He has never been a major defensive piece, and over his last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he played a total of nine defensive snaps. The Bucs also passed on keeping Rashad Wisdom or Ifeatu Melifonwu, a choice they may end up questioning.
The cornerback room brings its own set of questions. Zyon McCollum is now the de facto CB1, and Tampa Bay needs the version of him that flashed early in his career rather than the one who struggled through an extremely disappointing 2025 season.
Jacob Parrish has to adjust after moving from the slot to the outside, where he played last season as Tampa Bay’s slot corner. Ayden Garnes has been one of the team’s best stories and most intriguing players over the last several weeks, but now the undrafted rookie will be facing much tougher competition under much brighter lights.
Keionte Scott’s status adds another layer of uncertainty. The fourth-round rookie hurt his ankle in Tampa’s ugly 19-0 preseason-ending loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Bucs need that injury to heal cleanly before the season begins. Scott’s arrival is also the reason Parrish moved positions, so the timing makes the situation even more awkward.
Then there’s Benjamin Morrison, who may be the most talented of Tampa Bay’s five corners, but who also carries the biggest health concerns. Last year’s second-round pick has battled injuries in pro football, in college at Notre Dame, and even in high school.
He finally returned to practice after the latest setback, which came at the start of OTAs, and this season feels pivotal for him. Staying on the field would mean a lot for his career.
If all five corners answer their questions, Tampa Bay could end up with one of the league’s most talented groups at the position. Right now, though, that’s a lot of ifs for a roster carrying so little margin for error.
It’s hard not to think the Buccaneers are taking a gamble by keeping only eight defensive backs. Even if every one of them were established, that number still feels tight. With the mix of injuries and inexperience in the secondary, the Bucs are flirting with trouble.
Jason Licht and Todd Bowles should be active on the waiver wire, and if Tampa Bay wants help, there is at least one name out there. Jacksonville cut 24-year-old cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, who had a strong offseason after spending his entire rookie season on the practice squad.
In Other News...
Bucs Suddenly Have A Week 1 Concern They Can't Ignore
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There is still optimism both players could be available, but the situation is enough to keep Tampa Bay on alert this early in the week. Todd Bowles said he will take another look at their status next week, and until then the Bucs are left waiting to see whether two important pieces of their passing attack can get back on the field in time. [Read more 🡒]
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Since then, Sanders has turned his attention to music, releasing a rap album called World of Headache that leans into the incident and even includes appearances from his father and brother. For a player who spent five college seasons at South Carolina, Jackson State and Colorado, the football side of the story may have paused for now, but his name is still finding a way back into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Just Added A Quarterback Twist To Their Practice Squad
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Stick brings some NFL experience to the room after appearing in six league games, and his path also includes a long run at North Dakota State. The only addition who does not count against the practice squad limit is Paul Rubelt, the International Player Pathway Program member, giving Tampa Bay a little extra flexibility as it rounds out the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]