Training camp always has a way of turning anonymous names into real roster conversations, and that’s especially true on offense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The established pieces will get most of the spotlight, but the back half of the depth chart is where jobs can be won. Some players are chasing a reserve role.
Others are trying to stick through special teams or earn a practice-squad look. A few just need enough good tape to make the decisions around them a little harder.
Here’s one sleeper to keep an eye on at each offensive position group.
At quarterback, Jalon Daniels is the rookie worth tracking. The Kansas product is listed at 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, and while he is not going to push Baker Mayfield for the starting job, camp reps still matter for a young passer.
Daniels’ task is straightforward: command the huddle, process quickly, protect the football, and keep the offense moving with rhythm whenever he gets a chance. If he can avoid the kind of mistakes that stall young quarterbacks and show steady growth from practice to practice, he could make himself worth developing.
Running back Kadarius Calloway brings a different kind of intrigue. The New Mexico State rookie is listed at 6-foot and 213 pounds, giving Tampa Bay a bigger back to evaluate.
But he cannot survive on carries alone. Backup backs have to help on special teams, pass protect, and handle receiving work, too.
Calloway’s best path is to show he can be trusted in those areas while also flashing enough burst and physicality as a runner to stay in the mix. If he does that, he becomes one of the more interesting long shots on offense.
Ted Hurst III is the wide receiver sleeper because his production jumps off the page. The Buccaneers’ official site described him as a serious threat after he piled up 127 catches, 1,965 yards, and 15 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Georgia State.
Tampa Bay already has Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson in the room, so Hurst will need to carve out his own lane. His route is clear enough: prove the vertical speed translates, win contested throws, and help on special teams.
If he starts stacking explosive plays in camp, the staff may have to make room for him.
Bauer Sharp is one of the more fascinating rookies in the group because of how he can be used. Tampa Bay’s official site noted that he is a quarterback-turned-tight end who can line up as a traditional tight end, fullback or H-back.
That kind of flexibility can get a player noticed fast. Sharp does not need to become a featured target right away.
He needs to block, find space in zone coverage, play with toughness, and show he can handle multiple jobs. His background could help him pick things up quickly.
On the offensive line, Billy Schrauth stands out as the depth piece to watch. The Buccaneers took the former Notre Dame guard in the fifth round, and the team’s official site said he played both guard spots while bringing physicality, football intelligence, and the ability to identify stunts and blitzes.
Interior line depth is always valuable, and camp will tell Tampa Bay whether Schrauth can handle NFL power, communication, and pass protection. If he proves he can work at either guard spot, his stock climbs fast.
The Buccaneers’ headline players will draw the attention, but these five names matter for a different reason. Daniels, Calloway, Hurst, Sharp and Schrauth each have a path to relevance, and if a couple of them take advantage of camp, Tampa Bay could come out of the summer with a deeper and more flexible offense than expected.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Camp Could End Badly For One Young Player Fans Expected More From
Training camp opens July 28 for the Buccaneers, and the first real roster battles are already easy to spot. The backup quarterback race has Connor Bazelak trying to hold off Jalon Daniels for the third spot, while along the edge Anthony Nelson, David Walker and Chris Braswell are all working for a rotational role behind the established names.
Braswell is the one who feels most vulnerable heading into camp, because there is little margin for error when teams start sorting out the bottom of the roster. Tampa Bay has enough competition at several positions to make these weeks matter, and for a young player trying to stick, the difference between a strong start and a slow one can be the difference between making it through August and getting squeezed out before the season even begins. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Opens Up About The Mindset Behind His Bucs Comeback
Baker Mayfield has spent the last couple of seasons turning a difficult stretch into something closer to a second act, and he has been open about what helped him get there. After leaving Cleveland and going through a rough 2022 that included stops with the Panthers and Rams, he found steadier footing in Tampa Bay, where his play and presence gave the Buccaneers a much-needed lift.
What stands out in Mayfields view is not just the production, but the mindset behind it. He says asking for help and being willing to show vulnerability have been central to handling the setbacks in his career and personal life, and that support from others has helped him stay mentally resilient as he rebuilt himself into a Pro Bowl quarterback. [Read more 🡒]