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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a promising win over the New York Jets in the preseason opener. The game answered some existing questions, but created some new ones, as several players impressed while others disappointed. Various roster battles are in full swing, with players competing for a small number of available roster spots. The Bucs still have two more preseason games to go before having to make final decisions on the 53-man roster, but here’s where things currently stand. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 53-man roster prediction QB (3): Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Jalon Daniels Baker Mayfield is the Buccaneers franchise quarterback, and veteran Jake Browning will serve as the backup behind him. The real surprise is undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels making the roster as the QB3. It’s uncharacteristic for Tampa Bay to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster, but by trying to stash Daniels on the practice squad, they risk another team claiming him off waivers or signing him to the active roster. Daniels put on a show in the preseason opener against the Jets and could have a long-term future in Tampa Bay as a developmental backup. The Bucs will have to use a roster spot to ensure he doesn’t get away. RB (4): Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, Sean Tucker, Josh Williams Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and Sean Tucker are locked in as the top three running backs. The real question is whether Williams can show the coaching staff enough to keep him as the RB4. Williams was impressive in the preseason opener, leading the team in rushing and scoring a 12-yard touchdown in the second half. He looked shifty and explosive with the ball in his hands and is worth a fourth roster spot to round out the running back stable. WR (5): Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Ted Hurst, Tez Johnson This is the easiest position to forecast for Tampa Bay. The top five wide receivers are all set in stone, with no true threat to challenge any of them for a roster spot. The Bucs could throw a curveball and keep six receivers, but the more likely outcome is stashing one or two on the practice squad, such as Garrett Greene or Dean Patterson, who can be called up in case of injury. TE (4): Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Bauer Sharp, Ko Kieft The Bucs tight end competition is something to keep an eye on throughout the preseason. Otton was the only player who was 100% locked into a roster spot entering the preseason. Ko Kieft made his case loud and clear with a strong blocking and special teams performance, earning him the highest PFF grade of any Buccaneer during the opener. Bauer Sharp came on strong with four catches on five targets in his pro debut. The team just spent a draft pick on Sharp and is reportedly quite high on him, so he seems to have a role carved out for the season. It could come down to Payne Durham and Devin Culp for the final spot. But Durham is a superior blocker, which Tampa Bay values, and Culp just hasn’t shown enough as a receiving threat to make the roster. Unless something changes drastically in the coming weeks, Culp might be on his way out of Tampa Bay. OL (9): LT Tristan Wirfs, LG Ben Bredeson, C Graham Barton, RG Cody Mauch, RT Luke Goedeke, OT Ben Chukwuma, OT Justin Skule, G Dan Feeney, G Billy Schrauth The Buccaneers’ starting offensive line is set in stone, as they boast one of the best units in the league. The backup spots are where things get interesting. They reunited with Justin Skule in free agency, who served as the swing tackle in 2023. He’s likely to take on that role again and give them an experienced veteran backup option. The team is really high on Ben Chukwuma, who got some playing experience due to injuries last season. For the remaining backup spots, Dan Feeney leads the way at guard after starting 10 games for the Bucs last season, with fifth-round pick Billy Schrauth also making the roster. They’ll hold onto either Elijah Klein or Ben Scott on the practice squad for the sake of having a backup center who could be called upon if needed. DT (6): Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, A’Shawn Robinson, Elijah Roberts, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DeMonte Capehart Defensive tackle is one of Tampa Bay’s deepest positions. Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and A’Shawn Robinson lead the way as they’ll form the starting three-man front. Elijah Roberts was highly impressive during the preseason opener and could carve out an increased role in his second season. The team brought back Rakeem Nunez-Roches this offseason, and he’s listed as the backup nose tackle behind Vita Vea. DeMonte Capehart was selected in the fifth round by Tampa Bay this year, and the rookie will be at the bottom of the depth chart and can develop behind a group of seasoned veterans. OLB (5): Yaya Diaby, Rueben Bain Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad, David Walker, Anthony Nelson The outside linebacker spot is one of the most intriguing on the entire depth chart. The top four spots are solidified with Yaya Diaby, Rueben Bain Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker. That fifth and final spot is expected to come down to Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell. Undrafted rookie Jack Pryburn also threw his hat in the ring with a 2-sack performance in the preseason opener. For now, Nelson holds the edge. He’s a trusted veteran who the coaching staff values, and he’s recorded at least three sacks in five straight seasons. They’ll likely try to stash Pryburn on the practice squad, and this would mean the end of Braswell’s short-lived stint in Tampa Bay after failing to meet expectations as a second-round pick. ILB (4): Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, SirVocea Dennis, Christian Rozeboom The inside linebacker room is one of the easiest position groups to project. There’s not much competition and the top four are pretty much set in stone. Alex Anzalone was one of the team’s prized free agent acquisitions, and he’ll lead the way, likely alongside rookie second-round pick Josiah Trotter. Dennis could prove to be a quality backup, and while he was disappointing as a starter last year, he’s shown some flashes and could be effective in doses. Rozeboom will shine on special teams, but he’s not a bad option as the final linebacker on the depth chart. The room is in a better spot than it was a year ago. CB (6): Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish, Benjamin Morrison, Keionte Scott, Ayden Garnes, Pepe Williams The first four cornerback spots are set in stone, but the final few spots are highly competitive. Both Ayden Garnes and Pepe Williams are vying for a roster spot, and it would be hard to deny either of them based on the strong training camps and standout performances in the preseason opener. Garnes made the play of the day with a pick-six, and also had an impressive tackle for loss on Tampa Bay’s first defensive series. Williams was a tackling machine, leading the team with 12 total tackles, along with a sack and a pass breakup. Both would be fine depth pieces for Tampa Bay’s cornerback room, and they both deserve a spot on the roster. S (4): Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Miles Killebrew The Bucs have one of the best safety duos in the NFL in Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith, but the depth behind them remains a question mark. The toughest decision on this entire depth chart was leaving JJ Roberts off the roster. He looked so promising last preseason before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He’s yet to return to that form, and the Bucs have brought in several veterans for depth that could push him off the roster. Tampa Bay brought in Miles Killebrew primarily for special teams, where he’s a former All-Pro. Ifeatu Melifonwu is a veteran with 22 starts in his career and holds the edge over Roberts, who has yet to play a single regular-season game. The Bucs would love to stash Roberts on the practice squad in hopes that he capitalizes on the potential he showed last season. Specialists (3): Chase McLaughlin, Riley Dixon, Eric Deckers The three specialists are locked in, though there’s an argument they shouldn’t be. Riley Dixon wasn’t one of the league’s better punters last year, and he wasn’t great during the preseason opener. It could be worth bringing in some last-minute competition for the punter spot, but the Bucs don’t seem to have any intention of doing that after accepting Dixon’s team option earlier this offseason. Chase McLaughlin is, of course, locked in as one of the best kickers in the NFL, and Evan Deckers is entering his third year as the team’s long snapper.