The Buccaneers flashed both promise and concern in their Pittsburgh tuneup. Bridgewater operated with veteran poise, finishing 6-of-11 for 85 yards with two touchdowns and guiding two scoring drives, keeping QB2 chatter alive behind Mayfield. Trask struggled, hinting at deeper questions about TB’s Week 1 depth chart. Injuries to Godwin Jr. and Wirfs tightened the backfield calculus and underscored the need for more robust line play and running production.

Playmakers stepped up: Emeka Egbuka landed TB’s first NFL TD on a clean route, Zyon McCollum flashed lockdown potential with an early INT, and Kindle Vildor added an interception and sticky coverage. Jacob Parrish reinforced his growing cornerback ceiling, while Charlie Heck’s edge discipline and Wirfs’ looming return frame TB’s strategic decisions. The ground game lagged, and the defense will face steeper tests as injuries shape the next game plan.

In all, TB’s preseason flow suggests a competitive QB2 race, with Bridgewater’s steadiness potentially nudging Trask into a more defined role. Injuries and pass rush issues demand a closer look at O-line depth and backfield balance. The Steelers will be ready to test TB again, but early returns point to a capable, evolving depth chart that fantasy players should watch closely as rosters trim.

In a fresh look at the 2019 draft, Pro Football Focus re-drafts Jamel Dean to the Atlanta Falcons instead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dean has been one of the NFL’s premier cover corners since entering the league, posting a 90.5 PFF coverage grade over six seasons and forcing 62 incompletions. PFF’s WAR metric calls him the most valuable corner from that class in this alternate universe, underscoring how one player’s placement can ripple across a franchise and fantasy verdicts alike.

The Falcons’ defensive ceiling gets a lift with Dean, while the Buccaneers’ title trajectory would likely shift without his elite ball skills. Fantasy-minded readers should note that while corners don’t typically produce huge point totals, top-tier coverage often translates into fewer big plays and more predictable, safer matchups for opponents’ stars. Dean’s presence in ATL reframes how we view this class and the value of elite cover corners in dynasty or DFS planning.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into training camp in 2025 with key players looking to prove their worth. Cornerback Jamel Dean aims to reclaim his status as a defensive anchor after a season marred by inconsistency and injuries. With Carlton Davis III gone, Dean faces fierce competition from younger corners. Meanwhile, linebacker Chris Braswell, a second-round draft pick, strives to establish himself as more than a rotational player, seizing his chance to fill the void left by Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

As training camp approaches, the Bucs' roster is poised for fierce competition, especially in the secondary where Dean must show he can bounce back from previous failures and silence doubts about his long-term viability. For Braswell, this is a pivotal moment to showcase his potential to elevate the Buccaneers' pass rush and secure a more prominent role in the defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the verge of a significant roster shakeup, potentially bidding farewell to cornerback Jamel Dean. Following the recent NFL Draft, where the Buccaneers selected two cornerbacks in the early rounds, speculation about Dean's future has intensified. He had been a reliable starter for the Bucs for four seasons but has struggled with inconsistency and injuries, missing nine games in the last two years. As a result, analysts are now predicting that Dean will be cut from the roster.

Dean's performance has noticeably declined since signing a contract extension last offseason, which likely influenced the Buccaneers' draft strategy. With new talent joining the squad, the team appears ready to move forward without him, despite his history as a starter. Such a decision underscores the competitive nature of the NFL and the relentless pursuit of improvement.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are starting to see several players recognized on national lists this offseason, including stars like Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield. However, when it comes to position rankings, no Buccaneers player made ESPN's top 10 list for tight ends. Cade Otton's absence raises questions about his status and future impact in the league.

Despite a growing roster of talent, the omission of Otton suggests a need for improvement or perhaps a lack of standout performances to draw attention. The Buccaneers are navigating a transitional period, and how they capitalize on their current roster will be crucial for future rankings.