The Tampa Bay Buccaneers trimmed their roster to 53 men for the start of the regular season on Tuesday, and 27 of those who remain play defense, as opposed to just 23 on offense, and it was definitely a given and take. The Buccaneers, for instance, kept six outside linebackers, something they had done in 2023 for the first time in the Todd Bowles era, and that another position – specifically in this case one on offense – had to go a little lighter.
"It was really the cross-position [decisions] made," said Bowles on Tuesday. "You're weighing the [sixth] outside 'backer against the sixth receiver, and that type of stuff. But we felt it's hard to get pass-rushers in this league, and hopefully we can get [receivers] through to the practice squad and bring them up as needed."
The Buccaneers also kept 11 defensive backs, which is one more than the most common allotment the team has settled on in years past. They are specifically listed as five cornerbacks and six safeties, but a handful of them have positional flexibility, and several safeties are in the running to be the slot corner.
"We've got a lot of guys at the safety position that are very good special teams players, and they can help us on teams, especially at the gunner spot, as well as corner," said Bowles. "A lot of them play nickel as well and they're multi-talented so it was hard to let them go."
Forming the regular season roster did not answer every question about the Buccaneers' 2024 defense, however. Some uncertainties remain, and likely will remain until this unit has a couple games under its belt. Let's take a closer look at three of those questions about the Bucs' new-look defense.
1. How "multiple" will the Buccaneers be with their secondary groupings?
The Buccaneers have a deep and versatile set of defensive backs, and if injuries to Christian Izien and Benjamin Morrison clear up quickly they will have a lot of different ways they can package those players in the secondary. Izien suffered an oblique injury in the second preseason game that could make him a question mark for the first week of the regular season, and the rookie Morrison has missed several weeks with a leg injury. Morrison may return to practice next week.
It appears that rookie third-rounder Jacob Parrish has landed the slot corner job to start the season with second-year man Tykee Smith moving to a full-time role at safety. Outside corners Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum are back, so a typical nickel defensive alignment – the most common one for most NFL teams – could feature Dean, McCollum, Parrish, Smith and Antoine Winfield Jr.
That said, would the Bucs be interested in getting Morrison, their second-round pick, significantly involved once he is healthy. Head Coach Todd Bowles has said that Morrison can play on the outside or in the slot, so he could conceivably fill in for any of those three starters. And what about Izien? All he did in 2024 was excel anywhere the Bucs put him, from the slot to free safety and even outside cornerback for a spell. Izien is obviously extremely valuable when the team is dealing with injuries to the secondary, but will they also be motivated to get him on the field when everyone is healthy?
One possible solution would be a mixture of packages that alternately features each of these players, or perhaps even a higher usage of dime alignments (six DBs) given the relative thinness at inside linebacker. If anything, this would be a good problem to have and an interesting development to track.
Here is the full 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 53-Man Roster.
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Center Graham Barton #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - October 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Chris Braswell #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game 31-41. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - October 21, 2024 - Guard Ben Bredeson #68 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 41-31. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #16 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Linebacker John Bullock #57 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs Won the game, 17-14. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2025 - Offensive Tackle Ben Chukwuma #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-19. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2024 - Tight End Devin Culp #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 24-14. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - November 10, 2024 - Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game 23-20. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - September 08, 2024 - Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 37-20. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - November 10, 2024 - Long Snapper Evan Deckers #86 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game 23-20. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 09, 2025 - Inside Linebacker SirVocea Dennis #8 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 29-7. Photo By Mike Carlson/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CHARLOTTE, NC - December 01, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. The Bucs won the game in overtime, 26-23. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2025 - Punter Riley Dixon #92 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-19. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - November 24, 2024 - Tight End Payne Durham #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants. The Bucs won the game, 30-7. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 09, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 29-7. Photo By Mike Carlson/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 12, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFC Wild Card game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-20. Photo By Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Greg Gaines #96 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-19. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NEW ORLEANS, LA - October 13, 2024 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. The Bucs won the game, 51-27. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NEW ORLEANS, LA - October 13, 2024 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. The Bucs won the game, 51-27. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - September 22, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Logan Hall #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 26-7. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 11, 2023 - Defensive Back Josh Hayes #32 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game 27-17. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Guard Ben Bredeson #68 and Tackle Charlie Heck #77 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 12, 2025 - Running Back Bucky Irving #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFC Wild Card game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-20. Photo By Brennan Asplen/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CHARLOTTE, NC - December 01, 2024 - Safety Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. The Bucs won the game in overtime, 26-23. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 29, 2024 - Wide Receiver Kameron Johnson #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 48-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-19. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 29, 2024 - Linebacker Deion Jones #45 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 48-14. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 29, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 48-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CINCINNATI, OH - August 10, 2024 - Tight End Ko Kieft #41 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CINCINNATI, OH - August 10, 2024 - Guard Elijah Klein #79 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - October 27, 2024 - Guard Cody Mauch #69 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 31-26. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 12, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the NFC Wild Card game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-20. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 08, 2024 - Cornerback Zyon McCollum #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 28-13. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Kicker Chase McLaughlin #4 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 08, 2024 - Safety Kaevon Merriweather #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game 28-13. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
ARLINGTON, TX - December 22, 2024 - Wide Receiver Ryan Miller #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. The Bucs lost the game, 26-24. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 28, 2025 - Cornerback Benjamin Morrison #21 and Wide Receiver Rakim Jarrett #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
KANSAS CITY, MO - November 04, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Monday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. The Bucs lost the game in overtime, 30-24. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 08, 2024 - Tight End Cade Otton #88 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 28-13. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Cornerback Jacob Parrish #25 and Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Haason Reddick #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs Won the game, 17-14. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-19. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 12, 2025 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFC Wild Card game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-20. Photo By Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - September 29, 2024 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 33-16. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 09, 2025 - Running Back Sean Tucker #44 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 29-7. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PA - August 16, 2025 - Cornerback Kindle Vildor #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bucs won the game, 17-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - December 03, 2023 - Outside Linebacker Markees Watts #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 21-18. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
INGLEWOOD, CA - December 15, 2024 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers. The Bucs won the game, 40-17. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2025 - Running Back Josh Williams #37 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-19. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NEW ORLEANS, LA - October 13, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers returns a fumble for a touchdown during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. The Bucs won the game, 51-27. Photo By Doug DeFelice/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - September 22, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game between the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 26-7. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2024 - Safety Rashad Wisdom #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 24-14. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2. Is SirVocea Dennis ready to make an impact as an every-down player at linebacker?
The Buccaneers opened last season with Lavonte David and K.J. Britt as their two starting off-ball linebackers, but it was obvious early on that they wanted to get Dennis more involved in his second season. He split time with Britt in the first month of the season, primarily playing on obvious passing downs and seeing about 39% of the defensive snaps. Unfortunately, a pre-existing shoulder injury became too much to play through and he had season-ending surgery after that first month.
Dennis says he's now healthier than he's been in years, dating back to college, and he's occupying one of the starting ILB jobs on the depth chart next to David. Veteran Deion Jones has been quietly impressive in camp, as well, but even if there is something of a timeshare experience at this spot it's likely that Dennis is going to be getting starter-level playing time for the first time. Veteran Anthony Walker was brought in to compete with Dennis for playing time, particularly on passing downs, but he was released on Tuesday after spending all of camp on the active/NFI list.
The biggest weakness of the Buccaneers' defense in 2024 was over the middle of the field. Will Dennis's coverage skills coupled with a return to form for Winfield solve this problem?
3. Did the Buccaneers succeed in their offseason quest to create more pressure off the edges?
The sack totals for Tampa Bay's defense in 2024 don't look like a glaring problem. The Bucs tied for sixth in the NFL with 46 sacks overall and ranked 16th in sacks per pass play rate (7.30%). However, their two leading sack contributors were interior rushers Calijah Kancey (7.5) and Vita Vea (7.0). Bowles is a master at scheming up all varieties of blitzes, and he's not likely to get much less aggressive as a play-caller, but he has stated on multiple occasions that the Bucs need to be more effective when only rushing four. That underscored an obvious need to get more pressure from the edges.
The Bucs made one big move to address this issue in free agency, and it could pay off in a big way. After getting trade from the Eagles to the Jets and ending up in a contract dispute, Haason Reddick only tallied one sack in 10 games and two starts last year. However, he had 11.0 sacks in 2023 and 16.0 in 2022 with the Eagles, 11.0 in 2021 with the Panthers and 12.5 with the Cardinals in 2020. In addition to those 50.5 sacks in a four-season span, Reddick also had 83 quarterback hits. Even in his down year in New York, he had 30 QB pressures on 222 pass-rush snaps, a very respectable 13.5% pressure rate.
The Buccaneers would probably feel even better about this group had their other notable move on the edges worked out for 2025. They thought they got a steal in the fourth round of the draft with Central Arkansas's David Walker, and indeed Walker was easily one of the most impressive players in camp in the first couple weeks. But the rookie suffered a season-ending knee injury and was placed on injured reserve. With the potential of another big leap from Yaya Diaby and the arrival of Reddick, the Buccaneers could indeed have a more robust edge rush in 2025, but that remains to be seen.
