In a Thursday column on PewterReport.com, two Pewter Reporters will debate a Bucs topic with different viewpoints. Which Pewter Reporter wins the debate? You get to decide in the comments section below.
This Week’s Topic: Which Position On The Bucs Causes The Most Concern With Their Depth?
Point: The Bucs Secondary Is Razor Thin
By Matt Matera
There’s been a lot of attention with regards to the depth at cornerback in Tampa Bay, and I’ll get to that in the moment. But the safety position is just as thin, too. It’s super top heavy and filled with talent, starring Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. But moving past the two of them on the depth chart, it’s very slim pickings for who could fill in as a starter if an injury occurs.
The idea was that last year’s training camp standout, JJ Roberts, would be the next man up, but Roberts, who tore his ACL in a joint training camp practice with the Steelers last season, has yet to practice during the offseason program. Technically up next would be Marcus Banks or Rashad Wisdom, who have been with the team on the practice squad for two years and have played very seldom.
Keionte Scott was drafted in the fourth round and he has some experience at safety, but the plan for him is to play him in the slot almost exclusively as a rookie. Newcomer Miles Killebrew is a safety by title on the roster, but will primarily play on special teams.
So who’s coming in for Winfield or Smith if they are injured have to miss a game? There are not a lot of ideal options. The Bucs just have to hope the duo can play a majority of the season. It would be no surprise if a veteran safety is added by the start of the season.
Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Cornerback is another story. On paper the Bucs had a solid rotation going of Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison on the outside with whoever wins each job starting there. Parrish can also play nickelback, obviously. But Morrison being sidelined already with what is believed to be another hamstring injury puts the cornerback spot in jeopardy. It already appears like his injuries will be a thing to monitor all year long after he missed seven games as a rookie last year due to hamstring injuries.
Tampa Bay brought in some veteran cornerbacks, such as Kemon Hall and Chase Lucas, along with some undrafted free agents. Hall and Lucas don’t have a lot of experience, and quite frankly the reserve that has the most starts is Josh Hayes, who is more of a special teamer than a corner. While Hayes has had a good offseason thus far with a pick-six at mini-camp, he’s struggled heavily when he has had to play on defense.
Bucs CB Josh Hayes – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
I don’t blame Jason Licht for not having the most robust amount of depth because Tampa Bay had to address several other needs this offseason, including inside linebacker, defensive tackle and outside linebacker. However, this could become a big problem quickly if the Bucs can’t make at least one more move before the season begins and get a better option than Hayes as a fill-in starter.
Counterpoint: I’m Still Not Sold On The Depth At Guard In Tampa Bay
By Scott Reynolds
Matt Matera isn’t wrong. The cornerback depth and safety depth concern me too for the reasons he outlined. But I’m going to take a different position because we’ve already seen how the lack of ideal depth at guard torpedoed the Bucs offense last year. Tampa Bay lost right guard Cody Mauch after a Week 2 win at Houston for the rest of the season, and then lost right guard Ben Bredeson for a handful of games as well due to injury.
Throw in the fact that Bredeson had to start the season at center while Graham Barton replaced Tristan Wirfs at left tackle until Week 4 and the entire offensive line was discombobulated. In fact, Tampa Bay’s starting five up front didn’t play a single snap together in 2025, and that was detrimental to the offense. When healthy, the Bucs offensive line is a top 5 unit.
Bucs LG Luke Haggard, C Ben Bredeson, QB Baker Mayfield and RG Elijah Klein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs tried to get by with newcomers Mike Jordan and Dan Feeney, in addition to Elijah Klein and Luke Haggard, but there was a noticeable drop off from Mauch and Bredeson. As a result, Tampa Bay’s offense averaged just over 22 points per game, which was a touchdown less than the previous season when the offense averaged 29 points under Liam Coen in 2024. With the offensive line in disarray it negatively affected the play of running back Bucky Irving and quarterback Baker Mayfield, too.
So what did the Bucs do to bolster depth at the guard position? Well, not much, really. Klein and Haggard are back for another year as developmental reserves. The Bucs moved on from Jordan but re-signed Feeney.
Tampa Bay drafted Billy Schrauth in the fifth round in the 2026 NFL Draft, but is he a legit fill-in candidate as a rookie? Would he be any better than the 35-year old Feeney, who was signed off the Bills practice squad? The knock on Schrauth has been his health and durability at Notre Dame, too. Is he going to be any better than Klein, who was a sixth-round pick in 2024 and proved he wasn’t ready to step in as a long-term replacement at guard last year?
Bucs LT Ben Chukwuma and Saints LB Mike Rumph – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The best reserve lineman the team has is actually second-year offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma. He had two starts last year at left tackle and performed well despite being relatively new to football – only playing a few seasons at Georgia State. He’s actually the primary swing tackle as OT3 behind Wirfs and Luke Goedeke on the depth chart, ahead of veteran Justin Skule, who’s back in Tampa Bay after a year in Minnesota.
If I’m the Bucs I’m cross-training him at guard this summer to increase his versatility and his value. My name is not Kevin Carberry, but I think Chukwuma has the size, athleticism and strength to be a better option at guard than anyone else on the roster. I don’t think that’s the plan for him, but Tampa Bay should really consider it.