The Buccaneers' 53-Man roster.
3 - QB Jameis Winston
4 - QB Ryan Griffin
8 - QB Mike Glennon
9 - P Bryan Anger
10 WR Cecil Shorts
11 - WR Adam Humphries
13 - WR Mike Evans
19 - K Roberto Aquayo
21 - CB Alterraun Verner
22 - RB Doug Martin
23 - S Chris Conte
24 - CB Brent Grimes
26 - CB Josh Robinson
27 - CB Johnthan Banks
28 - CB Vernon Hargreaves
29 - DB Ryan Smith
30 - S Bradley McDougald
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
36 RB Antone Smith
37 - S Keith Tandy
38 - CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
43 RB Peyton Barber
45 TE Alan Cross
48 - LS Andrew DePaola
51 - LB Daryl Smith
52- LB Cameron Lynch
53 - LB Adarius Glanton
54 - LB Lavonte David
57 - DE Noah Spence
58 - LB Kwon Alexander
62 - OL Evan Smith
64 - OL Kevin Pamphile
66 - OT Leonard Wester
67 DT John Hughes III
68 - C Joe Hawley
69 - OT Demar Dotson
71 - DE Channing Ward
74 - G Ali Marpet
75 - DT DaVonte Lambert
76 - OT Donovan Smith
77 - OL Caleb Benenoch
78 - OT Gosder Cherilus
82 - TE Brandon Myers
83 - WR Vincent Jackson
84 - TE Cameron Brate
88 - TE Luke Stocker
89 - WR Russell Shepard
91 - DE Robert Ayers
92 - DE William Gholston
93 - DT Gerald McCoy
95 - DE Howard Jones
97 - DT Akeem Spence
98 - DT Clinton McDonald
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially cut their roster to 53 players on Saturday to meet the NFL-mandated regular-season limit. That required 22 roster moves, which included the waivers of 21 players, three with injury designations, and the release of one vested veteran.
The following players were waived (waived/injured as noted):
- G Josh Allen
- LB Micah Awe
- RB Peyton Barber
- WR Kenny Bell (injured)
- DE Kourtnei Brown
- CB Javien Elliott
- DT A.J. Francis
- LB Jeremiah George
- C Ben Gottschalk
- RB Russell Hansbrough
- S Isaiah Johnson
- T Kyler Kerbyson
- LB Josh Keyes
- WR Jonathan Krause
- TE Kivon Cartwright (injured)
- WR Freddie Martino
- S Kimario McFadden
- OL Kelvin Palmer
- WR Bernard Reedy (injured)
- LB Luke Rhodes
- TE Danny Vitale
The following vested veteran was released:
- DT Cliff Matthews
With hundreds of players getting released throughout the league on Saturday, it is a misnomer to label these moves the "final cuts." The Buccaneers and other teams frequently tweak their rosters in the days following the cut-down to 53 as players in which they are interested become available. In addition, the Buccaneers will form a 10-man practice squad over the next few days, and most of the players let go on Saturday will be eligible if they are not claimed by other teams.
"It's just a sad day, man," said linebacker Kwon Alexander, who was among the 53 players the Buccaneers kept. "[We] bring them brothers in like a family, then most of them get cut. But we've got to stick together, you know? This is what we have right now. We're going to miss those guys. I hope they can find a team – or even get back on this team – but I'll be praying for them. I wish them the best."
Of the 22 players removed from the roster Saturday, 7 had been with the team for at least a portion of the 2015 season, either on the active roster or the practice squad: Allen, Bell, Brown, George, Gottschalk, Keyes and McFadden. George and Keyes played in 15 and seven games, respectively, primarily on special teams. Bell, a fifth-round pick in 2015, spent his rookie season on injured reserve.
The Buccaneers kept six of their seven 2016 draft picks on the first 53-man roster, including first-round cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, second-round defensive end Noah Spence, second-round kicker Roberto Aguayo, fourth-round safety Ryan Smith, fifth-round guard Caleb Benenoch and sixth-round linebacker Devante Bond. The exception was sixth-round tight end Danny Vitale, the last player chosen by the team in May. The current roster includes 14 players who have been drafted in the three seasons since the arrival of General Manager Jason Licht.
Fifteen of the 22 men on Saturday's list were either rookies or first-year players. The exceptions were Brown, Bell, Keyes and Krause, all considered second-year players; third-year men Francis and George; and Matthews, a fifth-year veteran. As a player with four accrued seasons, Matthew was the only one on the list not subject to the waiver wire, thus immediately becoming a free agent.
