Each week during the regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' communications department publishes a "Game Release" to aid the media in coverage of their upcoming game. Within that release are a number of documents regarding the player roster, including a depth chart, which lists the pecking order at every position on offense, defense and special teams.
Each game week, we will be taking a closer look at that depth chart, pointing out any changes or relevant notes from the previous game. Let's start on offense. Rookies are marked with an asterisk. Players we will be discussing in depth are highlighted in bold text.
OFFENSE
WR: Mike Evans, Trey Palmer
WR: Chris Godwin, Kameron Johnson *
LT: Tristan Wirfs, Justin Skule
LG: Ben Bredeson, Royce Newman
C: Graham Barton *, Robert Hainsey
RG: Cody Mauch, Elijah Klein *
RT: Luke Goedeke
WR: Jalen McMillan *
TE: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Devin Culp *
QB: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
RB: Rachaad White, Bucky Irving *, Sean Tucker
Rookie wideout Jalen McMillan, a third-round pick out of Washington, started the opener against Washington as the Bucs opened in a three-receiver set. And, in fact, McMillan played the most snaps of any Tampa Bay receiver as the offense stayed in "11" personnel (three receivers, one back, one tight end) for most of the afternoon. McMillan logged 53 of a possible 64 snaps, compared to 50 for Chris Godwin and 45 for Mike Evans. Trey Palmer also got in 20 snaps as the Bucs used 11 personnel on 82% of their plays.
Rachaad White started at running back and was clearly the lead runner, logging 45 snaps and getting a total of 21 touches between his 15 carries and six receptions on six targets. However, Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen found plenty of work for rookie back Bucky Irving, as well, as Irving got 20 snaps on offense and had nine carries and two catches on three targets. White and Irving combined for 182 yards from scrimmage.
Tight end Cade Otton, who played a remarkable 97% of the Buccaneers' offensive snaps in 2023, did see his work load lightened to a small degree, as he was on the field for 55 of the team's 64 plays on offense against Washington. Despite the team only playing six snaps in two-TE packages, second-year man Payne Durham got 17 snaps and had a key block on Irving's 31-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Here is the full 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 53-Man Roster.
C Graham Barton #62
OLB Chris Braswell #43
G Ben Bredeson #68
DL C.J. Brewer #95
LB K.J. Britt #52
DL Earnest Brown #74
TE Devin Culp #82
LB Lavonte David #54
CB Jamel Dean #35
LS Evan Deckers #86
OLB Yaya Diaby #0
TE Payne Durham #87
S Mike Edwards #21
WR Mike Evans #13
CB Tyrek Funderburk #24
DL Greg Gaines #96
DL William Gholston #92
LB Antonio Grier Jr. #48
T Luke Goedeke #67
C Robert Hainsey #70
DL Logan Hall #90
DB Josh Hayes #32
RB Bucky Irving #7
S Christian Izien #29
WR Rakim Jarrett #18
LB Vi Jones #53
DL Calijah Kancey #94
TE Ko Kieft #41
G Elijah Klein #79
G Cody Mauch #69
QB Baker Mayfield #6
CB Zyon McCollum #27
K Chase McLaughlin #4
WR Jalen McMillan #15
S Kaevon Merriweather #26
WR Ryan Miller #81
OLB Anthony Nelson #98
Royce Newman (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
TE Cade Otton #88
WR Trey Palmer #10
OLB Jose Ramirez #33
LB J.J. Russell #51
WR Sterling Shepard #17
T Justin Skule #77
S Tykee Smith #23
DB Tavierre Thomas #37
QB Kyle Trask #2
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka #9
RB Sean Tucker #44
NT Vita Vea #50
RB Rachaad White #1
S Antoine Winfield Jr. #31
T Tristan Wirfs #78
DEFENSE
DL: Calijah Kancey, Ben Stille
NT: Vita Vea, Greg Gaines
DL: Logan Hall, William Gholston
OLB: Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson, Markees Watts
ILB: K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell
ILB: Lavonte David, SirVocea Dennis
OLB: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Chris Braswell *, Jose Ramirez
CB: Jamel Dean, Bryce Hall
CB: Zyon McCollum, Josh Hayes, Tyrek Funderburk *
S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien, Tavierre Thomas
S: Jordan Whitehead, Tykee Smith *, Kaevon Merriweather
With Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall both sidelined by injuries, the Bucs leaned on Greg Gaines on the defensive line, giving him 36 snaps, or 61% of the team's defensive total. Gaines only played in more than 50% of the defensive snaps in two of the Bucs' 19 games in 2023, his first year with the team. Vita Vea also played 35 snaps.
While Lavonte David played all but one snap on defense (he briefly went to the locker room after suffering cramps), the other linebacker spot was split between K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis. Britt started the game and was on the field for 39 play, while Dennis frequently came in on obvious passing downs and had 21 snaps.
After injuries to cornerbacks Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall and Josh Hayes, safety Christian Izien was pressed into service at outside corner, a position he hadn't played since high school. He logged 31 snaps on defense and had a key pass breakup on third down in the second half. Rookie Tykee Smith was the slot corner in the opener and he played 68% of the snaps as the Commanders spent much of the game in 11 personnel as well.
SPECIALISTS
P: Jake Camarda
PK: Chase McLaughlin
KO: Jake Camarda
H: Jake Camarda
LS: Evan Deckers
PR: Trey Palmer, Kameron Johnson *, Jalen McMillan *
KR: Bucky Irving *, Kameron Johnson *
KR: Sean Tucker, Jalen McMillan *
The Bucs chose to send out Irving and Sean Tucker as their return duo on kickoff returns in the opener. Tucker had one return for 22 yards but Irving didn't have a kick come his way.
Outside linebacker Anthony Nelson was the team's most active player on special teams, in part because the new kickoff format encourages teams to populate the blocking line with bigger players. Nelson played 26 of a possible 27 snaps on special teams, only sitting out the Commanders' onside kick attempt at the end of the game. Safety Tavierre Thomas was next with 20 snaps, followed by linebacker J.J. Russell with 19.
