In the summer of 2002, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – who would eventually be Super Bowl-bound – took to training camp a veteran-laden group of pass-catchers. Most of them wore jersey numbers in the 80s, including wideouts Keenan McCardell, Joe Jurevicius and Karl Williams and tight ends Ken Dilger, Todd Yoder and Marco Battaglia. (Rickey Dudley, who wore #88, would replace Battaglia in September.)
Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was the outlier in this group. He had been grandfathered in with jersey #19, the number he wore for the New York Jets for four seasons, when he arrived in a trade in 2000. He got that number in New York on a technicality; after he was drafted first-overall by the Jets, he waited until all the other players on the bloated camp roster had been assigned their numbers, making sure the 80s were full. The NFL then permitted him to wear #19.
Johnson was a trend-setter, to be sure. Other wideouts wanted access to numbers in the 10-19 range and, after enough of a league-wide outcry was risen, the NFL relented in 2004 and made them available to that position. In the nearly two decades since, most of the league's best wide receivers have migrated into the teens like Canadian geese headed to Florida. Except the receivers largely stayed in their new destinations.
That has created a new reality for rookie pass-catchers as they peek into NFL equipment rooms for the first time, particularly those who do not arrive as early-round draft picks. At this point, if you're an undrafted receiver, there is a very good chance you're going to start your career in the 80s. Just ask…well, a majority of the players below.
And thus, as we continue our player-by-player look at potential "Camp Goals" for every man on the 91-man roster, we get to a group of 10 men with very little collective NFL experience. In fact, the 10 players who will be slipping on practice jerseys in the 80-89 range next week have combined to play 67 regular season games, with 13 starts. Much of that belongs to second-year tight end Cade Otton, who has logged 33 games played and 28 starts across his first two seasons.
View photos of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking part in the first week of 2024 offseason OTAs.
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Helmet during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98, Outside Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka #9, Defensive Lineman Greg Gaines #96 and Defensive Lineman Logan Hall #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Center Graham Barton #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Senior Offensive Assistant Tom Moore of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback John Wolford #11 an dOffensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback John Wolford #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14, Running Back Rachaad White #1 and Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Jordan Whitehead #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Inside Linebacker K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Inside Linebacker J.J. Russell #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Trey Palmer #10, Wide Receiver Latreal Jones #85 and Wide Receiver Jalen McMillan #15 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Rakim Jarrett #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Tight End Tanner Taula #84 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Tight End Devin Culp #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr. #49 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Daniel Grzesiak #57 of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Markees Watts #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Rashad Wilson #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Jordan Whitehead #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Jordan Whitehead #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Cornerback Zyon McCollum #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Back Chase Edmonds #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback Kyle Trask #2 and Running Back Bucky Irving #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 and Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 and Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Cornerback Tyrek Funderburk #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Rakim Jarrett #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Rakim Jarrett #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Back Chase Edmonds #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 and Inside Linebacker K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cleats during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Backs Coach Skip Peete of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Running Back Bucky Irving #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Linebacker Kalen DeLoach #46 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Chris Braswell #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Kaevon Merriweather #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Jordan Whitehead #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Cornerback Bryce Hall #34 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Rashad Wisdom #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Safety Rashad Wisdom #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Daniel Grzesiak #57 of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Wide Receiver Latreal Jones #85 and Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Lorenz Metz #71, Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14 and Wide Receiver Trey Palmer #10 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Guard Ben Bredeson #68, Running Back Patrick Laird #25 and Running Back Sean Tucker #44 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Tackle Brandon Walton #73 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Tackle Brandon Walton #73 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - May 21, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during OTA's at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#80 WR Tanner Knue: Knue was both consistent and steadily improved during his four seasons at Eastern Michigan, going from 27 catches as a freshman to 32, 45 and 50 in the subsequent years. Training camp and the preseason make up about six weeks of practice field work, so there is plenty of time for various young players to make splash plays here and there. What coaches want to see from those players above all is consistency; do they show up big one day and then disappear for the rest of the week, or are they making plays and knowing their assignments practice after practice. Knue's main goal for his first training camp is a lot like those of the other players on this list – earn either an active roster spot or a foothold on the practice squad. Giving the coaches that coveted consistency would be a good way to move closer to achieving that goal.
#81 WR Ryan Miller: Other than the three tight ends at the end of this list, Miller is one of just two players in this group who has seen action in a regular season game. That occurred last season, when he was activated from the practice squad in Week 13 and saw three snaps on offense and 12 on special teams against the Panthers. Obviously, that's not exactly a wealth of NFL experience, but it is a representation of a successful first season for the former Furman receiver. Despite arriving as an undrafted rookie, he nabbed a practice squad spot and held it all year, got that one game day elevation and then was re-signed in January to come back for a second go-around. The obvious next goal for Miller would be to take another step forward in his career and land on the 53-man roster this time around. The Buccaneers don't have a lot of experienced wideouts behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and late signee Sterling Shepard, so it's reasonable for a young player to believe he can snag a reserve spot, especially if the team keeps six receivers and if he can show any signs of helping on special teams, particularly in the return game. The 6-2, 221 Miller has good size, which may help him as the Bucs figure out the best personnel for the new kickoff procedure.
#82 TE Devin Culp: Culp was the Buccaneers' last selection in this year's draft, taken at pick number 246 in the seventh round. On one hand, there are three recently-drafted tight ends ahead of him on the depth chart in Cade Otton, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft, and the overall number of snaps for that position may be coming down in new Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen's offense. On the other hand, Coen was already on hand when the draft transpired and presumably was on board with adding another potential playmaker at the position. What could separate Culp from the Buccaneers' other tight ends is big play ability; he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, and 72.3% of his yards last season at Washington came after the catch. Otton has proved to be an iron man in terms of snap percentages in his first two seasons, in part because the coaches appreciate how he routinely does everything right. Durham could see his playing time expand in his second season if he shows he can make plays downfield, too. But Culp has a shot to carve out a role if he can demonstrate during camp and the preseason that he can produce big plays with the ball in his hands.
#83 WR Cody Thompson: Thompson was one of the last two players, along with Shepard, to be added to the Bucs' 91-man camp roster, signing on June 6. That gave him a chance to participate in the team's three-day minicamp, but it came after most of the offseason program. Thus, Thompson hasn't had as much time to learn Coen's system as most of his teammates, so continuing to absorb the playbook would likely be one primary camp goal for the former Seahawk receiver. Thompson has been in the league since 2019, when he signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo. He eventually got a bit of a foothold in Seattle, playing in five games in 2021 and another seven last year (he spent 2022 on injured reserve), though most of that was on special teams, as he has just one career catch. Last season, the Bucs signed a former Seattle receiver in David Moore, and while he spent most of last year on the practice squad he did make a string of big plays late in the season. A reasonable camp goal for Thompson would be to follow that same path, even if it means starting the season on the practice squad because the active roster spots were all taken by others. Of course, Thompson will surely be aiming hire and looking to make the 53-man squad like he did at times in Seattle.
#84 TE Tanner Taula: Taula is yet another player who arrived as an undrafted free agent last year, landed a spot on the practice squad to start the season and held onto that spot throughout the 2023 campaign. That led to a second contract in January and a second chance to come to camp and try to crack the active roster. Everything noted above in Culp's section applies to Taula, too – there is a lot of young talent ahead of him on the depth chart, plus veteran David Wells is back, too. And tight end snaps may be at a premium in the new offense. Still, the Bucs obviously see potential in Taula, as they brought him back and then did not sign any undrafted tight ends or outside veterans this spring. While he obviously be trying to show that he can succeed in both assignments tight ends have on offense – blocking and receiving – he would also help his cause immensely if he can be a difference-maker on special teams. At 6-6 and 255 pounds, he does have some good size to work with, which could be more important on kickoff return and coverage this year.
#85 WR Latreal Jones: We can repeat essentially everything we wrote for Tanner Knue above, as he and Jones are both rookies who were signed after the draft. Jones started his college career with three years at Pearl River Community College but then transferred to Southern Miss for the past two seasons. He was quite productive in 2023, catching 36 passes for 498 yards and three touchdowns and finishing second on the squad in receiving yards. Last season, the Buccaneers kept one undrafted rookie receiver (Rakim Jarrett) on the active roster and routinely devoted at least three of their 16 practice squad spots to the position, so there is plenty of reason for the Bucs' rookie wideouts to believe they can stick around in some capacity in the fall. It's repetitive, but it's true, Jones would help his cause by showing consistency in his play from practice to practice and by picking up as many snaps on special teams units as possible. As such, those would be worthwhile camp goals for the young receiver.
#86 LS Evan Deckers: Deckers is back for a second camp in Tampa after signing with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Last summer, he competed with Tampa Bay's incumbent snapper, Zach Triner, but failed to unseat him from his job. However, the Bucs briefly brought Deckers back to the practice squad in December while Triner was dealing with a minor injury, and then they re-signed the Duke product in January. However, the Bucs also re-signed Triner about a week into free agency, so we will have a repeat of last year's competition in this year's camp. During the Bucs' offseason program, new Special Teams Coach Thomas McGaughey said the battle between those two is real, so winning that battle this time around is the clear and obvious goal for Deckers. Other than during that late-season stint when Triner was a question mark for game day, the Buccaneers did not routinely keep a second long-snapper on the practice squad, so only one of the two is likely to be around for the fall. Of course, as is always the case with head-to-head battles between specialists in training camp and the preseason, the competitors are also putting their work on tape for the other 31 teams in the league, one of which might need a new snapper at some point in the future.
#87 TE Payne Durham: Durham, a 2023 fifth-round pick, didn't find a huge amount of playing time during his rookie season, but he did make a couple of eye-opening plays when he got a shot to be on the field. Early in the season, he ceded the third active spot for tight ends on game day to veteran David Wells, but he made his NFL debut in Week Five and then stuck for the final 15 games, including the playoffs. Between the regular season and postseason, he caught six passes for 76 yards, but he never saw more than 15 offensive snaps in any game, thanks to Cade Otton rarely leaving the field and Ko Kieft playing in more two-TE sets for his blocking ability. Durham has the tools to be a productive pass-catcher and red zone threat – he snared 101 passes and scored 14 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Purdue – and he has the blocking ability to be a two-way tight end. Durham has a very long wing span, a wide catch radius and very reliable hands, all of which he will look to put on display during training camp for his new offensive coordinator and new tight ends coach, Justin Peelle. The Buccaneers' new offensive scheme under Coen could lead to new roles for a variety of pass-catchers, and Durham will be looking to expand his own role in 2024.
#88 TE Cade Otton: Otton played 1,194 offensive plays later year, playoffs included, staying on the field for 97% of the Bucs' snaps overall. That is a remarkable number for his position, and he could drop several hundred snaps and still be one of the busiest tight ends in the NFL. There's little doubt that Otton will still play a lot in his third season because the coaches have so much trust in him doing every aspect of his job correctly, and as a statistical goal he could be looking to top 50 catches after recording 42 and 47 in his first two seasons, respectively. Of course, like a lot of his teammates, Otton profiles as more of a team goals-oriented player, so he's probably less concerned with those numbers and more focused on getting Coen's offense down pat and finding out exactly what his role in it is going to look like.
#89 TE David Wells: Wells, who first entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent with the Cowboys, cracked an opening day roster for the first time with the Buccaneers last year. He eventually moved to the practice squad for the back half of the season but still got into a career-high five games and snagged the first two receptions of his career. Wells was also on the Bucs' practice squad for most of 2022 and he got into three games with the Cardinals in 2021. The clear goal for Wells in his second Tampa Bay camp would be to reclaim that 53-man spot he earned at the start of last year. He did that in part by making plays during the preseason games, coming up with five catches and scoring a touchdown. Wells also had a role on special teams in the five games for which he was active last year, and repeating that would be helpful to his cause as well; as with all the bigger players who will be considered for special teams roles, he could have more value in the new kickoff process. And like all the tight ends in this year's camp, he will be looking to find out where he fits in in Coen's new offense.
