As final 53-man rosters are announced around the NFL like clockwork, excitement builds for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Among the club's rostered players are two 2024 undrafted free agents that made the cutdown: receiver Kameron Johnson and cornerback Tyrek Funderburk. Both of their contributions during camp warranted a coveted spot and their production was even more impressive considering the respective injuries sustained.
Johnson, a Barton College product, worked his way back from a rib injury and impressed in last week's joint practice, along with the team's preseason finale against the Dolphins. He has played a prominent role in the Bucs' misdirection pre-snap and creating after sweeps, end-arounds and screens. Johnson may not be the biggest receiver, but he catches defenders off guard with speed and an elite vertical jump (37-inch) to high-point the ball. Johnson can stretch the field vertically and horizontally, keeping defenses at bay. He is quick out of breaks and is a fluid route runner.
Johnson attended Barton College, a Division II program located in Wilson, North Carolina, and was a part of the school's inaugural football team when the program relaunched in 2020. In 2023, Johnson compiled 51 catches for 875 yards and seven touchdowns. During OTAs, Johnson caught the eye of veteran Chris Godwin, after making several contested catches out on the practice field.
"He worked his ass off to earn that spot," said Godwin. "So, I could not be happier for him but seeing how he works, it makes sense. You could tell that early, the way he tracks the ball is a high level. He has great attention to detail running through routes and he is tough."
Funderburk, the cornerback out of Appalachian State, made a myriad of splash plays throughout offseason workouts before injuring his foot. However, the coaches saw more than enough from the small sample size to give him a spot on the roster. Funderburk tallied multiple interceptions and the 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back has displayed a ball-hawk mentality and anticipation skills.
In 2023, Funderburk tied for the Sun Belt lead with four interceptions, including a 23-yard interception return and an 18-yard return for a score. With smooth transitions and drive on the ball to jump routes, Funderburk fits the mold of Todd Bowles' aggressive-styled defense.
"With Funderburk, we saw him in the spring and summer and early on when he came in and he is a good football player," described Bowles. "Right away, we knew he had a damn good chance of making this team."
