TAMPA, Fla. – We conclude our position-by-position look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as training camp approaches with the defensive backs.
This is going to be one of the most competitive areas in training camp and the preseason as the Bucs are likely to carry 10 or 11 defensive backs. The only thing that seems certain is that Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks will be the starting cornerbacks. Beyond that, everything else is up for grabs.
The safety positions are wide open with Bradley McDougald, D.J. Swearinger, Major Wright and Chris Conte expected to compete for the two starting positions. Keith Tandy also has a chance at a roster spot because he’s a valuable special-teams player.
Mike Jenkins and Sterling Moore were working as the second-team cornerbacks during minicamp. But Moore could switch to nickelback, a position the Bucs treat as a separate entity. Leonard Johnson was the nickelback last year and he and Isaiah Frey were the only two players working at nickelback in minicamp. But Moore was brought in as a free agent in part because of his ability to play nickelback.
