TAMPA, Fla. -- The defensive backs are up next in our series of pre-camp position-by-position overviews for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs are in good shape at cornerback. Alterraun Verner is set as one starter. The other position likely will come down to a competition between Johnthan Banks and Mike Jenkins. Banks might have the slight edge. Jenkins was supposed to be the starter last year, but he suffered a pectoral injury and missed the season. That opened the way for Banks to start, and he blossomed.
Free-agent pickup Sterling Moore should land a roster spot as a backup.
The Bucs treat nickelback as a separate entity, so the loser of the Jenkins/Banks competition will not be the third corner. Leonard Johnson was the nickelback last season and he’ll have to hold off competition from Isaiah Frey.
The safety spots are up for grabs. The coaching staff is high on Bradley McDougald, so he might have an early edge. But the Bucs have some other quality candidates.
Chris Conte played for coach Lovie Smith in Chicago. D.J. Swearinger, who was claimed off waivers, was a second-round choice by Houston in 2013. Major Wright also played for Smith in Chicago. Keith Tandy could stick around as a backup and special-teams player.
