TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the 2026 NFL regular season at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13. But first, they play one more preseason game Friday at the Jacksonville Jaguars, and then must cut their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Who will make the team? Which positions have tough decisions on deck? And where might the lineup be deepest and thinnest this season?
This projection looks surprisingly close to what we had heading into camp. That includes outside linebacker Chris Braswell -- the Bucs' 2024 second-round draft pick -- among the cuts. Cornerback Josh Hayes, a 2023 sixth-round draft pick is also out too, with the addition of special teams Pro Bowler Miles Killebrew following Danny Smith from Pittsburgh. He was also outperformed by rookie undrafted free agent Ayden Garnes and Damarion "Pepe" Williams at outside cornerback.
You'll also notice the Bucs have three quarterbacks in this projection. Many would argue Jalon Daniels played his way into the No. 2 role, but Jake Browning affords them some experience, which is a benefit to Mayfield.
Here is our projection for the final 53-man roster for the Bucs.
Quarterbacks (3)
Baker Mayfield, Jalon Daniels, Jake Browning
Daniels has proven to be a fast study going from a college wristband system to having his offensive coordinator in his helmet, and he gave the offense a jolt every time he entered the game, with his greatest attributes being his ability to throw on the run and thrive out of structure. Is he quite ready to step in if Mayfield goes down tomorrow though? That's where Browning comes in.
Running backs (3)
Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, Sean Tucker
Irving remains the starter while Gainwell handles third down duties while also offering a change of pace and contributions to the return game. Tucker, despite inconsistent opportunities over the last two years, has shown he's very capable (seven touchdowns last year) and beats out Josh Williams and Barika Kpeenu.
Wide receivers (6)
Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, Ted Hurst III, Kameron Johnson
Johnson wins the sixth receiver role due to his performance in the second preseason game, which saw him lining up in multiple spots and included a 22-yard reception off Jake Browning, and we saw him line up at punt and kick returner -- a role in which he started all last year. Garrett Greene was the only other receiver in the mix whom we saw on kick returns this preseason. Neither Dennis Houston nor Dean Patterson played special teams in the preseason, while David Sills V served as a gunner on punts.
Tight ends (4)
Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Bauer Sharp
Sharp, a rookie sixth-round pick out of LSU, beats out third-year tight end Devin Culp because of his positional versatility to line up in different spots and blocking abilities. Kieft continues to be a big contributor on special teams.
Offensive linemen (10)
Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, Justin Skule, Benjamin Chukwuma, Dan Feeney, Billy Schrauth, Mohamed Kamara
Chukwuma got a ton of opportunities with Wirfs dealing with injuries in camp, and he showed a lot of improvement. He and Skule will serve as backup tackles. Schrauth, a 2026 fifth-round pick, missed time with a knee injury. If he needs to miss more time, Luke Haggard gives them another backup who can play inside and outside, or there is Elijah Klein, who can play guard or center. Paul Rubelt can be the 17th member of the practice as part of the International Pathway Player Program, allowing for an extra roster spot.
Defensive linemen (6)
Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, A'Shawn Robinson, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Elijah Roberts, DeMonte Capehart
Vea, Kancey and Robinson will start with Nuñez-Roches, Roberts and Capehart serving as backups. Capehart, the Bucs' other fifth-round pick this year, beats out Jayson Jones, Josiah Green and Elijah Simmons for the final spot.
Outside linebackers (6)
Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Rueben Bain Jr., Anthony Nelson, David Walker,
Diaby and Bain will start, with Muhammad moving all across the line and Walker and Nelson serving in rotational capacities. Mohamed Kamara makes the practice squad.
Inside linebackers (4)
Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, Christian Rozeboom, SirVocea Dennis
Anzalone and Trotter will start, with Rozeboom (who had 122 tackles in 15 games for the Carolina Panthers last year) and Dennis serving as backups and contributing on special teams. Those two beat out John Bullock, Caden Fordham and Nick Jackson.
Cornerbacks (6)
Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Keionte Scott, Ayden Garnes, Damarion Williams
McCollum and Parrish should be Week 1 starters, especially with Morrison coming back from a hamstring injury. Garnes and Williams beat out Hayes, a core special teams performer who showed some improvement in his coverage in camp but did not match that duo's consistent playmaking. Scott provides value as a nickelback, backup safety and he played outside corner in college.
Safeties (4)
Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Miles Killebrew, Rashad Wisdom
Wisdom, who had an interception in the first preseason game, plays free safety, while Killebrew can play strong safety. JJ Roberts who had a solid camp last year before suffering a torn ACL, is still working his way back from the injury.
Special teams (3)
Chase McLaughlin (K), Evan Deckers (LS), Riley Dixon (P)
The trio of specialists return, but it should be noted that Dixon did have some struggles this preseason.
