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Home |Bucs MVDPs: Tampa Bay’s Most Valuable Depth Players
By Adam Slivon
Jul. 20, 2026
3:29 pm
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Bucs Olbs Coach Larry Foote And Olb Al-Quadin Muhammad
Home |Bucs MVDPs: Tampa Bay’s Most Valuable Depth Players
By Adam Slivon
Jul. 20, 2026
Table of Contents
Breaking Down The Bucs MVDPs Entering 2026
RB Sean Tucker
WR Tez Johnson
OT Ben Chukwuma
DT Elijah Roberts
EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad
Honorable Mentions:
TE Payne Durham
ILB SirVocea Dennis
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Everyone knows the sports mantra “the next man up.”
When starters get injured — in any sport — teams have to rely on the talent that is waiting in the wings to fill in and perform. The Bucs had to embrace such a reality in 2025, as injuries forced their hand into playing unproven players from the start.
While Tampa Bay obviously wants better healthier going forward, there will be instances that its depth will be tested. That is what makes having valuable depth players critical in staying on course and returning to the top of the NFC South. Let’s take a deeper look into who the most valuable ones are entering 2026.
Breaking Down The Bucs MVDPs Entering 2026
RB Sean Tucker
Offseason addition Kenny Gainwell may be second on the Bucs’ running back depth chart heading into the season, but he is not a depth player considering his high involvement within the Steelers’ offense last season. Gainwell will be sharing touches with Bucky Irving, likely in a 1A-1B split. Similar to recent years, that leaves Sean Tucker in a precarious situation as the third running back.
Bucs Rb Sean Tucker
Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tucker has seen an increase in snaps each season, logging a career-high 177 offensive snaps in 2025. He has shown flashes of being an impactful player, especially as he had eight total touchdowns last season, three of which came in a 19-carry, 106-yard effort during the team’s 44-32 loss to the Bills. Given how much Irving and Gainwell will be utilized, that makes him a depth player worth monitoring and not forgetting about.
He has a chance at rotating in regardless, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s philosophy would not have to change much with Tucker in the game. Should the ground game underwhelm and be in need of a spark, No. 44 will be waiting for his chance. It is hard to argue against him being one of the best third running backs in the NFL, as he would be a primary backup or even fight for a starting job on other teams around the league. That speaks to his value, and he is an important offensive player to have on standby if anything goes awry.
WR Tez Johnson
One of the most blatant observations of the Bucs entering the season is that the wide receiver room is loaded from top to bottom.
It speaks volumes that Tez Johnson is relegated to being the fifth wide receiver on the depth chart, even though the 2025 seventh-round pick had 28 catches for 322 yards and five touchdowns during his rookie year. That is impressive production from a Day 3 pick right away, although the chance to build on it is unlikely given the quality passing options in front of him.
This holds merit, but all it takes is one injury for Johnson to become a legitimate contributor.
Bucs Wr Tez Johnson
Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Johnson’s elusiveness is his calling card, which makes him a valuable gadget player for Zac Robinson to deploy. He is not a one-trick pony, considering he is also a vertical threat and in the mix to be a return specialist. Getting him on the field in those ways are chances to make the most out of the room’s depth. Sitting at the bottom of the totem pole, make no mistake about it — he is a valuable player that makes the wide receiver position an unquestioned team strength.
OT Ben Chukwuma
For as dominant as Tristan Wirfs is on the gridiron, he has missed a regular season game in three of the past four seasons. That included missing four games in 2022 and five games in 2025. Wirfs anchors the offensive line as arguably the best blindside protector in the game, but Ben Chukwuma is a valuable left tackle to have as an insurance policy. Chukwuma made the 53-man roster last year as an undrafted free agent after he had an impressive training camp and preseason.
Bucs Lt Ben Chukwuma And Saints De Chase Young
Bucs LT Ben Chukwuma and Saints DE Chase Young – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
He was not expected to play at all and have a redshirt first season adjusting to the next level, but injuries along the offensive line forced the team’s hand as he made two starts. Each was a critical learning experience, and “Chuks” more than held his own against veteran pass rushers Chase Young and Bradley Chubb. It was a promising development, one that now has him firmly locked in as Wirfs’ backup.
Given his upside, it would not be surprising to see offensive line coach Kevin Carberry cross-train him this summer to be the primary sixth offensive lineman. Tampa Bay sought to fortify the trenches by signing Justin Skule and drafting Billy Schrauth, but given who he would fill in for, Chukwuma is the most valuable depth offensive lineman on the roster. Who would have thought that just a year ago?
DT Elijah Roberts
Elijah Roberts was a beneficiary of extended playing time last season, playing a key role along the Bucs’ defensive line after Calijah Kancey missed most of the year. Roberts started nine games and played 49% of the defensive snaps, which is valuable in his long-term prospects of being a starter upfront. Rather than throwing him into that role this season, the 2025 fifth-round pick will have to bide his time and earn his snaps, given that Kancey has returned and the team signed A’Shawn Robinson to be the third starter and replace Logan Hall.
Bucs Dt Elijah Roberts
Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
That makes him a fourth defensive lineman, one who is more of a rotational depth piece than a true starter. Roberts has not fully tapped into his pass-rushing potential, but he has shown promise in carving out a role and will continue to do so as the first defensive lineman off the bench. Few aspects of roster-building are more valuable than having a strong second wave in the front seven. He will not be in line to start games, but he will have every chance on making his presence felt.
Given Vea’s age and wanting to keep him fresh and Kancey’s health concerns, Roberts as the top backup is a key component of the defensive line now — and in the future. His ability to keep Tampa Bay’s defensive line fresh makes him much more than just a reserve.
EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad
Al-Quadin Muhammad was not the biggest fish the Bucs caught to address the outside pass rush this offseason. The team landing Rueben Bain Jr. stole much of the spotlight as the 15th overall pick is expected to start opposite Yaya Diaby. It is hard not to get excited about what Tampa Bay’s pass-rushing depth can provide behind them.
Bucs Olbs Al-Quadin Muhammad And David Walker
Bucs OLBs Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Muhammad will be leading the charge, and he proved capable of bringing down the quarterback as he had an 11-sack season with the Lions in 2025. Even if his sack numbers were helped playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson, Yaya Diaby has proven to be one of the best edge rushers in applying pressure, while Bain set up Akheem Mesidor with the Miami Hurricanes last year. Should that not give Muhammad opportunities to clean up and bolster his numbers yet again?
He is an under-the-radar defensive piece, one who can take over games and get sacks in bunches. For a Todd Bowles’ defense that recorded just 37 sacks in 2025, having a veteran pass rusher who has been there and done that is a valuable addition also worth talking about.
Honorable Mentions:
TE Payne Durham
Payne Durham is worth mentioning as a valuable depth player, given how much he was quietly utilized as the team’s backup tight end last season. He logged significant playing time in 12 personnel packages, which could continue to play a part in Zac Robinson’s offense.
Durham has not turned out to be much a receiving threat in the NFL, but he could again be in line to log 30-40% of the offensive snaps as an extra set of blocking hands for the run game. Even if that does not garner headlines, it is a needed skillset in a modern offense.
ILB SirVocea Dennis
Should Josiah Trotter entrench himself as the Week 1 starter next to Alex Anzalone, any chance of defensive playing time for SirVocea Dennis is out the door barring injury. Todd Bowles is committed to playing his inside linebackers on nearly every snap, which relegates Dennis to being the third (or fourth) linebacker this season. It is a reduced role for someone who started 16 games in 2025, but that does not diminish his value.
Given how much of a weakness the position has been, “Voss” has value as a backup who is familiar with Bowles’ scheme. His athletic limitations are real, and they have prevented him from emerging as a full-time player. When it comes to being a spot starter for a game or two, there are much worse options to trot out there. Even if he is not as valuable as players with real paths at playing time like Elijah Roberts or Al-Quadin Muhammad, Dennis is a solid depth linebacker compared to what the team has had in recent memory.
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Adam Slivon has covered the Bucs for four seasons with PewterReport.com as a Bucs Beat Writer, Social Media Manager, and Podcaster. Adam started as an intern during his time at the University of Tampa, where he graduated with a degree in Sport Management in May 2023.
In addition to his regular written content, he appears every Thursday on the Pewter Report Podcast, has a weekly YouTube Top 10 Takeaways video series, and leads the managing of the site's social media platforms.
As a Wisconsin native, he spent his childhood growing up on a farm and enjoys Culver's, kringle, and a quality game of cornhole. You can find him most often on X @AdamLivsOn.
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