Roster analysis.
To win a Super Bowl a roster pretty much has to be loaded or complete. So how do the Bucs measure up this fall?
Eric Edholm of NFL.com took a look at the best rosters in the league. The usual, predictable suspects are at the top of the list.
Edholm does have the Bucs in the top-10, but not that high [at No. 7](https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-top-10-most-complete-teams-for-2025-season-bills-eagles-lions-among-well-rounded-squads).
Edholm seems to really like the Bucs’ offensive roster, though he’s a bit lukewarm on Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield (he points out Mayfield led the league in picks but strangely failed to mention Mayfield was second in the league in touchdown passes, trailing only St. Lamar by two touchdown tosses — why?).
However, as much as Edholm likes the Bucs’ offensive roster, he’s skittish about the Bucs’ defensive roster.
> Defensively, they’re less established, but the potential is there. If injuries don’t bite the secondary again, that should be a quality group overall with the addition of Day 2 draft picks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. The ageless Lavonte David returns as the heartbeat of the defense, and there are quality pieces up front in Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby. But finding more pass-rush sources and front-seven depth will be the keys to making an average defense a bit more impactful.
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> The Bucs might lack true blue-chip talent at several positions, and not everyone might be convinced that Mayfield is a true difference-maker and winner. But the pieces are there for another division-title run — and perhaps more. If the explosive offense hits peak performance, this might be one of the higher-scoring attacks in the league.
Joe will give Edholm some support when it comes to the Bucs’ defense. Joe just is not comfortable with SirVocea Dennis. Yes, he’s talented. Joe doesn’t think there is any question about that.
The question with Dennis isn’t ability, it’s availability. Dude has missed 17 games in his first two years. The Bucs swear he is past his injuries but Joe wants to peek into that same crystal ball to get lottery numbers.
Until a guy has done something, he hasn’t. And Dennis has yet to play a full season (he suited up for 13 games his rookie season in 2023). So the Bucs are banking on Dennis to accomplish something he has yet to do. _#Gulp_
If Dennis can stay on the field for, say, 15 games, this could be a scary good team the Bucs have.