Who backs up Jamel Dean when he’s hurt?
Boy, the Bucs must have a helluva roster if this is the only task left in building their 2025 team.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com thinks all the Bucs need to focus on between now and opening day is figuring out the depth chart for the secondary.
If this is all the Bucs need to worry about, should Bucs fans start looking for February airline deals to Silicon Valley?
Top priority: Determine the pecking order in the secondary.
…Todd Bowles reiterated this week that [Tykee] Smith is a safety who will, on occasion, play nickel. Moving Smith around will give Bowles a chess piece to work with. Rookie Jacob Parrish is an option to take over Smith’s nickel spot, and Bowles suggested Zyon McCollum could also move inside. Tampa used its second- and third-round picks in this year’s draft on corners Benjamin Morrison and Parrish, respectively, to upgrade a unit that both struggled at times in 2024 and dealt with injuries. If Morrison and Parrish are ready to play right away, Smith’s transition to safety will be easier. If the nickel crew struggles, Bowles might have to adjust on the fly, potentially adding another veteran safety to the mix.
Joe knows the secondary will be deeper, but better is a maybe. But deeper usually means better.
Will the real Antoine Winfield return? Can Tykee Smith both stay healthy and play safety? Doing so in college and doing so in the NFL are two different animals. Joe does like the “dawg” in him, though.
If one is going to take Patra’s word as gospel, the key element is getting either rookie cornerback, Benjamin Morrison or Jacob Parrish, ready to start for the injured Jamel Dean. No, Dean isn’t injured — yet. But he will be.
Joe’s priority would be finding another inside linebacker. Let’s be real: If Anthony Walker was all that, would Miami have let him walk?
And until proven otherwise, SirVocea Dennis also is an injury waiting to happen.
Please stay healthy, Lavonte David.