_“Todd, are you really sure about Devin Culp?”_
So yesterday the Bucs published their first depth chart of 2025.
It’s nothing to get too worked up over since we’re still in training camp and the only reason the Bucs put out a depth chart is because it was mandated by the league as the NFL likes to pretend this is a game week.
Knowing that it’s mostly fluff until the 53-man roster is set, Joe will offer some eyebrow-raisers.
\* Emeka Egbuka is listed as a backup to Chris Godwin. That may be the case when Godwin is 100 percent. But trust Joe, Egbuka is your No. 2 receiver so long as Godwin is out.
\* Trey Palmer is listed as a backup to Mike Evans and Tez Palmer is listed as a backup to Jalen McMillan. Joe still maintains there is one roster spot for Johnson or Palmer. Both are sidelined by undisclosed injuries. The one who gets back on the field first will have a slight edge.
\* Bucky Irving is listed as the No. 1 running back.
\* Benjamin Morrison is currently penciled in as Jamel Dean’s backup. Barring injury (always a thing for Dean), Dean will be your Week 1 starter. He’s having a really good camp.
\* The Bucs have but two cornerback positions posted. As a result, Jacob Parrish is backing up Zyon McCollum. Joe expects Parrish to be your Week 1 starting nickel corner.
\* Long-time NFL veteran tackle Adam Gotsis, who the past two years played for the Colts, is backing up Logan Hall, not Elijah Roberts, who is third string.
\* Bryce Hall is third-team. If Parrish is a nickel corner, Joe really thought Hall was practicing well enough to be the first corner off the bench.
\* Other notable projected third-teamers include: Sterling Shepard, Sua Opeta, Ko Kieft, Sean Tucker, Kindle Vildor and Shilo Sanders.
\* Devin Culp is shockingly fourth-team. He has gotten a lot of snaps with the first team offense and had production. Joe doesn’t buy this.