As the 2020 offseason draws closer, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a ton of tough decisions to make. One of those decisions will be who will play in the Tampa Bay secondary. Tampa Bay’s young and talented secondary will look to have a ton on turnovers and pass breakups this upcoming season.
The 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary was filled with names like Vernon Hargreaves III, Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Ryan Smith, M.J. Stewart, Jordan Whitehead, Kentrell Brice, Justin Evans, Mike Edwards, Andrew Adams, and D’Cota Dixon.
Who makes it in 2020?
Cornerbacks Parnell Motley & Mazzi Wilkins
Both players were un-drafted but If I know Todd Bowles, that means he will go with someone that has more experience in his defense. I’m sure that Motley won’t go without a fight. He will probably give Wilkins a run for his money on that last corner spot if Bowles keeps an extra corner over a safety.
Prediction: Both will probably make the practice squad unless they can either impress scouts in camp on the defense or special teams or beat out M.J. Stewart or Ryan Smith.
Defensive Backs Strength in Familiarity
The greatest strength on defense is familiarity and communication. The bad part about the 2019 season was that all the defensive backs were young and inexperienced. In the upcoming 2020 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have something they haven’t had in a long time, continuity. The team has all of its starters and coaches from last season returning to play in 2020.
Potential Practice Squad Players
D’Cota Dixon
The 5’10” 204-pound safety out of Wisconsin was picked to start by words of Bruce Arians before a few injuries had happened. Dixon is a very physical safety that can play down in the box or provide coverage if needed. Dixon is still highly talked about by Arians. He will likely have another chance at leaving his mark on this team by making the final 53-man roster.
Javon Hagan
Javon Hagan is a young talented player coming out of the University of Ohio with plenty of ambition and heart. Hagan will have every opportunity to make the Buccaneers 53 man roster.
Returning Players
Justin Evans
Evans has had a few interceptions in his brief career. Two of them were from two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Tampa Bay’s newest quarterback, Tom Brady. Evans has all the talent in the world and he has shown it when he was on the field but he has to be on the field. As of now, there’s no telling what Evans return status is with his toe injury that sidelined him for nearly two seasons. When Arians was asked about Evans’s status, he said “he should return on time.”
Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jordan Whitehead & Mike Edwards
These names will be the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they all have their own strengths and weaknesses but the common denominator is that they all are determined to win and are focused on getting better each and every day. Where the true greatness comes from in this young core is all of them to hold each other accountable and believe in one another. This unit reminds me of the young and hungry “Legion of Boom” that were all drafted by Pete Carroll in Seattle.
Sky’s the limit.
New Kid On The Block
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield Jr. was blessed to have the perfect support system leading up to his NFL career. His dad is a former NFL standout and his steadily rising head coach at Minnesota by the name P. J. Fleck. He’ll give the veterans and younger players hell this upcoming offseason. He will see the field early by his playmaking ability and knowledge on how to study the game. The reason Winfield Jr. will play a lot of downs in 2020 is his ability to play in the box and cover/ tackle in the box or play deep coverage. I look forward to seeing Winfield make a big impact early.
