Training camp is upon us. We will soon see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back on the field; at least in a practice capacity. And despite most of the Buccaneers roster being set in stone, there will still be plenty of storylines to follow.
Every year there are players who impress in camp. Preseason all stars who fight for a roster spot. Young players who show potential and veterans who are “in the best shape of their lives”. And while there will certainly be a surprise player or two, here are my top five most likely to impress this training camp.
Joe Tryon
After opting out of the 2020 season, Tryon will have some rust to shake off. That means he’ll need all the reps he can get. He also projects as a backup behind Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, which means we’ll likely see more of him in preseason action.
Tryon is a rare athlete. His size, speed and intensity are the biggest reasons the Buccaneers invested a first round pick in him. This is a combination that should make for a very good practice player. I expect to hear a lot of buzz around him in camp, despite some rookie growing pains.
Jaelon Darden
There may be no more talented receiver on the Bucs than Darden when it comes to creating yards after catch. He is extremely quick and has good speed to run away from defenders. These are the skills that make him the favorite to win the Buccaneers punt return job.
Because the Buccaneers are very deep at receiver, Darden will likely see a lot of playing time in the preseason. He will have a chance to put himself in the conversation as the Bucs 4th receiving option with Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson. With so many opportunities to shine and such an exciting blend of talent I expect Darden to be the star of Buccaneers training camp.
Khalil Davis
Davis has a shot to make the 53 man roster and be a real part of the defensive line rotation. After showing some flashes in limited playing time as a rookie last year and could be poised to take a jump in his sophomore season.
I believe we can expect to see splashes from Davis through camp. He has always been a plus athlete with explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. Combining that with consistency will be his pathway to playing time.
CJ Prosise
Prosise is exactly what the Buccaneers want in a 4th string running back. He has some ability as a runner and more importantly as a pass catcher. In fact, he’s probably the second best pass catcher out of the backfield on the roster.
It’s a long shot that Prosise will beat out last year’s third round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn. However, I expect Prosise to be the better player throughout camp and preseason. Look for him to be a solid and consistent playmaker and eventually find a home on the Buccaneers practice squad.
Antoine Winfield Jr
The only starting player on this list, I expect Winfield Jr to take a significant jump in his second year. As a rookie we could often see the wheels turning as he processed. However, by the end of the year things were more second nature and he was able to read and react.
I expect Winfield Jr to hit the ground running in year two. This means more interceptions and pass break ups. Of all the players on this Buccaneers team, I believe he will take the biggest step forward from last year.
Honorable mention – Cam Gill
Gill made the team last season as an undrafted rookie out of Wagner College. He will likely be the Buccaneers 5th option at pass rusher and potentially push Anthony Nelson for 4th string. He showed promise as a rookie and even managed to get in on a sack in the Super Bowl.
Because he has special teams value he will likely be a lock for a depth position. And because he is down on the depth chart, he’ll see a lot of preseason action. I think he’ll look really good against the opponent’s bottom of the roster guys.
