Bucs Release First Depth Chart
August 6th, 2025
“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 Johnson 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.
August 6th, 2025 at 5:28 am
Dean’s having a good camp with no take aways? That’s the very reason they drafted Morrison, Bowles wants corners who catch the ball, not just get a hand on it. Morrison has a good preseason, he’ll beat out Dean to start.
August 6th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Tez Palmer? Lol
August 6th, 2025 at 7:32 am
“…the NFL likes to pretend this is a game week.” uhhhh…I’m pretty sure the Bucs play Friday night at 7:30p. If not for the all important preseason games, what else are you gonna watch;? reruns of Welcome Back Kotter?
Therefore, this is in fact a game week. Don’t believe me? just ask Ben Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Charlie Heck and others.
August 6th, 2025 at 7:51 am
If you tune in on Friday, you’ll be disappointed to have to wait 24 hours.
All three preseason games are on Saturdays.
Either starting at 7:00 or 7:30 depending on the game.
August 6th, 2025 at 8:22 am
@KAbucs – not true. I “rented” NFL+ for the month for $6.99. All of the VERY important preseason games live in my area.
August 6th, 2025 at 8:23 am
Biggest disappointment is pushing Bryce Hall down, I thought
He was playing better than Morrison. Also surprised about Dev Culp. In the two practices I saw, he got a lot of reps with the ones.
August 6th, 2025 at 8:25 am
It is all an illusion in my opinion. Culp shouldn’t even be a TE, he is a Mike Evans clone.
August 6th, 2025 at 8:37 am
This just preliminary. Things will change on opening day.
August 6th, 2025 at 8:48 am
@KABucs…whooops ! I’m wrong. You’re right. Saturday.
August 6th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Question JomBobBuc… How many snaps have you watched in comparison to the total snaps these players have had?? 5 percent?
August 6th, 2025 at 9:22 am
Agreed FirstLast, Culp is basically the same size as Evans and a little bit faster as I recall. He made some pretty difficult receptions at the end of last year. They should try moving him to WR to back up Evans.
August 6th, 2025 at 9:47 am
NFL just banned smelling salts, Baker is going to be pissed off 🤣
August 6th, 2025 at 9:50 am
The first depth chart always has a few head-scratchers on it.
August 6th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Things won’t change much on opening day. IMHO.
August 6th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Bryce Hall has a worst injury history than Dean
And Morrison also have a bad injury history
I’m not sure about our Cornerbacks staying healthy
August 6th, 2025 at 11:09 am
Dean starts the season but Morrison starts game 3 for the injured Dean.
Nothing new here except Hopefully we get a more reliable Morrison who will see the field more often and help the defensive performance lead the Bucs deep into the playoffs.
August 6th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Buc4ever.
Here is why I am not a fan of your comparison between Mike Evans and Devin Culp.
Evans Height 6 feet 5 inches
Devin Culp Height 6 feet 3 inches
That is 2 inches. That is an elite difference.
Mike Evans arm length — 35 1/8 inch. That is longer than all the receivers.
Devin Culp arm length — 32 78 inch. This is slightly above normal.
The thing that has made Evans a HOFer is not that he is tall — it is that he has go-go-gadget wing span to pull in high balls no one else in the NFL can do.
Culp will never excel like that. His wingspan is in the 78th percentile.
Evans sets the standard for all other NFL receivers with ridiculously elite wingspan.
Culp can eventually be a piece for a good team. Just not sure why anyone would want to give Mike Evans comparisons.
August 6th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Hey Hodad, guess who got two picks today. I’ll give you one guess, it rhymes with Damel Jean
August 7th, 2025 at 5:11 am
Ugo
The nfl didn’t ban smelling salts .
They banned clubs providing them to players .so it’s BYOSS!
bake and the boyz can still get a whiff
August 7th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Not sure but this is probably not an etched in stone type chart. Especially on the defensive backfield and WR TE. We have players who are not starters but have different abilities that can be used in different ways but just not as every down dudes. Culp is a great receiveing threat but not the blocker he needs to be.
All of the mix and match that Todd does on the back end leads me to believe much the same way there. He has said as much.
We got WRs who proved they can step in and be a #2 or #3. Egbuka is a do it all dude. Who is backing up Mike? If McMillan continues do improve he will be a legit #2 in the future. Palmer is not likely to make the 53. I don’t see Sheppard as the answer. Sorry but he has problems keeping his head in the game. Tez deserves a shot if he can do the Punt returns. Hard to give up on Miller he did well last year and blocks better than most all of the WRs.
Go Bucs!
August 7th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Wonder if Baker has a substitute for the smelly salts I am sure he will get something of that caliber but legal,like have a wet cloth with ammonia on it
August 7th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Baker said kittle is addicted to smelly salt