Todd Bowles Already Dreading Cutdown Day
August 24th, 2026
Bucs coach Todd Bowles likely will not be smiling next weekend.
In less than a week, we will know the initial 53-man roster of your 2026 Buccaneers, baby.
Sunday, by 6 p.m. to be exact, the Bucs must whittle their roster down to 53. There always seems be at least one player, after that initial cutdown, added to the roster a few days later.
Most coaches say cutdown day is the worst part of their jobs and perhaps the worst day of the year, when they have to notify players they aren’t good enough to be Buccaneer men.
After the second worthless preseason game against the Chiefs on Saturday night, Bowles was asked about some positions that will make a dreadful job even worse for him.
“All of them are hard anytime you’ve got to cut somebody,” Bowles said. “But, obviously, [in] the [wide] receiver room, there’s going to be some [tough decisions]. There’s going to be some in the [linebacker] room, inside and outside.
“The last D-lineman is going to be [one] and it’s going to be a problem in the secondary, [and] wideouts as well. We’ve got a big problem … as well at quarterback.”
The only problem at quarterback would be if the Bucs want to risk sneaking Jalon Daniels through waivers to put on the practice squad. But if you’re Todd Monken, for example, Joe is guessing he’d jump at the chance to claim Daniels.
So Daniels is likely to be kept, which means another poor deserving sap will get, as Dick Vitale would say, “The Ziggy.”
A few days ago, Joe thought it would be preposterous to suggest Tez Johnson could be a casualty, but damn, if Dean Patterson isn’t balling out. He’s healthy; Tez is not. As Bill Parcells would say, your best ability is your availability.
Or, instead of Tez Johnson being on thin ice, perhaps Kam Johnson is?
Bowles said there is a brewing problem with decisions in the secondary. To Joe, the only trouble would be who the Bucs are going to pluck off the scrap heap at corner. The cornerback position is woefully thin.
There are so many close calls for Bowles; Joe couldn’t even begin to pick the best 53.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:10 am
1 more season with this fool and he’s done.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:13 am
He should cut himself
August 24th, 2026 at 12:20 am
Not if they have a good season.
The way the D looked that is probable.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:24 am
Bowles will sign a three year extension before the playoffs start.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:30 am
I mean I think the locks are corner are obviously McCollum, Parrish, Morrison Scott. That’s already 4. Garnes probably makes it. There is parodie, Williams, Hayes for #6. Hayes I think has special teams value and isn’t great but has playing experience. Last spot could be tricky. I actually feel the unit has potential, but a lot of ifs with Parrish first season outside, not knowing which McCollum we get, Morrison health, and Scott being a rookie
August 24th, 2026 at 12:34 am
Maybe he can cut himself as part of the cuts.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:53 am
Don’t love 3 QBs for this reason.
From what I have read and heard… if they only planned on keeping 2 QBs, you cut Browning.
If Baker goes down, Bucs aren’t expected to win and Bowles will want to play ball control anyway. Keep the kid who can run, tailor the playbook.
Don’t love 4 RBs either.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:58 am
If they cut Tez Johnson, he’ll end up in Denver w Sean Peyton and Bo Nix- if you’re gonna cut him, try to trade him there first. But you’d be a moron to cut him.
That being said I’d say there a high probability he gets cut
August 24th, 2026 at 1:03 am
Browning got squashed quite a lot. I don’t know if this is such a reliable backup other than getting clobbered when you don’t want Mayfield to get it maybe. Cut him and keep Jalon
August 24th, 2026 at 1:12 am
@Joe, cmon. Take a stab at your 53 and let’s see how close you are. Seriously, would be interesting.
August 24th, 2026 at 1:39 am
Tez Johnson will not be cut neither will Daniels
August 24th, 2026 at 1:42 am
And the gloves.come off…
August 24th, 2026 at 2:04 am
They’re not cutting Tez Johnson. You don’t cut a better player for a temporary injury situation. That’s one way to weaken your roster. Jeez. Kam Johnson hasn’t proven much as an NFL player. Patterson could take the #6 receiver spot from him.
August 24th, 2026 at 2:08 am
Imo last spot between Patterson and Kam. Tez contributed a fair bit last year for a late round pick. He can add something when injuries happen and not gonna last on practice squad. Someone like Patterson might and has only played against backups.
August 24th, 2026 at 2:26 am
Defense will be easier to make good choices because they have clearly been coached better. It will also be more heart breaking because many who will get cut have played their asses off and have played well. On offence the raw talent will be easier to make good choices. The areas on offence that have not been coached so well is where mistakes may be made. I believe this is the time to evaluate coaching changes where guys were not put in the best position to win a job. These cuts must be made too. These games have been useful to evaluate the floor and ceiling of the depth players who have been coached well.
August 24th, 2026 at 3:00 am
NFLPA needs to fight for a 60 man roster.
And an NFL D League.
America loves football.
Time to expand. And provide more jobs to hard working Americans
August 24th, 2026 at 3:44 am
The only problem at quarterback would be if the Bucs want to risk sneaking Jalon Daniels through waivers to put on the practice squad.
——
I really disagree with that – Daniels has played great, but vs 3rd and 4th teamers, and for another team to spend a 3rd QB slot on a guy based off limited tape vs deep backups, it just seems very unlikely.
However, with that said, I’d just keep Daniels and cut Browning – I think he’s even more of a surefire thing to not be claimed, and the Bucs can then just add him to the PS.
Frankly if Baker went down, the Bucs would likely be in trouble either way, but right now I’d rather take my chances on Daniels, who has a much much better arm, and can run – and you can always adjust the offense to use his ability to create yards on the ground. Browning, with the complete lack of velocity on his throws, just doesn’t seem like someone that brings much to the table. I could have sworn I’ve seen him throw a lot harder, but rewatching his highlights from Cinny, pretty much everything he threw hung in the air and he relied on Chase and Higgins to go get the ball.
August 24th, 2026 at 3:52 am
Going to be some tough cuts this season . It’s a good problem to have as a fan. There be some guys we cut that make an nfl opening day roster.
August 24th, 2026 at 4:32 am
Looks like our roster is about 95% cut-and-dried. Several sites have projected what it’ll look like, and all seem to favor the 25 offense, 25 defense, 3 S/Ts approach.
OFFENSE … 3 QB, 9 OLine, 5 WR, 4 TE, 4 RB
DEFENSE … 6 DLine, 5 OLB, 4 ILB, 6 CB, 4 Safety
S/Ts … 1 K, 1 P, 1 LS
On offense there’s always the option to only keep 3 RBs and increase to 6 WRs. Similar on defense, where there’s the option to keep 6 OLBs and decrease to only 5 CBs. That’s kinda the cost of keeping 3 QBs on the roster, but I’m convinced the Bucs intend to keep Browning as their #2 QB yet still protect Daniels.
August 24th, 2026 at 5:17 am
” Joe couldn’t even begin to pick the best 53.”
OK – fine I’ll do it for you then
Offense: 25
QB – Mayfield, Daniels
RB – Irving, Gainwell, Tucker, Williams
WR – Godwin, Egbuka, McMillan, Hurst, Tez Johnson, Kam Johnson
TE – Otton, Durham, Kieft, Sharp
OL – Wirfs. Bredeson, Barton, Mauch, Goedeke, Chukwuma, Skule, Feeney, Schrouth
Defense: 25
DL – Vea, Kancey, Robinson, Roberts, Nunez-Roches, Capehart
OLB – Diaby, Bain, Walker, AQM, Nelson
ILB – Anzalone, Trotter, Rozeboom, Dennis
CB – McCollum, Parrish, Scott, Morrison, Garnes, Hayes
S – Winfield, Smith, Melifonwu, Killebrew
ST: 3
K – McLaughlin
P – Dixon
LS – Deckers
Practice Squad (if not claimed off waivers by another team)
QB – Bazelak
RB – Kpeenu
WR – Patterson, Greene
TE – Culp
OL- Rubelt, Foerner, Haggard, Hutmacher
DL – Simmons, Jones
OLB – Kamara, Pyburn
ILB – Fordham, Jackson
CB – Parodie
S – Wisdom
I would cut Browning – but if the Bucs feel they have to keep 3 QBs because of Daniels’ lack of experience – then RB Williams comes off the 53 and goes to the PS.
August 24th, 2026 at 5:42 am
Oline depth is brutal. Corner is even riskier top to bottom. Licht has some major blind spots and oline is usually one of them.
August 24th, 2026 at 6:44 am
Whatever happened to JJ Roberts?
August 24th, 2026 at 6:52 am
@Pickgrin,
I like your roster. Only thing I might see different is Culp and Wisdom not making it back. There have to be some teams out there that would make them the number 4 TE or Safety.
But that’s just a guessing game, of course
August 24th, 2026 at 6:56 am
Tez is a major spark plug, that would be so dumb to cut him, he had five tds last year in limited time- every time he touched the ball good things happen.
August 24th, 2026 at 8:14 am
6 days and a burner preseason game to go until the “first “ 53 are named…
followed by a few days of roster games between the teams.
Getting close boys and girls…
August 24th, 2026 at 8:16 am
Tez scored what 6 NFL TD’s last year….
He’s safe !
That said his biggest plus is that he has GREAT hands!
August 24th, 2026 at 8:17 am
I would keep Pepe Williams over Hayes and we need another guard from somewhere. Feeney is not a guard and he generally SUCKS. Find one and bring him IN. Hayes may be a good special teamer but Garnes or Williams can take his spot. I wouldn’t trust using Feeney at center or guard.
August 24th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Pickgrin
seems about right….
bye bye Braswell!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
August 24th, 2026 at 8:59 am
The bots are out in force with their bad comments. So Joe, do you think Fordham will make the 53?
August 24th, 2026 at 9:05 am
I agree if Baker goes down and likely he will at some point , the Bucs are in trouble. With that said I think we all saw the obvious you can open up the play book with more options with Daniels than Browning. Browning has the experience but Daniels can run and while at times inaccurate he seems to create energy with both his arm and legs. I think I would rather see Daniels than Browning at this point. Daniels has room to improve, Browning as Gruden said may be destined for a back up role.
The secondary, still say we need an a seasoned cb. While yes McColumn made one really good play Sat, do we know how he is going to play this year. Morrison, who knows at this point. I think Garnes has to make the team.
August 24th, 2026 at 9:12 am
I don’t think it’s likely Baker goes down this season- not if the starting offensive line is in. They excel at pass protection. Each and every one of them! If the starters go out with injuries then it’s time to worry. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen this year.
August 24th, 2026 at 9:20 am
HC Todd Bowles has morphed into the body of that overweight lunch lady.
This could affect his evaluation process.
August 24th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Why is Dixon still on the team? Short and unreliable. Surely, there is a FA out there with better stats. Freeney is a bust also. We have to pick up someone better.