Devin Culp A Weapon In Hiding?
July 2nd, 2025
Tristian Wirfs, right, celebrates with Devin Culp after a catch.
Joe heard Pat Donovan of “The Pat and Aaron Show” on WDAE-AM 620 bring this up and it makes a lot of sense.
Donovan, part of the Buccaneers Radio Network, has a hunch backup Devin Culp will burn some people this year.
Last year, though he only played 41 snaps of offense, Culp showed an ability to stretch the field unlike any other Bucs tight end, specifically down the seam.
Cade Otton is a reliable tight end — gotta work on those dropsies, Cade — who can somewhat stretch the field. His former college teammate Culp can do that a little better.
Culp caught his first NFL pass in Week 17. He ended the season with six targets, catching five and averaging 17 yards a catch. He’s more of a modern tight end, meaning he has a better receiving skillset than a traditional tight end who lines up tight to the tackle and is as adept at blocking as he is at catching.
Culp doesn’t seem to be much of a blocker.
Donovan noted Culp brings an ability to strike deep. So he’s another toy for new Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.
Put him on the field in obvious passing situations with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan — what the hell is a defense going to do?
@953wdae Bucs offense about to be EXPLOSIVE in 2024! More weapons than ever before – this defense better step up because Tampa Bay is coming! #iheartradio ♬ original sound – 953wdae
July 2nd, 2025 at 4:17 am
LOVE this idea. Let’s do it!
July 2nd, 2025 at 4:52 am
Agree, put him in!
July 2nd, 2025 at 5:29 am
Culp fancies himself as a wideout but he is a tight end. He better become a better blocker. Sean Tucker made a catch on a seam route against the Saints- it was a tough catch that he made look easy, then made a great cut and breakaway speed to score. Culp and Tucker are both very talented playmakers and Grizzard knows it. But when your QB is out there laying down blocks, along with everyone else on the field, then you as a backup tight end or backup running back, had better be an excellent blocker. I think both are learning that and hopefully we can see some more of that play making ability this year.
July 2nd, 2025 at 5:38 am
He seems more like a Mike Evans type of receiver to me.
July 2nd, 2025 at 5:45 am
In his limited snaps, Dev showed Grizz and Bake that he’s worthy of snaps and targets. Gaining Bake’s confidence is huge for Dev, I’ll be looking for Joe to let us know about Bake-Dev connections in practice. Also, I’m looking forward to seeing what Grizz can scheme for him!
July 2nd, 2025 at 6:56 am
Devin certainly caught my attention in the few snaps he played last year.
I thought he showed a great ability to get down the field quickly, and he seems to have pretty good hands.
I agree he may need to work on his blocking skills just a bit; he comes across as more of a receiving type of TE.
Payne also showed promise last year in the few snaps that he got. Cade, of course, showed that he could really step up for those few games when Mike and Chris were both out.
All in all, I think we have a solid TE room.
July 2nd, 2025 at 7:06 am
I honestly hope he talks to and learns as much as he can from Mike Evans. They have a similar body type and the speed is definitely there. He doesn’t need to be a world class blocker if he can become Mike Evan 2.0.
July 2nd, 2025 at 7:52 am
Culp can be our version of a TE like Isiah Likely is in Baltimore behind Mark Andrews.
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:04 am
I agree Joe. I don’t think we have seen the best out of Culp yet. Finding ways to get him on the field may be the problem. We are stacked.
Go Bucs!
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:06 am
Joe says, “Put him on the field in obvious passing situations with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan — what the hell is a defense going to do?”
Lt Dan says, “Add Bucky, White or Tucker to that mix – what the hell is a defense going to do?”
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:23 am
Culp and Tucker both have better speed than the guys in front of them. Tucker has already demonstrated good hands and big play ability. Culp showed us a glimpse. Scary weapons on the bench just waiting. And plays designed with both in certain situations could totally confuse a defense not used to seeing them. So many opportunities in personnel combinations for the offense it’s understandable why we hired a guy from Yale to figure it out. LOL
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:36 am
YES!
Fast as F !
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:56 am
Nobody ever talks about Travis Kelsey’s blocking or George Kittle’s blocking, but they did talk about Gronk’s blocking. Truth be told … Nobody talks about Otton’s blocking either.
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:58 am
Not saying they can’t block.
July 2nd, 2025 at 9:03 am
Devin Culp measurables from last year: 6’4″ 237, 4.47 40 time. He definitely has wheels to outrun most LBs.
July 2nd, 2025 at 10:34 am
Griz needs to override his boss’s predilection for thinking good players aren’t ready.
July 2nd, 2025 at 11:18 am
IMO Devin Culp is the most underrated player on the team.
July 2nd, 2025 at 11:20 am
@Lt Dan – I had the exact same thought. We could go with a heavy wishbone formation and run or pass out of it with the players we have
July 2nd, 2025 at 11:21 am
Priority in the Bucs pass targets heirarchy:
1. Evans
2. Godwin
3. Irving/White
4. McMillan
5. Otton
6. Egbuka (for now)
7. Everyone else (including Culp)
Outside of the top 6 in that list, anyone else averaging a single target per game should consider themselves blessed. The only way things change will be due to injuries. I like Culp, but the lack of blocking really limits his snap counts.
July 2nd, 2025 at 11:43 am
That photo of Wirfs and Culp amazes me. Makes it look like Wirfs is about a foot taller, yet the difference between the two is only 1 inch (6’4″ Culp vs 6’5″ Wirfs).
Agree with TDTB & Scotty Mack regarding the similarities between Culp & Evans. Sizewise they’re very very close, and speed-wise Culp is probably a tad faster. Very underrated player at this point in his career. That’ll change this year.
July 2nd, 2025 at 11:46 am
Having Devin be our speed TE in receiving and Payne showed the ability in his 3 starts when Cade was out to be an equal ( or almost equal) to Cade in both blocking ( actually a better blocker) and receiving (11 catches, 2 TDs) , will allow those two to alternate out more, keeping Cade fresher ( which should also make him even more productive). I would also keep Ko for special teams. I LOVE our TE room. Also both Payne and Cade can stay in and help pass protect if they need to with our other WR’s on the field. This helps Baker.
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:06 pm
@TDTB Says:
July 2nd, 2025 at 5:38 am
He seems more like a Mike Evans type of receiver to me.
@Famu_Rattler Says:
I’ve been posting this for months. Glad to see it has made the prime time storyline. I agree Devin Culp sh/be listen to Mike Evans all the time. With Mike looking at his sunset, Devin could be in-house protype replacement in training right now. Save drafting another rookie, we can just plug and play Devin. And save out future draft picks for Edge Rushers until we find the right one.
Go Bucs, with Devin.
July 2nd, 2025 at 2:25 pm
I liked him at Washington & always thought he had the talent to be good. Yeah I would’ve considered drafting him. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more of him. When they used him he was looking pretty good.
July 2nd, 2025 at 3:43 pm
Really caught around like a 4.45 at the combine or something like that which makes him definitely an unusual tight end.
July 2nd, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Culp reminds me of Tim Wright, Have have hopes for him As a receiving tight end and Redzone target.
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Tbbucs3 Says:
July 2nd, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Culp reminds me of Tim Wright
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Yeah, that’s a good example on Wright. Small sample size so far, but if you can turn a 7th rounder into that, it’s a big win for Licht.