{"id":347178,"date":"2026-07-21T11:57:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/347178\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T11:57:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:57:26","slug":"bucs-mvdps-tampa-bays-most-valuable-depth-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/347178\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucs MVDPs: Tampa Bay’s Most Valuable Depth Players"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows the sports mantra \u201cthe next man up.\u201d<\/p>\n

When starters get injured \u2014 in any sport \u2014 teams have to rely on the talent that is waiting in the wings to fill in and perform. The Bucs had to embrace such a reality in 2025, as injuries forced their hand into playing unproven players from the start.<\/p>\n

While Tampa Bay obviously wants better healthier going forward, there will be instances that its depth will be tested. That is what makes having valuable depth players critical in staying on course and returning to the top of the NFC South. Let\u2019s take a deeper look into who the most valuable ones are entering 2026.<\/p>\n

Breaking Down The Bucs MVDPs Entering 2026
\nRB Sean Tucker<\/p>\n

Offseason addition Kenny Gainwell may be second on the Bucs\u2019 running back depth chart heading into the season, but he is not a depth player considering his high involvement within the Steelers\u2019 offense last season. Gainwell will be sharing touches with Bucky Irving, likely in a 1A-1B split. Similar to recent years, that leaves Sean Tucker in a precarious situation as the third running back.<\/p>\n

\"Bucs<\/p>\n

Bucs RB Sean Tucker \u2013 Photo by: Cliff Welch\/PR<\/p>\n

Tucker has seen an increase in snaps each season, logging a career-high 177 offensive snaps in 2025. He has shown flashes of being an impactful player, especially as he had eight total touchdowns last season, three of which came in a 19-carry, 106-yard effort during the team\u2019s 44-32 loss to the Bills. Given how much Irving and Gainwell will be utilized, that makes him a depth player worth monitoring and not forgetting about<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He has a chance at rotating in regardless, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson\u2019s philosophy would not have to change much with Tucker in the game. Should the ground game underwhelm and be in need of a spark, No. 44 will be waiting for his chance. It is hard to argue against him being one of the best third running backs in the NFL, as he would be a primary backup or even fight for a starting job on other teams around the league. That speaks to his value, and he is an important offensive player to have on standby if anything goes awry.<\/p>\n

WR Tez Johnson<\/p>\n

One of the most blatant observations of the Bucs entering the season is that the wide receiver room<\/a> is loaded from top to bottom.<\/p>\n

It speaks volumes that Tez Johnson is relegated to being the fifth wide receiver on the depth chart, even though the 2025 seventh-round pick had 28 catches for 322 yards and five touchdowns during his rookie year. That is impressive production from a Day 3 pick right away, although the chance to build on it is unlikely given the quality passing options in front of him.<\/p>\n

This holds merit, but all it takes is one injury for Johnson to become a legitimate contributor.<\/p>\n

\"Bucs<\/p>\n

Bucs WR Tez Johnson \u2013 Photo by: Cliff Welch\/PR<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s elusiveness is his calling card, which makes him a valuable gadget player for Zac Robinson to deploy. He is not a one-trick pony, considering he is also a vertical threat and in the mix to be a return specialist. Getting him on the field in those ways are chances to make the most out of the room\u2019s depth. Sitting at the bottom of the totem pole, make no mistake about it \u2014 he is a valuable player that makes the wide receiver position an unquestioned team strength.<\/p>\n

OT Ben Chukwuma<\/p>\n

For as dominant as Tristan Wirfs is on the gridiron, he has missed a regular season game in three of the past four seasons. That included missing four games in 2022 and five games in 2025. Wirfs anchors the offensive line as arguably the best blindside protector in the game, but Ben Chukwuma is a valuable left tackle to have as an insurance policy. Chukwuma made the 53-man roster last year as an undrafted free agent after he had an impressive training camp and preseason.<\/p>\n

\"Bucs<\/p>\n

Bucs LT Ben Chukwuma and Saints DE Chase Young \u2013 Photo by: Cliff Welch\/PR<\/p>\n

He was not expected to play at all and have a redshirt first season adjusting to the next level, but injuries along the offensive line forced the team\u2019s hand as he made two starts. Each was a critical learning experience, and \u201cChuks\u201d more than held his own against veteran pass rushers Chase Young and Bradley Chubb. It was a promising development, one that now has him firmly locked in as Wirfs\u2019 backup.<\/p>\n

Given his upside, it would not be surprising to see offensive line coach Kevin Carberry cross-train him this summer to be the primary sixth offensive lineman. Tampa Bay sought to fortify the trenches by signing Justin Skule and drafting Billy Schrauth, but given who he would fill in for, Chukwuma is the most valuable depth offensive lineman on the roster. Who would have thought that just a year ago?<\/p>\n

DT Elijah Roberts<\/p>\n

Elijah Roberts was a beneficiary of extended playing time last season, playing a key role along the Bucs\u2019 defensive line after Calijah Kancey missed most of the year. Roberts started nine games and played 49% of the defensive snaps, which is valuable in his long-term prospects of being a starter upfront. Rather than throwing him into that role this season, the 2025 fifth-round pick will have to bide his time and earn his snaps, given that Kancey has returned and the team signed A\u2019Shawn Robinson to be the third starter and replace Logan Hall.<\/p>\n

\"Bucs<\/p>\n

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts \u2013 Photo by: Cliff Welch\/PR<\/p>\n

That makes him a fourth defensive lineman, one who is more of a rotational depth piece than a true starter. Roberts has not fully tapped into his pass-rushing potential, but he has shown promise in carving out a role and will continue to do so as the first defensive lineman off the bench. Few aspects of roster-building are more valuable than having a strong second wave in the front seven. He will not be in line to start games, but he will have every chance on making his presence felt.<\/p>\n

Given Vea\u2019s age and wanting to keep him fresh and Kancey\u2019s health concerns, Roberts as the top backup is a key component of the defensive line now \u2014 and in the future<\/a>. His ability to keep Tampa Bay\u2019s defensive line fresh makes him much more than just a reserve.<\/p>\n

EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad<\/p>\n

Al-Quadin Muhammad was not the biggest fish the Bucs caught to address the outside pass rush this offseason. The team landing Rueben Bain Jr. stole much of the spotlight as the 15th overall pick is expected to start opposite Yaya Diaby. It is hard not to get excited about what Tampa Bay\u2019s pass-rushing depth can provide behind them.<\/p>\n

\"Bucs<\/p>\n

Bucs OLBs Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker \u2013 Photo by: Cliff Welch\/PR<\/p>\n

Muhammad will be leading the charge, and he proved capable of bringing down the quarterback as he had an 11-sack season with the Lions in 2025. Even if his sack numbers were helped playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson, Yaya Diaby has proven to be one of the best edge rushers in applying pressure, while Bain set up Akheem Mesidor with the Miami Hurricanes last year. Should that not give Muhammad opportunities to clean up and bolster his numbers yet again?<\/p>\n

He is an under-the-radar defensive piece, one who can take over games and get sacks in bunches. For a Todd Bowles\u2019 defense that recorded just 37 sacks in 2025, having a veteran pass rusher who has been there and done that is a valuable addition also worth talking about.<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions:
\nTE Payne Durham<\/p>\n

Payne Durham is worth mentioning as a valuable depth player, given how much he was quietly utilized as the team\u2019s backup tight end last season. He logged significant playing time in 12 personnel packages, which could continue to play a part in Zac Robinson\u2019s offense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Durham has not turned out to be much a receiving threat in the NFL, but he could again be in line to log 30-40% of the offensive snaps as an extra set of blocking hands for the run game. Even if that does not garner headlines, it is a needed skillset in a modern offense.<\/p>\n

ILB SirVocea Dennis<\/p>\n

Should Josiah Trotter entrench himself as the Week 1 starter next to Alex Anzalone, any chance of defensive playing time for SirVocea Dennis is out the door barring injury. Todd Bowles is committed to playing his inside linebackers on nearly every snap, which relegates Dennis to being the third (or fourth) linebacker this season. It is a reduced role for someone who started 16 games in 2025, but that does not diminish his value.<\/p>\n

Given how much of a weakness the position has been, \u201cVoss\u201d has value as a backup who is familiar with Bowles\u2019 scheme. His athletic limitations are real, and they have prevented him from emerging as a full-time player. When it comes to being a spot starter for a game or two, there are much worse options to trot out there. Even if he is not as valuable as players with real paths at playing time like Elijah Roberts or Al-Quadin Muhammad, Dennis is a solid depth linebacker compared to what the team has had in recent memory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Everyone knows the sports mantra \u201cthe next man up.\u201d When starters get injured \u2014 in any sport \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":347179,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-347178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=347178"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347178\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/347179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=347178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=347178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=347178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}