Welcome to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2023 UDFA Tracker! As a die-hard Bucs fan, I have been eagerly following the team’s moves as they fill out their roster with undrafted free agents. With the upcoming NFL season just around the corner, it’s exciting to see which players will make the cut and potentially make an impact on the field. Stay tuned as we track the Bucs’ newest additions and root for their success!
Introduction
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off an incredibly successful season, winning Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, to remain competitive in the NFL, teams must continually develop and replenish their roster, and one way to do that is through undrafted free agents (UDFAs). With that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential UDFA targets for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2023 offseason.
Offensive Prospects
One player who could garner interest from the Buccaneers is tight end Dalton Keene. Keene played his college ball at Virginia Tech and was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. However, he was waived during final roster cuts in 2021 and spent time on the practice squad before being cut in early 2022. Keene is a versatile player who can line up as a traditional tight end, H-back, or even as a fullback in certain formations. He has good hands, is a willing blocker, and has shown the ability to make plays after the catch. With the Buccaneers needing depth at the tight end position, Keene could be a solid addition to the team.
Another offensive prospect who could interest the Buccaneers is running back D.J. Williams. Williams played his college ball at Auburn and was signed as a UDFA by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. However, he did not make the final roster and was released during final cuts. Williams is a smaller back at 5’9″, 214 pounds, but he has shown the ability to make defenders miss and break tackles. He also has some pass-catching ability, which is always valuable in Bruce Arians’ offense. With the Buccaneers’ top two running backs, Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones, both set to become free agents in 2023, Williams could provide some depth and competition at the position.
Defensive Prospects
A player who could bolster the Buccaneers’ depth at the cornerback position is Stanford Samuels III. Samuels played his college ball at Florida State and signed with the Green Bay Packers as a UDFA in 2021. He was on the practice squad for most of the season before being signed to the active roster late in the year. Samuels has good size for a corner at 6’2″, 185 pounds, and he’s a physical player who isn’t afraid to mix it up with receivers. He also has good ball skills and can make plays on the ball. With the Buccaneers’ top three corners, Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Jamel Dean, all set to become free agents in 2023, Samuels could provide some much-needed depth to the position.
Another defensive prospect who could interest the Buccaneers is defensive lineman Chauncey Golston. Golston played his college ball at Iowa and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, he was waived during final roster cuts and spent time on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster late in the year. Golston is a versatile player who can play both inside and outside on the defensive line. He has good size at 6’5″, 275 pounds, and he’s a powerful player who can hold his own against the run. He also has some pass-rushing ability, which is always valuable in today’s NFL. With the Buccaneers needing some depth on the defensive line, Golston could be a solid addition to the team.
Special Teams Prospects
One UDFA who could provide some competition for incumbent kicker Ryan Succop is Matt Ammendola. Ammendola played his college ball at Oklahoma State and was signed as a UDFA by the New York Jets in 2021. He was on the practice squad for most of the year before being signed to the active roster late in the season. Ammendola has a strong leg and can hit kicks from beyond 50 yards. He also has some experience as a kickoff specialist, which is always valuable in the NFL. With Succop set to become a free agent in 2023, Ammendola could provide some competition for the job.
Another special teams prospect who could interest the Buccaneers is punter Max Duffy. Duffy played his college ball at Kentucky and was signed as a UDFA by the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. However, he did not make the final roster and was released during final cuts. Duffy was one of the top punters in college football during his time at Kentucky, winning the Ray Guy Award in 2019. He has good leg strength and can pin opponents deep when needed. With Bradley Pinion set to become a free agent in 2023, Duffy could provide some competition for the punting job.
Conclusion
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to build on their Super Bowl-winning season in 2023, and one area where they could bolster their roster is through the addition of undrafted free agents. Whether it’s adding depth at key positions or finding potential future starters, UDFAs can provide value to teams in a variety of ways. The players mentioned above are just a few of the potential targets for the Buccaneers in the coming offseason, and it will be interesting to see which players ultimately end up in Tampa Bay.
