10 Things I Think I Think About Bucs Mini-Camp

SR’s FAB 5 column on the Bucs is presented by Gameday Men’s Health

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INTRO: I’ve mentioned this before, but I grew up reading Sports Illustrated, especially the work of lead NFL writer Peter King. I would regularly read his MMQB column on SI.com, and I loved his segment called 10 Things I Think I Think. So with more than just five thoughts about the Bucs mini-camp for this week’s SR’s FAB 5 – I decided to once again switch up the format as an ode to King and come up with 10 Things I Think I Think About Bucs Mini-Camp. Enjoy!

1. I Think Bucs Rookie OLB Rueben Bain Jr. Is A Star In The Making

It’s hard for players in the trenches – offensive linemen, defensive tackles and outside linebackers – to really stand out during the offseason in OTAs and mandatory mini-camp where there is no contact and the game resembles flag football rather than actual football. But it’s very easy to see that Bucs first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. is an absolute star in the making.

Although general manager Jason Licht and the Bucs front office have done an amazing job of drafting plenty of starters over the past four draft classes, I’ve pointed out that Tampa Bay hasn’t selected a Pro Bowler since selecting offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the first two rounds of the 2020 draft. I’ve noted that Licht needs to draft some more stars – not just starters. Well, that happened when Bain, a dominant edge rusher who was a top 5 prospect, fell to the Bucs at No. 15.

Even without pads you can see Bain’s sudden power when he hits the blocking sled. You can see his unreal bend thanks to the lower center of gravity of his 6-foot-2, 270-pound frame. You can see his pro-level technique with his hands and feet. And you can already see how serious Bain is about football.

Bain skipped the NFLPA Rookie Premier Player event after the draft out in Los Angeles, which is basically a photo shoot of rookies in their full NFL team uniforms for the first time for publicity shots and football cards. As you saw on draft night in New York when Bain walked out to the stage at full speed, snatching his Bucs hat and skipping the part where other draft picks posed and preened for the cameras in front of a mirror. He’s all business.

The photo shoot wasn’t going to help him learn Todd Bowles defense, wasn’t going to help him sack the quarterback this year, and wasn’t going to help the Bucs win. So he stayed in Tampa instead. Bain just gets and operates like the most pro-ready rookie I’ve seen in my 31 years of covering this team. Bowles also notes how smart Bain is on and off the field.

“For me it’s just his intelligence – just his understanding of the game,” Bowles said. “Some things you can’t teach. He doesn’t learn the game like a normal rookie. He does natural things that a three- and four-year guy can do and that’s good to see.”

When one practice period ends and another period begins, Bain will sprint at full speed from one practice field to the next – always first to arrive. It’s normal for all players to do a light jog during the minute or two between periods to conserve some energy. But Bain always has a sense of urgency about him.

He feels the need to arrive first. Not only does it set a good example for others – and Bain will eventually be a team captain on defense – it’s just the way he’s wired.  Bain is an alpha competitor, and he’s already impressed everyone, including fellow Hurricanes alum Al-Quadin Muhammad.

“He’s amazing,” Muhammad said. “And I’m not biased because he’s my teammate and he’s a University of Miami guy, and I went to the University of Miami. He’s great. The way he picks things up – he’s a natural. It’s like he’s been here before. Sometimes with rookies there is a lack of urgency, but I don’t see that with him. He’s picked things up pretty well and he’s out there having fun. He’s not nervous, he’s just playing football. It’s impressive, it’s impressive to see.”

2. I Think This Bucs Offseason Couldn’t Have Gone Much Better

Now that the Bucs are on summer vacation until the start of training camp on Wednesday, July 28, it’s incredible to see how this offseason unfolded. Some fans were upset that Todd Bowles wasn’t fired at the end of the season following the team’s 2-7 collapse after a promising 6-2 start. All Bucs fans were mad that star wide receiver Mike Evans opted to leave Tampa Bay for San Francisco in free agency. And all Tampa Bay fans were sad to see legendary linebacker Lavonte David retire – even if his play slipped last year at age 35 and it was the right call.

Those same fans were beside themselves that Jason Licht didn’t pull off a trade for Raiders Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby or sign Bengals Pro Bowl sacker Trey Hendrickson. Fans rolled their eyes at the signing of linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson and running back Kenneth Gainwell back in the throes of free agency. But once the fans got to hear the players speak in their press conferences and get to know the newcomers, they warmed up to Tampa Bay’s new additions.

But it was the drafting of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round that was the game-changer. The Bucs were lucky Bain fell to them at No. 15, but draft night was the surge of electricity that sent shock waves through the fan base. The acquisition of Bain made up for not acquiring Crosby and missing out on Hendrickson. While he has yet to put on an NFL uniform, Bain is just 21 and has a long, productive career ahead of him rather than being a battle-scarred and injured aging edge rusher.

Once the OTAs began and the reporting of how much bigger the defensive line was, and how much bigger the linebacker room got with the addition of Anzalone and second-round pick Josiah Trotter, how pro-ready third-round pick Ted Hurst looks at wide receiver, how electric Gainwell is with the ball in his hands, and how much energy Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who is back in Tampa Bay after a three-year absence, brought to practice, Bucs fans are fired up heading into training camp.

And after seeing this team in person for five out of the nine practices the Bucs have had, there is a valid reason to be excited about this team in 2026. I don’t think this offseason could have gone any better outside of Evans returning for his 13th season. But free agency is a two-way street and Tampa Bay offered him more money than San Francisco did. At the end of the day, the team couldn’t control Evans leaving, and getting the 21-year old Hurst to replace the soon-to-be 33-year old was a coup.

It appears Bowles made all the right coaching hires. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is the real deal – think Liam Coen – and assistants like Chandler Whitmer (quarterbacks), TJ Yates (pass game coordinator) and Ken Zampese (senior offensive assistant) are top notch. New defensive coaches like Marcus West (defensive line) and Rashad Johnson (cornerbacks) are young and full of energy, and their players feed off of that.

The Bucs addressed their front seven on defense by overhauling the defensive tackle, outside linebacker and inside linebacker rooms in free agency and the draft, and the newcomers have brought a ton of energy with them. Bain is the unexpected star edge rusher Tampa Bay needed. Gainwell is an upgrade over Rachaad White at running back. The team even found the best possible replacement for Evans with Hurst. The vibes are sky high right now at One Buccaneer Place, and after watching more than half of the offseason practices, it’s easy to see why.

3. I Think Todd Bowles, Jason Licht Will Be Keeping A Close Eye On Benjamin Morrison

Keeping it fair and balanced, it hasn’t been picture perfect at One Buc Place this summer. Baker Mayfield would like a contract extension and has voiced his displeasure about how far apart negotiations are between his agent and the team. Mayfield has indicated he’ll play this year and won’t hold out. Yet Vita Vea appears to be a “hold in,” as he reported for mandatory mini-camp, but feels like he’s underpaid. Will he participate in training camp without at least a raise or an extension? We won’t know until late July.

Outside of those minor contract squabbles, the only other cause for concern – and it’s becoming a real concern – is the durability (or lack thereof) of second-year cornerback Benjamin Morrison. The Notre Dame product missed the last day of mandatory mini-camp last year with a hamstring injury, then missed a whole month of training camp practice and all three preseason games with a hamstring injury. Then he missed seven games during his rookie season with – say it with me – a hamstring injury.

After a promising start to the offseason where he went through the conditioning phase and had a great couple of practices to begin the OTAs Morrison is dealing with a hamstring injury again. He missed the last OTA practice and both of the mandatory mini-camp practices, which is not a good sign heading into training camp – especially with the team a little thin on experience at cornerback behind Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and Morrison on the dept chart.

Will the Bucs pursue a veteran cornerback during training camp? They probably need to, and it sounds like Todd Bowles is open to it.

“I would like to see those guys get healthy and go through the summer a little bit, then I’ll determine whether we need a veteran or not once I get a look at those guys,” Bowles said.

Without naming him, Bowles was talking about Morrison specifically.

Right now, Parrish, who was the team’s third-round pick last year, is light years ahead of Morrison in the competition to replace Jamel Dean opposite McCollum in the starting lineup. Parrish has been lining up outside in base defense and then moving inside to the slot.

Josh Hayes, who started three games in 2024, has the most starting experience of the team’s reserves cornerbacks, has been starting outside in Morrison’s absence in nickel defense. With Hayes’ specialty being a gunner on special teams, seeing him on defense is not ideal – although he has made some strides this offseason. Hayes had a pick-six in practice during the mandatory mini-camp, stepping in front of Tez Johnson, who slipped and fell down, and taking Jake Browning’s pass to the end zone.

“He’s got the skillset, he just has to be more consistent in the small things,” Bowles said. “He’s working at that this year, but he’s made great strides this spring.”

The wild card at cornerback is undrafted free agent cornerback Ayden Garnes, who has been one of the most impressive players this offseason. But looking good in shorts, jerseys and helmets is one thing. We’ll see how Garnes performs in camp when the pads come on and how well he plays under the lights in the preseason. Still, banking on a rookie like Garnes and a special teamer like Hayes for depth at cornerback comes with some real risks.

If Morrison gets hurt again in training camp, expect the Bucs’ brass to really start losing some patience with him and pursue a veteran cornerback before the start of the season.

4. I Think David Walker Is Going To Be The Real Deal

One of the more buzzworthy players at the end of Bucs mini-camp was second-year outside linebacker David Walker. You’ll remember that Walker, last year’s fourth-round pick, generated a lot of buzz heading into training camp before he tore his ACL on the third day of practice last July.

At 6-foot-1, 260 pounds, Walker truly resembles Bain in terms of size and having a similar, freakish bend to his game as an edge rusher. Walker is regaining his explosion and he has incredible hands. He was just about unblockable at the end of camp. Tampa Bay’s coaches and scouts are eager to see what he can do with pads on – finally.

“The last two practices, it looks more like the David Walker we’ve seen when we drafted him,” Bowles said. “He looks a lot healthier. He’s moving a lot freer, and he’s not thinking about his knee. You’re starting to see the speed and the athleticism that he had last year. So he’s just got to keep working at it.”

Tampa Bay’s second-team edge rushing unit last year behind Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby was Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell. This year it will be Walker and newcomer Al-Quadin Muhammad, who is fresh off an 11-sack season, coming in when Diaby and Bain need a breather. That’s a huge upgrade for Todd Bowles.

Just in case you forgot how freakish of an athlete Walker is, check out his highlights from his college days where he recorded 39 sacks in four seasons.

5. I Think Al-Quadin Muhammad Is Going To Be Way Better Than Haason Reddick

Admittedly, suggesting that new outside linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad will be better than free agent flop Haason Reddick was last year is not a high bar to clear. At age 31, Reddick produced just 2.5 sacks for $14 million last year. Muhammad comes to Tampa Bay also at age 31, but on the heels of an 11-sack season playing opposite All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit. And at $5.25 million on a one-year deal, Muhammad is far cheaper investment.

At 6-foot-3 and a chiseled 250 pounds, he’s about 15 pounds heavier than Reddick, who often played 240 pounds last year. When the Bucs signed Reddick last year they hoped that his one-sack effort with the New York Jets in a dismal year, which included a holdout for the first seven weeks of the 2024 season, was an aberration. But instead of getting the double-digit sacker that Reddick was in Philadelphia in 2023, they indeed got the Jets version from 2024, as Reddick was cooked and couldn’t rush the passer like he used to when he was younger.

“He brings a lot of depth to that position – more than we’ve had in quite a while,” Bowles said. “Obviously with Bain and Muhammad and Yaya and Nelly and Bras (Chris Braswell) and now David Walker coming back and the other young guys that we have here we haven’t had that kind of depth in a long time. So they’re really pushing each other. It should be fun to see in camp.”

Muhammad won’t be the starter this year. That distinction will go to first-round draft pick Rueben Bain Jr. But if an injury strikes to either Bain or Yaya Diaby then Muhammad could start and the Bucs defense might not miss a beat for a week or two. As a designated pass rusher who can not only rush from the edge, but also from over the guard inside, as he did for a few plays in mini-camp, I could see Muhammad getting five sacks this year as a reserve.

That would be double Reddick’s sack total from a year ago in forgettable season in Tampa Bay.

6. I Think Christian Rozeboom Is Way Behind The Other ILBs

The notable absence during the team’s mandatory mini-camp was new inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom. While he took part in the team’s conditioning phase and showed up for the first week of OTAs, which are voluntary, Rozeboom didn’t attend the second and third week of OTAs and then missed the mandatory mini-camp.

“He’s excused,” Bowles said. “He has a personal thing that he has to handle, but he’ll be here [in training camp].”

It turns out that Rozeboom recently became a dad in June and wanted to spend time with his family, and that’s completely understandable. Yet his absence allowed new inside linebackers Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter to increase their knowledge of Todd Bowles’ complex defense with their presence at OTAs and the mini-camp. And Rozeboom not participating has allowed SirVocea Dennis, last year’s starting Mike linebacker, to get more reps in practice, in addition to Nick Jackson, who has spent last year on the practice squad.

For now, Dennis and Anzalone are the starters due to their experience with Trotter and Jackson running on the second team.

“Voss has been a pro all spring,” Bowles said. “He’s come in and he’s competing very well and getting the defense down.”

Eventually Trotter will pass Dennis, a former fifth-round pick, and become the starter at Mike linebacker. That’s why the Bucs spent a second-round pick on him. Yet with this being the fourth year in Bowles’ scheme, Dennis has a decided edge over Rozeboom right now for the ILB3 role on the depth chart when the season starts.

Rozeboom, who signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay after being the starting Mike linebacker in Carolina last year, likely makes the team as ILB4 because the Bucs guaranteed $950,000 of his $1.55 million salary in 2026. But the team could save $600,000 in cash and cap room if another inside linebacker like Jackson, John Bullock, Jaylen Wright or Caden Fordham beats Rozeboom, who is 29, out for the final roster spot.

7. I Think Kenneth Gainwell Is Going To Be An Absolute Weapon In Tampa Bay

I’ll keep this short and sweet because we’ve already talked about Kenneth Gainwell’s eye-opening offseason a bunch on PewterReport.com (check out Bailey Adams’ detailed story on Gainwell), on the Pewter Report Podcast and in my previous Pewter Pulse videos. Gainwell is a stud, and those who scoffed at the idea that the Bucs paid $7 million per year for a “backup running back” are going to look like fools at the end of the 2026 season.

Gainwell rushed for 537 yards and a 4.7-yard average and caught 73 passes for 486 yards with a 6.7-yard average last year in Pittsburgh. He totaled eight touchdowns – five rushing and three receiving – and was named the Steelers MVP ahead of the likes of Cam Hayward, TJ Watt, Aaron Rodgers and Jaylen Warren, who was the leading rusher in Pittsburgh with just under 1,000 yards.

I could see Gainwell topping 1,000 yards this season in combined yardage and having a similar year production-wise in Tampa Bay as a three-down weapon. He runs routes as good as most receivers on the roster, and his hands are just as clutch. Bucky Irving will be given the first crack at the starting job, but don’t be surprised if Gainwell is just as productive by the end of the year.

I fell in love with Gainwell’s talent while he was the starter at Memphis during the 2019 season. If you haven’t seen his college highlight reel – especially what he can do as a receiver down the field – make sure you check this out.

8. I Think Zac Robinson Is The Right OC At The Right Time For Todd Bowles

Todd Bowles has come under fire for not just another 8-9 record in Tampa Bay as the team’s head coach, but also as the play-caller of an underwhelming and under-performing defense over the last two seasons. Bowles enters the 2026 season on the hot seat and needs the Buccaneers to rebound and make the playoffs. He’ll need to put all of his focus on the defensive side of the ball where his unit could have as many as five new starters in 2026.

Getting all of the newcomers to gel with the existing starters will take some time and effort in training camp and the preseason, and Bowles will need to dedicate even more time to the defense this year. That’s why having an experienced play-caller like Zac Robinson handling the offense and not needing any supervision this season is critical for Bowles.

In each of the past three seasons, Bowles has had an offensive coordinator without any experience calling plays at the NFL level. Dave Canales (2023) and Josh Grizzard (2025) didn’t have any previous play-calling experience at any level. And he had to dedicate a lot of time in meetings and practice to prepare them for the upcoming season At least Liam Coen (2024) had two years worth of play-calling experience at the University of Kentucky to draw from and didn’t require as much attention from Bowles.

Robinson spent the last two years in Atlanta as the offensive coordinator and has worked with quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, pass game coordinator TJ Yates and senior offensive assistant Ken Zampese before with the Falcons, as well as working with offensive line coach Kevin Carberry in Los Angeles previously. And new assistant offensive line coach Andrew Mitchell played college football with Robinson at Oklahoma State. Robinson is a pro and has received rave reviews from Bowles, quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. and everyone else.

That makes it easier for Bowles to dedicate more meeting time and practice time incorporating all of the new faces on that side of the ball. And with such a roster overhaul on that side of the ball, Bowles will need extra time to continue to learn the ins and outs of his new Bucs defenders.

“I think they all have their specialty,” Bowles said of Tampa Bay’s newcomers on defense. “It’s not about what I like to do. It’s about what they can do. We try to tailor that [to the players]. Some things they are surprising us a little bit by what they can do. Other things we try to stay away from with what we think they can’t do. But all of them bring their pluses in, and it’s a matter of matching those with the guys that are already here, and bringing that all together.”

9. I Think Several Positions Suddenly Have A Ton Of Depth In Tampa Bay This Year

While Matt Matera and I pointed out a few positions that don’t yet have adequate depth in Tampa Bay in Thursday’s Point-Counterpoint column, the Bucs have done a remarkable job of bolstering the team’s depth at a lot of positions. Even without Mike Evans, the receiver room is ridiculously deep with starters Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and rookie Ted Hurst. Behind them are NFL-caliber receivers like Tez Johnson and David Sills V, as well as Kam Johnson and newcomer Eric Rivers. That’s eight receivers – and the Bucs will only keep six at most on the 53-man roster.

Offensive tackle is just as deep with studs like Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke as the starters with Ben Chukwuma and Justin Skule as the reserve swing tackles. Undrafted free agent Paul Rubelt, who is 6-foot-10, 310 pounds, also shows a lot of promise as a developmental prospect capable of playing left or right tackle. That’s five deep at offensive tackle. And few teams can go three-deep at running back like Tampa Bay can with Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker, and the team remains high on Josh Williams, too.

On Todd Bowles’ side of the ball, the defensive tackle position is loaded with starters Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and A’Shawn Robinson, followed by reserves like Elijah Roberts, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and fifth-round pick DeMonte Capehart. Tampa Bay will keep six defensive tackles on the 53, but Jayson Jones, a 6-foot-6, 340-pound monster and Elijah Simmons are also in contention for a roster spot, and undrafted free agent Josiah Green has also flashed.

Outside linebacker has gone from a team weakness last year to a team strength this year with Yaya Diaby entering a contract year, along with Rueben Bain Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad, David Walker and Anthony Nelson. Barring an injury, those will likely be the five edge rushers that make the team. That means Chris Braswell, a second-round pick in 2024, could be the odd man out unless Danny Smith says he’s essential for special teams and Tampa Bay keeps six outside linebackers. Undrafted free agent rookie Yasir Holmes out of Tarleton State is one to keep an eye on in camp, as well.

10. I Think I’m Okay With Todd Bowles Skipping Some Practices This Offseason

I know that some Bucs fans are rolling their eyes and are beside themselves over Todd Bowles’ decision to not just cancel on OTA in Week 3, but also cancel the final day of mandatory mini-camp. This coming on the heels of the NFL punishing the Bucs for being too physical in the OTAs in the first week and docking them a practice in Week 3 of the OTAs.

So out of the possible 12 practices this offseason, the Bucs wound up with just nine. Bowles received some criticism from Yaya Diaby and other players for having too many walk-through practices down the stretch last year, and with Bowles opting not to fully take part in the eligible 11 practices it gives the appearance that he’s a soft coach. But that’s not necessarily the case this offseason.

Again, the Bucs practices lost an OTA practice because the conditions were too physical and competitive for the NFL’s liking. I think that’s actually a good sign for a defense that was too soft last year. And I’ve heard from several team sources that the tempo at practice has been very high this year – higher than most teams around the league in the offseason. The Pewter Report staff has also witnessed this firsthand this spring.

For example, new special teams coordinator Danny Smith rolled through six coverage reps in the span of 45 seconds at the end of a special teams practice period on Wednesday. Smith had three coverage players sprint downfield and corral the return man one after another after another. The next line up was ready to go, and there is no grass growing under the feet of the energetic, 72-year old Smith.

So that’s 18 coverage men, and Smith rolled through Kenneth Gainwell, Eric Rivers, Tez Johnson, Kam Johnson, Sean Tucker and Kadarius Calloway as the returners – all in less than a minute. That’s a break-neck pace, and a far higher tempo than either Keith Armstrong or Thomas McGaughey practiced at when they ran special teams in Tampa Bay.

It appears as if there have been fewer water breaks or shorter water breaks, and more reps run in practice this year than in years past. So I believe Bowles when he says he and the team got enough work in during the offseason. Throw in the fact that new strength and conditioning coach Chad Wade’s program has been far more grueling than in years past and I feel like Tampa Bay is as prepared as it can be for training camp right now.