Despite the emergence of 2017 rookie Justin Evans, safety remains one of the Bucs’ biggest concerns heading into the 2018 season.
Losses
T.J. Ward
Additions
4th round pick Jordan Whitehead, UDFA Godwin Igwebuike.
Starters
Justin Evans took over the starting spot at FS about a quarter of the way into the season and never looked back, becoming a playmaker in the Bucs’ secondary. Fan punching bag Chris Conte continues to man the SS position for Tampa Bay but is expected to get a stiff challenge from returning vet Keith Tandy and the two rookies.
Bucs Backups
In addition to Whitehead, Igwebuike, and Tandy, the Bucs return practice squad player Isaiah Johnson.
Improvement or No?
If Whitehead can show promise, there’s a chance for a slight improvement but no other position has more to prove for Tampa Bay than at safety. The talent pool is so thin that the team as hopes that UDFA Godwin Igwebuike could challenge for a roster spot and maybe even playing time.
J.C. De La Torre
Want to give JC a piece of your mind? E-mail him at JC@whatthebuc.net JC De La Torre is formerly a columnist/blogger for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog site BucsNation.com where in 2016, he was nominated as best sportswriter in Tampa Bay by Creative Loafing. Previously, he served as a featured columnist for Bleacher Report on Tampa Bay sports, an editor and featured columnist for SB Nation Tampa Bay covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Gators, wrote for NFL.com’s Blog Blitz and contributed to Pewter Report, one of the top magazines on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. JC is also a filmmaker, comic writer and rabid Whovian.
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