Look, everyone knew the 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren't going to be the same old "hangover" team from the post-Brady era. But honestly, if you looked at the Buccaneers depth chart 2024 at the start of July versus how it actually finished, you'd barely recognize the thing. It wasn't just a list of names; it was a weekly battle against the injury bug and a surprisingly fast takeover by a rookie class that basically saved the season.
Baker Mayfield came into the year with a fat new contract and a target on his back. People wondered if 2023 was a fluke. It wasn't. But he didn't do it alone. The way this roster shifted—especially on the offensive line and in the secondary—is the real reason they stayed in the hunt.
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The Offensive Shakeup You Probably Missed
The biggest story heading into the season was the offensive line. We all knew Tristan Wirfs was the anchor at left tackle, but the middle was a giant question mark.
Early on, the Buccaneers depth chart 2024 listed Robert Hainsey as the starting center. He'd been the guy for two years. But then Graham Barton, the first-round pick out of Duke, showed up. Barton didn't just win the job; he took it by the throat. By Week 1, he was the guy. He ended up playing 100% of the snaps in almost every game he started, proving Jason Licht still knows how to find O-line gold.
Then there’s the wide receiver room.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the "death and taxes" of this franchise—they're always there, and they're always productive. But the WR3 spot was a war. Jalen McMillan, the rookie from Washington, eventually unseated Trey Palmer. It was a bold move by Liam Coen, the new offensive coordinator, who loved running "11" personnel (three receivers).
When Chris Godwin went down with that horrific dislocated ankle, the depth chart didn't just buckle; it pivoted. McMillan stepped into the No. 2 role, and Sterling Shepard, who was basically a practice squad afterthought in September, became a vital part of the rotation.
The Backfield Split
Rachaad White started as the bell cow. That’s what the depth chart said. But Bucky Irving happened. Irving, a fourth-round pick, became a "missed-tackle machine."
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- Rachaad White: The veteran presence, great out of the backfield as a pass-catcher.
- Bucky Irving: The spark plug. He led all rookie running backs in yards from scrimmage for a huge chunk of the year.
- Sean Tucker: The "forgotten" man who stayed ready and actually pushed for touches when the run game stalled.
Defense: Youth Movement in the Trenches
On the other side of the ball, Todd Bowles was doing Todd Bowles things. The Buccaneers depth chart 2024 on defense was built around a 3-4 base, but they lived in nickel.
Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea are the stars, but the depth was tested early. Kancey and Logan Hall both missed time with injuries right out of the gate. That forced guys like Greg Gaines and Earnest Brown—who wasn't even on the team until late May—to play huge snaps.
The linebacker situation was even more fluid. Lavonte David is ageless. He's 34 and still playing every single snap. But next to him? It was a rotation between K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis. Britt was the thumper for run downs, while Dennis came in to help in coverage until a shoulder injury slowed him down.
The Secondary Shuffle
The trade of Carlton Davis III in the offseason left a massive hole. Zyon McCollum was elevated to a full-time starter opposite Jamel Dean.
- CB1: Jamel Dean (When healthy, he's a lockdown guy, but he missed chunks of time).
- CB2: Zyon McCollum (The breakout star of the secondary).
- Nickel: Tykee Smith (The rookie took ownership of the slot and never looked back).
Tykee Smith was a revelation. He finished with 612 snaps and two interceptions. Most rookies struggle in Bowles' complex scheme, but Smith played like a ten-year vet. When Dean or McCollum went down, the team had to rely on Christian Izien—a safety—to play outside corner. It was chaotic, but it worked.
Special Teams and the "Iron Man"
You can't talk about the Buccaneers depth chart 2024 without mentioning Cade Otton. The man is an iron man. In 2023, he played 97% of snaps. In 2024, despite the Bucs carrying four tight ends (Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, and Devin Culp), Otton was still the primary guy.
Special teams saw a quiet change at long snapper, with Evan Deckers taking over for the long-time veteran Zach Triner. Chase McLaughlin remained one of the most reliable kickers in the league, which is a luxury Bucs fans don't take for granted after the "kicker curse" years.
How the Depth Chart Actually Performed
People look at an 8-9 or 9-8 record and think "average." But look at the turnover. The Bucs started rookies at center, nickel corner, and frequently at WR3 and RB2.
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The "next man up" mentality is a cliché, but for the 2024 Bucs, it was a survival tactic. When Mike Evans went on IR, Sterling Shepard and Ryan Miller had to step up. When the O-line lost Ben Bredeson to IR late in the season, Michael Jordan (the guard, not the goat) had to jump in.
The 2024 season proved that the Buccaneers' depth was deeper than the pundits thought. They weren't just top-heavy with Evans and Godwin; they had young talent like Bucky Irving and Tykee Smith waiting to explode.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the roster for next season or trying to understand how this team is built, watch the "Year 2 Leap."
- Watch the O-Line: Graham Barton is the future. If Cody Mauch continues to develop at right guard, the Bucs have a top-10 interior for the next five years.
- Secondary Needs: While Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum emerged, the team is still one injury away from a crisis at outside corner.
- The RB Evolution: Don't be surprised if the 2025 depth chart lists Bucky Irving as the "1A" with Rachaad White as the "1B" or primary third-down back. The shift started in 2024; it will likely finish in 2025.
The Buccaneers depth chart 2024 was a living document that rewarded the guys who stayed healthy and the rookies who grew up fast. It wasn't always pretty, but it kept the window open in the NFC South.