The Bucks have made final layoffs to fill the initial 53-man roster. And as most of the roster should be, there were some surprises. We knew the team wanted to get younger and more athletic this year, but the end result surprised even the Bucks’ most loyal fans.
That leaves the Bucks with six undrafted rookies in their starting 53 – RB Sean Tucker, WR Rakim Jarrett, OLB Marquese Watts, Nickel’s Christian Izien, CB Derek Pitts and S Kaybon.・It’s Merryweather. I’ve never heard of so many NFL teams in one season.
— Greg Orman (@gregauman) August 29, 2023
team is A staggering 13 rookies are registered to start the season. That includes seven of Tampa Bay’s eight draft picks and six undrafted free agents. Last year, the Bucks had the oldest team in the NFL with an average age of 27.1. Last year it was ranked 30th with 26.7 points. Based on my back math, the average age of the Bucks’ first 53-man roster this year is 25.6, which translates to 1.4 years less age per player.
Rookies helping rejuvenate Bucks
Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby – photo credit: Cliff Welch/PR
These 13 rookies are doing the heavy lifting of cleaning up an aging Bucks roster. But is expecting so many freshmen really proof that the Bucks are “reloading” as they claim? Most rookies have had no significant positive impact on team performance. Learning the speed and level of NFL play can actually be a downside for many.
The Bucks have at least five people in key roles (Kancy, Mauff, Diaby, Palmer, and Izien) as starters or key backups who rotate frequently. That’s a huge credit to a group of players who haven’t finished the regular season yet.
But what are the odds that all of these players will live up to the team’s expectations?
all?
The odds are extremely low.
Early draft picks likely to stick
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
Players drafted by the Bucks on Days 1 and 2 are likely to have long-term observation and opportunities to prove they’re NFL players. He has two reasons for this. The first is the potential that each of them has.
There’s a reason the Bucks chose each with premium picks. Defensive tackle Kariya Kansi, offensive guard Cody Mauch and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby all have elite athleticism and good enough college performance to make them early picks in the draft. is justified. The Bucks will give them every chance to apply that gift to the NFL level.
Another reason is that the team has already invested in these players. General manager Jason Licht is betting his reputation as a player evaluator by exercising premium picks for these players. He needs to justify his reputation by making these nominations work.
In addition, the Bucks have invested heavily in some of these players. Kanxi’s $15 million deal is fully guaranteed. Two-thirds of Mauch’s signing bonus is guaranteed.
The Bucks need to recoup some of those draft picks and financial investments in the form of quality play. That’s why last year’s second-round pick, Luke Guedeke, has been given the opportunity to start at right tackle this year, despite playing objectively poorly during last year’s rookie campaign. One.
Kansi will ask you to start, but that’s fair. Most first-round picks are immediately in the starting lineup.
Some of the late-round picks have been asked to take key roles early
Bucks WR Trey Palmer – Photo Credit: USA Today
When a team drafts a player using a Day 3 pick or signs a player to play as an undrafted free agent, that player has one or two characteristics that the team expects to be able to develop. The thought process of having. Depending on its development, players can become contributors on the field.
If you think the player has the potential to become a starter or a key contributor early on, you wouldn’t wait for selection and risk losing the player to another team. Finding outstanding quality contributors is difficult in the NFL.
Fans should be both excited and concerned to see the Bucks give late-round players a role that requires a lot of contribution. Sixth-round rookie Trey Palmer is already Tampa Bay’s next big thing after a strong preseason. However, it is certainly unlikely that he is ready to become a WR3 in his rookie year.
Last year, only nine rookie receivers reached the target of 50. Eight of those were first- or second-day picks. The only exception was Green Bay fourth-round pick Romeo Dobbs. Again, only nine receivers reached the 50-man plateau as rookies. Again, only one person was selected on the third day. He was also a fourth-round pick (Detroit’s Amon La St. Brown).
Yes, Palmer has talent. And yes, it looks like the Bucks may have scored a steal when they picked him in the 6th round, based on a very small sample size of early training camp/preseason returns. But it’s a big bet to believe that a sixth-round pick, a second-year undrafted free agent (Deven Tompkins), or a rookie undrafted free agent (Rakim Jarrett) will be a WR3.
In addition, head coach Todd Bowles announced undrafted free-agent rookie Christian Izien as a starting nickel.Yijen is lots of athletic But he didn’t hit his stride until his final year at Rutgers. And even then, his best season wasn’t enough to make him draft eligible. He’s unlikely to be a starter in the NFL.
not even slam dunk
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
Less than half of the 32 players selected in the second round last year were asked to start. Few of them can be considered stable and reliable starters. It doesn’t happen all that often. Usually a player in the second round he falls into one of two categories.
The first is players who were drafted as Depthpiece in Year 1 and hopefully take over in Year 2. The second are players who are asked to start quickly and are struggling to learn the NFL’s pace and level of play. By their second year, they have the experience and abilities they need to make big strides.
The Bucks are looking for a second-round rookie to step into the offensive line (for the second year in a row) and be a good player from the start. How could that happen? of course. Is it possible? no.
Codi Mauch is going to struggle this year. And it happens more than Bucks fans probably appreciate. Alex Kappa struggled in his first year and didn’t play much.
Luke Guedeke struggled so much that he was eventually sidelined. Yes, Ali Murpet looked good from the start, but Donovan Smith didn’t. Most rookie offensive linemen don’t do well in their first year. And those who look good are usually one-rounders. So the Bucks are betting with Mauch on top of the receiver situation.
Bucks stay healthy
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles and OLB’s Yaya Diaby – Photo credit: Cliff Welch/PR
The reliance on rookies extends beyond the players the Bucks consciously choose to give snaps to. It then goes on to explain how they chose to add these rookies as tiers. Either Antoine Winfield or Ryan Neal will be injured, as will undrafted free agent Kavon Merriweather.
Sixth-round rookie Josh Hayes is likely to play the key snap if Igien loses. The entire Bucks secondary past the starter is a “who?” It’s littered with players that just 12-24 months ago were on none but the most dedicated draftnik radars.
With so much youth, inexperience and lack of pedigree on the Bucks’ roster this year, it’s simple math that teams relying on these young bodies will struggle. That’s not to say that one of these players, or two of him, or a few of them, hit more or less.
But it would be foolish to expect everyone to fill the required roles.
