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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds answers your questions. @PewterReport This week’s Twitter account can be found at Bucs Mailbag. Submit your questions to the Bucs Mailbag weekly via Twitter using the hashtag #PRMailbag. Here are the Bucks questions we chose to answer in this week’s issue.
Question: Is there a chance Elijah Klein will be the starter at guard?


Bucks G Elijah Klein – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
answer: Yes, it’s certainly possible that rookie Elijah Klein will be the starter at guard in Tampa Bay this year. The team really likes his mental makeup. He’s a smart, tough, physical offensive lineman. Is he the best athlete? No, that’s why he slipped into the sixth round.
But Klein is one of offensive line guru Brandon Thorne’s favorite players in this year’s draft, and that carries a lot of weight for me. Looking at the competition for the other guard position opposite Kodi Mauch, it’s veterans Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson, Klein, and possibly Robert Hainsey, with the center spot going to a first-round pick. He is expected to be replaced by high-profile pick Graham Barton.
Opeta may have an early advantage based on his experience and size. The Bucs want to get even bigger up front along the offensive line. Opeta is only 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, but he is incredibly strong. He just graduated from college a few years ago and can do 39 bench presses. . And Bredeson is also a big man, listed at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds.
What’s interesting is that Tampa Bay hasn’t invested much in either player, with both only signed for one year. Bredeson will earn $2.98 million in 2024, while Opeta will earn less than half that, at $1.375 million. Bredeson and Opeta have NFL experience that Klein currently lacks. But with everyone learning a new offense, the Bucks will likely start their best candidate.
question: Can you see the inside O-line shaking?


Bucs C Graham Burton and G Elijah Klein – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
answer: The Bucs seem focused on finding and starting the best five offensive linemen this season. Offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke have already been named starters. And as assistant general manager John Spytek said, the team expects Cody Mauch and the team’s first-round pick Graham Burton to be part of that mix.
That could include new free agents Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson, rookie Elijah Klein, holdover Brandon Walton, and perhaps Robert Hainsey if Barton actually loses the starting center spot. This means finding another starter from a group with a high level of performance. My sources have told me that Opeta’s name has been mentioned the most so far, but this time last year Matt Feiler was named the starter and quickly lost his job due to an early season injury.
The pads won’t be put on until training camp, so trying to figure out who will win the starting guard job in May is pretty much a waste of time. I think it’s wide open. And I’ll be interested to see if the Bucs put Mauch at right guard or move him to left guard, where he was a left tackle in college, and he might be better on that side of the ball.
But at the same time, I think Mauch and Goedeke started to find their rhythm on the right side of the line toward the end of last year, especially in the running game. Klein primarily played right guard at UTEP, so perhaps he feels more comfortable at UTEP. One thing that might not be ideal for quarterback Baker Mayfield is the possibility of having two rookies in Burton and Klein and a second-year guard in Mauch forming the inside of the offensive line. That’s true. So we know Tampa Bay wants either Opeta or Bredeson to win the job initially to bring experience along the interior O-line.
Question: Which rookie made an impression on you at Bucks minicamp?


Bucks DT Judge Culpepper – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
answer: I think several rookies made very good first impressions at the Bucks’ rookie minicamp. The feedback I got was that every draft pick had some really great moments and was impressed. The team is really happy with the draft class. There were also some players who stood out among the tryouts. Kentucky running back Ramon Jefferson, coached by coach Liam Cohen last year, was signed after an impressive performance last weekend. Cornerback Andrew Hayes of Central Arkansas also performed well and qualified for training camp.
Two other players who stood out were cornerbacks from Appalachian State University Tirek Funderburk Funderburk is a bit on the smaller side at 5-foot-11 and 186, but he ran a 4.39 and had great success during his four years at Richmond and last year at Appalachian State. Over the past three seasons, he has had 29 pass breakups, 11 interceptions, including three pick-sixes, and three forced fumbles.
In five seasons with Toledo, the 5-foot-9, 189-pound McDonald had 32 pass breakups and five interceptions, including six picks. He’s too small to play outside in Tampa Bay, but he’s expected to compete inside at nickel in training camp.
Look out for undrafted free agent Judge Culpepper, the son of former Bucs nose tackle Brad Culpepper. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive tackle had 12.5 sacks over the past three seasons at Toledo after transferring from Penn State.he is not wonderful Although athletic, he is a hard worker and a tough player with enough athleticism to play at the NFL level.
Question: I saw Jose Ramirez at rookie minicamp. Wasn’t he a rookie last year? What did he look like and what are his chances of making the 53-man roster?


Bucks OLB Jose Ramirez – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
answer: Outside linebacker Jose Ramirez, who was a sixth-round pick last year, spent the 2023 season on the practice squad and was participating in this year’s Bucs’ rookie minicamp. All members of Tampa Bay’s practice squad were eligible to participate in rookie minicamp to gain an advantage heading into OTAs, per NFL regulations.
Ramirez was one of them. The 10 practice squad players who participated in the rookie minicamp were: He appeared to be serious about his diet and body shape during the offseason. Ramirez has lost some of his stocky weight from last year and looks leaner and cut. He drafted Chris Braswell with the team’s second-round pick and faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster. Yaya Diaby, Braswell, Joe Tryon Soyinka, Anthony Nelson and rookie Randy Gregory appear to round out the top five on the depth chart, followed by Marquise Watts and Ramirez. Tampa Bay will likely keep five outside linebackers, maybe six depending on how special teams shakes out.
There are two reasons why it is beneficial for the team to have trainees from the previous year participate. First, coaches are given players in almost every position group who can lead practices during individual periods. Bucks players have been through practice before, know the ropes, and can lead by example in terms of showing coaches what they’re looking for.
Another reason is that it gives personnel staff an opportunity to compare and contrast players on the practice squad with a group of new players. For example, new cornerback Andrew Hayes performed better than Quandre Mosley, who was on last year’s practice squad and had plenty of time to make an impression. So the Bucks released Mosley and signed Hayes in his place.