The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have just released their first depth chart of the season. While this depth chart is far from final and there are some notable names on the list. Most importantly, Mason Foster is listed as the starting linebacker over Tyrone McKenzie. Foster will have to play very poorly for him to lose that job to McKenzie, as the team clearly wants their third-round draft pick to be the starter.
Another surprise comes at left defensive end, where Michael Bennett is the starter over second-round draft pick Da'Quan Bowers. We'll see whether that holds through the preseason, and it could just be a consequence of Bowers' injury. Continuing at defensive end, Alex Magee is listed as the fourth-string defensive end. Despite a solid showing late last season, he will have to really fight for a roster spot, but has been quiet in training camp so far. Kyle Moore may also be in trouble, as he is the third-string left defensive end, which would potentially leave him off the roster once the season starts.
A final note on defense: it appears Elbert Mack is already out of a job, as he is listed as the fourth-string right cornerback. Anthony Gaitor has gone ahead of him on the depth chart.
On offense, it appears the Bucs are giving Jeremy Trueblood the first shot at a starting position. Ted Larsen appears to have held on to his starting job at left guard. Interestingly, Earnest Graham is still listed as the starter at fullback, which would potentially limit his role on third down. Kregg Lumpkin seems to be beating out draft pick Allen Bradford for the backup running back role.
At wide receiver Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn remain the starters, while dezmon Briscoe and Sammie Stroughter are the main backups. Micheal Spurlock and Preston Parker are third-string receivers, while the undrafted free agents are listed as fourth-stringers. One final note: it appears that seventh-round draft pick Daniel Hardy has already secured his roster spot, as he's listed as the third-string tight end, ahead of Ryan Purivs, Nathan Overbay and Jose Cruz.
Hit the jump to see the full depth chart.
OFFENSE
| Position | First-string | Second-string | Third-string | Other |
| WR | Mike Williams | Sammie Stroughter | Micheal Spurlock |
Ed Gant |
| LT | Donald Penn | Demar Dotson | Cory Brandon | |
| LG | Ted Larsen | Brandon Carter | Marc Dile | |
| C | Jeff Faine | Jeremy Zuttah | Matt Allen | |
| RG | Davin Joseph | Derek Hardman | Thomas Claiborne | |
| RT | Jeremy Trueblood | James Lee | Will Barker | |
| TE | Kellen Winslow | Luke Stocker | Daniel Hardy | Ryan Purvis Nathan Overbay Jose Cruz |
| WR | Arrelious Benn | Dezmon Briscoe | Preston Parker |
Jock Sanders Detron Lewis |
| QB | Josh Freeman | Josh Johnson | Rudy Carpenter |
Mike Coughlin Jonathan Crompton |
| RB | LeGarrette Blount | Kregg Lumpkin | Allen Bradford |
Mossis Madu Armando Allen |
| FB | Earnest Graham | Erik Lorig | Rendrick Taylor | Nick Reveiz |
DEFENSE
| Position | First-string | Second-string | Third-string | Other |
| LDE | Michael Bennett | Da'Quan Bowers | Kyle Moore | Alex Magee |
| DT | Gerald McCoy | Frank Okam | E.J. Wilson | |
| DT | Roy Miller | Brian Price | Al Woods | |
| RDE | Adrian Clayborn | Tim Crowder | George Johnson | Brandon Gilbeaux |
| SLB | Quincy Black | Dekoda Watson | Brandon Heath | |
| MLB | Mason Foster | Tyrone McKenzie | Derrell Smith | |
| WLB | Geno Hayes | Adam Hayward | Simoni Lawrence | Victor Aiyewa |
| LCB | Aqib Talib | Myron Lewis | DJ Johnson | Vince Anderson |
| RCB | Ronde Barber | E.J. Biggers | Anthony Gaitor | Elbert Mack |
| SS | Sean Jones | Corey Lynch | Dominique Harris | Devin Holland |
| FS | Cody Grimm | Larry Asante | Ahmad Black |
SPECIAL TEAMS
| Position | First-string | Second-string | Third-string |
| P | Michael Koenen | Robert Malone | |
| PK | Connor Barth | Jacob Rogers | |
| KO | Michael Koenen | Connor Barth | |
| H | Michael Koenen | Robert Malone | |
| LS | Christian Yount | ||
| PR | Micheal Spurlock | Preston Parker | Sammie Stroughter |
| KR | Micheal Spurlock | Preston Parker | Sammie Stroughter |