Tampa Bay Buccaneers 53-man roster prediction: Preseason edition

Just two more games and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to cut their roster down to 53 players. The toughest decisions for the Bucs will come at wide receiver, where the Bucs have a surprising amount of depth and several preseason standouts. But the team will have to face plenty of other dilemmas: will they make room for Tim Wright? Which of the multiple, largely interchangeable defensive ends will they keep on the roster? Will there be a fullback? Can they afford to keep four running backs? How many tight ends do they really need?

Keep in mind that the Bucs have the top waiver priority in the league, which means that they'll likely pick up some players on waivers at the end of preseason -- meaning the bottom of the roster is going to look pretty different in the end. I'd say Brandon Dixon, Joey Iosefa and Chris Hackett would have to be prime candidates to be cut.

On to the roster projection!

Offense

Quarterback: Jameis Winston, Mike Glennon (2)

Running back: Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Mike James, Bobby Rainey (4)

Tight end/fullback: Luke Stocker, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brandon Myers, Tim Wright, Joey Iosefa (5)

Wide receiver: Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Louis Murphy, Kenny Bell, Russell Shepard (5)

Offensive line: Donovan Smith, Logan Mankins, Evan Smith, Ali Marpet, Demar Dotson, Gosder Cherilus, Kadeem Edwards, Kevin Pamphile, Patrick Omameh (9)

Defense

Defensive end: George Johnson, Jacquies Smith, T.J. Fatinikun, Larry English, Lawrence Sidbury Jr. (5)

Defensive tackle: Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald, Tony McDaniel, Henry Melton (4)

Linebackers: Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander, Danny Lansanah, Bruce Carter, Jason Williams (5)

Cornerbacks: Johnthan Banks, Alterraun Verner, Sterling Moore, Mike Jenkins, Isaiah Frey, Brandon Dixon (6)

Safeties: Bradley McDougald, Major Wright, D.J. Swearinger, Chris Conte, Chris Hackett (5)

Specialists: Connor Barth, Jake Schum, Brandon Hartson (3)