Tampa Bay gave itself a bit of a head start on the first cuts of the year, waiving defensive end Quintin Anderson, wide receiver Armahd Lewis and tackle Mike VanDerMeulen on Thursday.
Who else should be worried about making the final cut to 53?
Most of the “big names” should have little problem sticking around in Tampa.
Few, if any, moves will be dictated by injury issues, as the roster has mostly stayed healthy throughout preseason. That’s a double-edged sword for Greg Schiano, who will have tough decisions to make at a few positions.
Najee Goode (LB, rookie, fifth-round draft pick) -- A West Virginia alum, Goode was somewhat of a known quantity to Schiano when the draft came around, as Schiano's Rutgers teams faced the Mountaineers yearly. He has made plays in practices and looked reasonably impressive in preseason games, but the linebacker position is crowded. Veteran backups Dekoda Watson, Adam Hayward and Jacob Cutrera all have at least three years of NFL experience. Can the Bucs find room for a rookie as well?
Mossis Madu (RB, 2nd year, former undrafted free agent) -- Madu, an Oklahoma product, fought his way to the active roster last year and hasn't done anything to lose his spot. But in the position battle got far more crowded with Tampa Bay taking both Doug Martin and Michael Smith in the draft. Martin is a shoo-in to make the roster, and Smith has looked strong on special teams. If the Buccaneers only take three running backs, Madu may be on the outside looking in.
Jordan Shipley (WR, 3rd year, claimed off waivers) -- From all accounts, Shipley has impressed on special teams (he will get a chance to return punts in Friday night's preseason game against the Patriots) and has a comfort level with the team's offense, saying it reminds him of his rookie season in Cincinnati. But it will take more than just a week or two for Shipley to truly settle in at receiver. Can his return game prowess give him a roster spot and the time necessary to learn the playbook? And, perhaps more importantly, is his knee healthy enough for any of it to matter?
Keith Tandy (S, rookie, sixth-round draft pick) -- Like Goode, his former teammate at WVU, Tandy is fighting to stay on the right side of the bubble. Reports indicate the Bucs like Tandy’s potential, but this is his first year as a safety after playing cornerback throughout college. At least four other safeties seem reasonably entrenched in their spots (Mark Barron, Ronde Barber, Larry Asante and Ahmad Black), so Tandy may not make the active roster unless Schiano decides to keep a fifth.
For more from Tampa Bay Bucs blogger Patrick Southern, follow him on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLTB.