Five Bucs rookies who will have the biggest impact in 2020 - Tampa Bay Times

Barring a delay to the start of NFL training camp ― there’s much still to be agreed upon between the league and players union — Bucs rookies will report to the AdventHealth Training Center on Tuesday.

It’s unknown whether there will be two or zero preseason games. In other words, evaluating first-year players, many of whom have never personally met their coaches or teammates, will be difficult.

Because of the coronavirus, rookies have missed two minicamps and organized team activities where they would have had a better venue to learn the installation of offensive and defensive systems. Instead, all meetings were held virtually.

Some first-year players will have their cleats held to the fire anyway, guys such as tackle Tristan Wirfs and defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. But there’s no underestimating what they’ve missed.

What are the chances of Minnesota’s Tyler Johnson emerging as the No. 3 receiver? Or Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn winning the the starting running back job from Ronald Jones?

“Walking through and practicing is the best way to teach,” coach Bruce Arians said. “So those are valuable reps missed. I don’t know how we’ll make them up. … The Zoom meetings are one thing but we’re missing 400 reps. Our rookies usually get 400 reps by now and they haven’t gotten any. So I don’t know how we’re going to make that up, but we have to.”

It’s been several months since the NFL draft, so a little refresher of the first-year players who will be counted on to make a big contribution in 2020 is in order.

“We’ve got some guys who I think will have critical roles for us that haven’t even been on the field or in a meeting yet,” Arians said.

Here’s a ranking of the Bucs’ top five rookies who should have the biggest impact if quarterback Tom Brady is going to have a shot at his seventh Super Bowl ring this season.

Tristan Wirfs, Iowa (Round 1, 13th overall)

Tristan Wirfs speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 26. [ CHARLIE NEIBERGALL | Associated Press ]

No rookie will play more snaps than the Bucs’ first-round pick. Anyone who has watched the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Wirfs jump from the shallow end of a pool to the deck knows his athleticism and strength is rare. But Wirfs is about to get tossed into the deep end of the NFL.

At minimum, he enters training camp as the starting right tackle Day 1, taking over from veteran Demar Dotson, who wasn’t re-signed as a free agent.

A potentially bigger challenge may be on the horizon. Left tackle Donovan Smith said last week that he believed it may be “too risky” for him to play in 2020 with his first child, a daughter, due soon. Smith questioned whether the testing protocols could ensure he wouldn’t catch the coronavirus, or worse yet, bring it back to his family.

It’s hard to imagine Smith walking away from a $14.25 million pay day. It’s still uncertain whether players will be paid or retain the status of their contracts in 2021 if they opt out.

But Wirfs may be the best candidate to play left tackle if Smith stays home. The notion of a rookie protecting Brady is daunting enough, much less if he has to do it on his blind side at left tackle.

Pro Football Focus ranked the Bucs offensive line 13th in the league after finishing seventh on their list in 2019. Smith, by the way, was the 32nd-ranked tackle in the NFL.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (Round 3, 76th overall)

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn was a bright spot on on an offense last season that didn't have many positives. [ MARK HUMPHREY | Associated Press ]

This is where the order of things may shift. How is it that the third player drafted by the Bucs may have the second-biggest impact?

Consider the importance of the running back position to Brady and the offense.

In each of his past five seasons, Brady has completed at least 100 passes to his running backs. Jones is the incumbent and Brady is said to be very impressed with him. He’s worked a lot on his route running and pass catching during all those informal workouts at Berkeley Prep.

But shortly after Vaughn was drafted, Bucs general manager Jason Licht got calls from other executives around the league saying how impressed they were with the Commodores star.

Vaughn had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the SEC without the benefit of a good passing game. Pass protection may be an issue initially, but it wasn’t Jones’ strength either.

The Bucs believe Vaughn may become the steal of this draft. It also takes more than one running back in this league, and he can play all three downs.

Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota (Round 2, 45th overall)

Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) intercepts the ball intended for Penn State wide receiver Justin Shorter Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. [ STACY BENGS | Associated Press ]

No one will be surprised if Winfield emerges as the starter in Week 1. His dad played 14 seasons in the NFL and even intercepted Brady.

Winfield’s ball skills are off the charts, and he’s a complete safety who can come down in the box and play the run or cover man-to-man in the slot.

Expect defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to be creative in his use of Winfield. But the Bucs defense isn’t the easiest one to master. It took rookies such as Devin White and Jamel Dean nearly half the season to become consistent.

It’s possible Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards emerge as starters with Winfield playing in nickel situations. The status or Justin Evans, who missed 2019 with ankle/foot injuries, also is unknown.

But Winfield will have a huge impact. He’s a ball hawk who won’t drop interceptions.

Tyler Johnson, Minnesota (Round 5, 161st overall)

Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) makes a catch after getting around Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas (24) during the second half of the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020, in Tampa. [ CHRIS O'MEARA | Associated Press ]

Johnson was a value pick in the fifth round and a player the Bucs felt fortunate to get so late in the draft.

He had nearly 2,500 yards receiving and 25 touchdowns the past two seasons for the Golden Gophers. Coach P.J. Fleck, who coached receivers for the Bucs, knows Johnson will be a highly productive player in the NFL.

The Bucs lost Breshad Perriman to the Lions in free agency. The competition for the third receiver spot is wide open between Johnson, Scotty Miller and Justin Watson. Both veterans spent plenty of time working with Brady in the off-season.

Considering the Bucs may go with a lot of 12 personnel — two tight ends, one running back and two receivers — it may be hard to get a third wideout on the field this season.

But before the season is over, look for Johnson to force his way into the lineup.

Khalil Davis, Nebraska (Round 6, 194th overall)

Nebraska defensive lineman Khalil Davis, left, tackles Colorado running back Alex Fontenot (8) on Sept. 7, 2019, in Boulder, Colo. [ DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | Associated Press ]

Remember, Brady was picked No. 199 in 2000. Okay, that’s a ridiculous comparison. But on this team, which doesn’t have much depth at defensive tackle, Davis could play a lot of snaps.

Important snaps.

The Bucs were No. 1 against the run last season. Vita Vea is an emerging star. But Ndamukong Suh is 33 years old and playing under another one-year deal. Outside of Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and the ability of William Gholston to occasionally move inside, there’s very little depth for the Bucs at defensive tackle.

Davis is 6 feet 1, 309 pounds and may actually need to eat a few more cheeseburgers to anchor the middle of this defense. But he’ll get plenty of reps in training camp.

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