Tampa Bay's timing in the 2020 NFL Draft worked out well as they were able to get in early on a second run on wide receivers and grab a player that Bruce Arians had been coveting for months, The Buccaneers have raised expectations with a series of dramatic offseason moves, and the 2020 draft helped them fill some specific needs on what looks like a playoff-caliber roster. Lamb is the WR1 of the 2020 rookie class. 94s in team history include Robert "Pig" Goff, George Johnson and Will Clarke. Remember that third-round draft pick Lucas Niang opted out of the season. At Auburn, Brown absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage with a combination of power and speed. White and Spires kept it in use, and racked up a combined 168 games and 38 sacks, from 1996 through 2007. Before him, Bobby Rainey wore it for 41 games and 11 starts from 2013-15, during which he recorded an 80-yard touchdown run against the Bills that is the second-longest rushing play in franchise history. Winfield at least gets to retain the second digit of his collegiate number. Two quarterbacks lead the way, and three NFL teams have multiple players in our second edition of 2020 rookie rankings. The Gophers play Georgia Southern this week, a school about three hours from Bateman's hometown. For that matter, without Washington on the schedule either, the Bucs won't find out how hard it is to contain the second¬-overall pick, edge rusher Chase Young. The Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady, will play more nationally-broadcast night games than in any other year in franchise history, part of a 2020 schedule that is loaded with impressive QB matchups, Tampa Bay's 2020 slate of games is loaded with exciting games and intriguing matchups, but there are certain parts of it that look particularly challenging. The Buccaneers will keep rookie RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn up for Sunday's game, with Leonard Fournette inactive…Vikings will be without All-Pro LB Eric Kendricks due to a calf injury Dec 13, 2020 … The two players chosen in the seventh round, Temple linebacker Chapelle Russell and Louisiana-Lafayette running back Raymond Calais, got their designations on Sunday. The last running back to wear no. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King), FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson catches a pass against Miami (Ohio) in the second half of an NCAA football game, in Minneapolis. Tampa Bay's pass defense improved significantly over the second half of last season as young corners Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean found their footing, but it was still occasionally hurt by slot receivers. Mark J. Terrill/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Defensive backs Beasley Reece, Elbert Mack, Ahmad Black and T.J. Ward have all worn it as Bucs, too. I'll concede that the quarterback situation in Vegas is more of a sure thing than in Denver, where second-year man Drew Lock looked very promising in five starts but is obviously not a, uh, lock to excel. In Russell's case, he'll get to meet the most prominent no. It's for good reason, too. The 43 jersey has most commonly been used by fullbacks in team history, though there have been some notable ball-carriers with that number, too. That number has been worn by a lot of former Buccaneers – 30 in all – but none for more than four seasons. 29 / 34. Michael Conroy/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Which of these rookies will be the franchise's next success story? The Bucs travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in the Mile High City for the first time since 2012 in Week Three. Published November 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs), Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) escapes a tackle from Penn State safety Garrett Taylor (17) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson reaches over the goal line for a touchdown beyond the defense of Indiana State defensive back Kevin Beacham in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, in Minneapolis. Justin Jefferson has made an interesting case over the last two games, but don’t get it twisted. Bruce Kluckhohn/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall). ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Brown will anchor a Panthers defensive line that will pair him with veteran Kawann Short on the interior and give him edge help from Stephen Weatherly, who the team signed in free agency from Minnesota, and Chris Smith, who the team signed from Cleveland. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs), Minnesota's Tyler Johnson against Purdue in the second half of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Minneapolis. However, Whitehead will be switching to no. Tight end Jordan Leggett did the same, switching from 87 to 81 so that Brady's pal, Rob Gronkowski, could have the same number he had with the Patriots. He's effective against the run and gets into the backfield, too. The offensive line also got an upgrade with the Bucs' first-round pick Tristan Wirfs. Andy Clayton-King/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved. Charlie Neibergall/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Bucs have released rookie receiver John Hurst from the practice squad. He wore no. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) visit the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) on Sunday, December 20, in a matchup between NFC South foes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn), Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson, left, gets past Miami (Ohio) defensive back Joshua Allen for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might very well have the ‘Rookie of the Year’ Award coming home before it’s all said and done because of the talent and performance of safety Antoine Winfield Jr. As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers near the midway point of the 2020 NFL season, here is where the rookies stand regarding their expectations and performance. Ruiz missed the season opener while recovering from a training camp ankle injury, but he turned in two full days of practice and should dress out for this kickoff against the Las Vegas Raiders. Second-Round Safety Antoine Winfield Jr.: #31. Tyler Kaufman/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. NFL Network's Marc Ross details what he's seen from Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and tackle Tristan Wirfs so far in 2020. Among the fullbacks who have worn that number are Rudy Harris, William Howard, Kevin McLeod and Jameel Cook, who was on the Super Bowl team. Of course, the Broncos also drafted Penn State's K.J. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File), Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) against South Dakota State during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. Andrew Whitworth dubs it "the night of rookies" as Jordan Fuller, Van Jefferson and Cam Akers play pivotal roles in Rams' 27-24 win over the Bucs. TAMPA, FL - JULY 27, 2020 - Cornerback Parnell Motley #39 and Outside Linebacker Quinton Bell #57 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers arrive to … ... Meet the Buccaneers’ 13 undrafted rookie free agents. The Saints are expected to have their first-round draft pick in the lineup, with former Michigan center Cesar Ruiz filling in at right guard. The most prominent former no. Get to know a few things about the four players selected by the Bucs on Day Three of the 2020 NFL Draft. The series wastes no time getting started, either, with the Bucs opening their season on the road in the Super Dome. Carlos Osorio/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. Most recently Peyton Barber wore it at the beginning of his career before he got the chance to switch to no. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs), Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) holds onto the ball against Penn State cornerback Keaton Ellis (2) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Minneapolis. 94 at Nebraska. 12 to no. © TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. Meanwhile, the … — Greg Auman (@gregauman) November 4, 2020 They hope they'll be able to do it this year with a combination of Ronald Jones, Dare Ogunbowale and newcomer Ke'Shawn Vaughn. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP), Louisiana-Lafayette running back Raymond Calais catches the ball during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, in Indianapolis. Charlie Neibergall/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy). 5. Justin Herbert overtakes Joe Burrow for the top spot in Daniel Jeremiah's ranking of the 25 best rookies through Week 9 of the 2020 season. Three Keys: Vikings at Buccaneers; Why Justin Jefferson Will Win Rookie of the Year; purplePTSD points: Tice on Moss/Jefferson, Breaking down JJ’s 40-yard catch, the Cutthroat Bucs Game; Mike Tice/other former Vikings help the NFL finally create developmental league/system ; How Vikings Can Maintain Postseason Position; Minnesota’s Blueprint … Tyler Johnson has the most polished credentials for Minnesota, but Bateman has quickly emerged from a deep group of wide receivers as more than just a sidekick. Every scouting report on Jeudy says the same thing: He's a masterful route-runner. All rights reserved. The Bucs started their 2020 draft Thursday night with the selection of big and nimble Iowa blocker Tristan Wirfs with the 13th pick, addressing offensive tackle in the first round for the first time in 19 years, Tampa Bay's second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is Minnesota S Antoine Winfield, Jr., who tied a school record with seven interceptions in 2019 and was responsible for big plays all over the field, Third-round pick Ke'Shawn Vaughn, a hard-nosed and versatile running back out of Auburn, joins a Buccaneers offense that has an impressive array of weapons, Tampa Bay's first pick in Day Three of the 2020 Draft is Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson, a highly-productive collegian who the Bucs feel can have a productive, versatile role in their already loaded offense, Tampa Bay's second defender in the 2020 draft is Nebraska DT Khalil Davis, a quick and athletic big man who gives the Buccaneers' talented defensive front more depth. Before Whitehead, the 31 jersey generally bounced around from one defensive back to another. All rights reserved, Bruce Kluckhohn/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. Football icon. Nati Harnik/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. The Buccaneers wasted little time helping their seven 2020 draftees choose the jersey numbers they would wear as professionals, revealing the selections for each of the players they picked in the first six rounds before the draft was over. The number 30 went unused in Tampa in 2019 and also doesn't have a very prominent place in Buccaneers history…save for one very memorable moment. 2020 NFL training camp's early winners and losers: Raiders rookies shining bright, A.J. Browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge ( v80 and later ), Firefox and Safari need one more for... Not having a tenure in Tampa when outside linebacker Carl Nassib left in agency. 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