Bucs 2022 Camp Preview: Offensive Tackles

Bucs coaching camp is drawing close to, and it’s time to preview the roster place by place. Pewter Report will break down and study every roster spot, the gamers on the depth chart and preview the outlook for the 2022 season.

Subsequent up within the Bucs 2022 Camp Preview collection are offensive tackles.

Offensive Tackles

The Bucs return each tackles Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs to the lineup in 2022. Wirfs was named a primary crew All-Professional and Professional Bowler in simply his second season within the league. He’s shortly creating into one the NFL’s premier proper tackles. Smith had a powerful season final yr and was miffed by not making the Professional Bowl, which ought to add further gasoline to his play this season.

Behind the starters there are a number of query marks. Josh Wells has been the crew’s swing deal with for the final three years. He’ll be challenged by Fred Johnson, who the Bucs signed when he was launched by the Bengals. Behind them are first-year tackles Brandon Walton and Jonathan Hubbard, who spent all of final season on the apply squad. Undrafted rookie Dylan Prepare dinner rounds out the depth chart.

Donovan Smith

Smith was quietly among the finest left tackles within the league final season. Permitting only one sack all yr, he posted an 83.6 offensive grade from Professional Soccer Focus. His blocking grade was good for seventh-best amongst all left tackles within the NFL.  He was considered one of solely two within the prime seven to begin all 17 video games and performed the fifth-most snaps amongst all tackles within the league. Smith has steadily gotten higher yr by yr and was rewarded with an extension final season, locking him up by way of 2023.

Tristan Wirfs

Wirfs has shortly ascended, changing into among the finest proper tackles within the league. Posting a 84.6 offensive grade, Wirfs ranked sixth amongst tackles within the league, per PFF. Nevertheless, he was the one one to begin all 17 video games of the gamers ranked forward of him. After being named to the All-Rookie crew, Wirfs earned All-Professional and Professional Bowl honors in 2021. If he continues his profession trajectory, he might wind up in Canton within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Josh Wells

Wells is again with the Bucs on a one-year deal. Tampa Bay gave him simply over $1 million assured out of his $1.2 million deal. He was usually used as a jumbo tight finish in heavy units, till an harm to Wirfs thrust him into motion within the playoffs. Wells suffered an harm of his personal in the identical sport, which affected his play. When Wirfs couldn’t go within the NFC Divisional Spherical in opposition to the Rams, Wells was harassed by Los Angeles’ entrance seven. Even with the assured cash owed to him, the 31-year-old might want to have a stellar camp to fend off the competitors behind him.

Fred Johnson

Johnson joined the Bucs after three seasons with the Bengals. He began eight video games over his tenure in Cincinnati at each deal with spots and proper guard. Nearly all of his snaps coming at left deal with the final two seasons. Listed as an offensive lineman on the Bucs roster, Johnson has versatility to play deal with and guard. Nevertheless, he solely lined up at proper deal with and didn’t obtain any snaps at left deal with that we noticed throughout offseason camps. He’s solely 25 years previous and regardless of Wells’ assured cash, the newcomer is an actual menace to win the backup deal with job.

Brandon Walton

Walton signed as an undrafted free agent with the Payments in 2020 earlier than spending the yr on the Steelers’ apply squad. After signing a futures contract, he was waived by Pittsburgh in August, which is when he signed on with the Bucs. Walton was launched throughout closing roster cuts, however was re-signed to the apply squad, the place he spent all of final season. He’s a longshot to win the backup deal with job, however he might stick round on the apply squad.

Jonathan Hubbard

One other August addition for the Bucs final season, Hubbard spent all of 2020 on the Dolphins’ apply squad after signing with them as an undrafted free agent. Like Walton, Hubbard was waived throughout closing roster cuts, however signed to the apply squad. The Bucs launched Hubbard from the apply squad in September and he despatched the remainder of the yr out of soccer. He was signed to a futures contract in January, however he faces an uphill battle to crack the roster.

Dylan Prepare dinner

A former quarterback, Prepare dinner bulked up and completed his faculty profession as a deal with. He shows wonderful athleticism and has a nasty demeanor. He’s a powerful run blocker, however might want to refine his method as a move protector. Prepare dinner might want to get stronger, however he’ll profit from working with the Bucs’ power and conditioning coaches. A robust camp might land him a spot on the apply squad.