The defending Super Bowl champions are in the middle of minicamp, just like the rest of the teams in the NFL. After a spectacular run last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to repeat their performance. The front office brought back all 22 starters to the roster, which means this team already has the chemistry and experience to make another deep postseason run.
Even though the goal is to earn a second consecutive Super Bowl, the franchise still needs to be preparing for their future as well. The Buccaneers made seven total selections in the 2021 NFL Draft, giving them plenty of youth to add to the depth of the roster. This team is primed for another Super Bowl run, but the front office has acquired young players who have the potential to keep Tampa Bay competitive for years after.
There are two players that stand out as possible hidden talents on this roster. Both of which are on the offensive side of the ball. Not many of the rookies selected will make a huge impact on the 2021 season, but some could be big-time playmakers down the road. With that said, here are two hidden gems on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster.
Jaelon Darden
Coming out of North Texas, Jaelon Darden is a wide receiver who made some noise at a small school. He became the main receiving option for his team in his final two years and put up a monster season in his senior year. In 2020, Darden recorded 74 receptions, 1,190 yards, and 19 touchdowns through the air in just nine games. At 5-8, 174 pounds, it's safe to say that Jaelon Darden is built to excel as a slot receiver in the NFL with the Buccaneers.
He won't be a starter to begin his career, as those roles are locked down by Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown. However, Darden could make a huge impact in 2022 and beyond. One thing going for Darden is that Tom Brady essentially hand-picked the receiver in the draft. According to Pro Football Talk, Bruce Arians gave Brady the reins to evaluate the wide receiver talent in the draft. Darden was the only receiver the Buccaneers selected. He caught the eye of the GOAT, which means the Buccaneers' new rookie receiver should develop into a legitimate playmaker one day.
Kyle Trask
Kyle Trask has received some flak since leaving Florida to pursue his NFL career. Although he was selected in the second round by the Buccaneers, many don't view Trask as an NFL-caliber quarterback. Most of the credit for his accomplishments has been given to his passing targets, Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney, and he also played behind a decent offensive line with the Gators.
Even so, it isn't like Trask was the Gators' first choice at quarterback. It wasn't until an injury forced Feleipe Franks to sit on the sideline and Kyle Trask played so well, the coaching staff kept him in the starting rotation. He played well enough to make the Gators competitive and he knew where to throw the ball on passing plays. His 4,283 passing yards and 43 touchdowns in his senior year prove that Trask has the talent to be an NFL quarterback for the Buccaneers.
He now has the privilege to play and learn behind Tom Brady. It's unknown as to when Brady plans to retire, but Trask has a real opportunity to literally learn from the best before taking over as the starting quarterback.
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