The 2021 NFL Season is right around the corner and the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are preparing for another title run. After another solid offseason, the front office was able to retain the entire starting lineup while acquiring some great young prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers are set up for success, not just for this season, but for the years to come as well.
Tampa Bay will be a Super Bowl contender again, but there are some great signs coming from the prospects as well. Bucs fans should be ecstatic about the future of the franchise, as the team has a few standouts making some noise during training camp. This is exactly what the Buccaneers need from their rookie class, as it creates longevity for the franchise.
Three rookies stand out in training camp right now and have become pleasant surprises for the coaching staff. One could make an immediate impact on the defense, while the other two could find a key role down the road. With that said, here are three pleasant surprises standing out for the Buccaneers early in training camp.
Bucs Defense
Joe Tryon
This might not be a shocker to anyone as Joe Tryon was the Bucs' first pick of the draft, but he's been impressive so far. With guys like Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett serving as the starting outside linebackers, it was originally believed Tryon might serve as a rotation player until he's ready for an expanded role. However, Joe Tryon looks like a veteran so far in training camp and will likely force his way into some playing time right away.
Sean Murphy-Bunting on rookie OLB Joe Tryon: “Joe’s a beast and you could see that from the first day I stepped on the field with him.”
“He’s going to be scary for other teams.”
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) August 11, 2021
We'll see how Tryon is incorporated into the Buccaneers' defense as the team is already stacked on that side of the ball. Regardless of his age and experience, the coaching staff will find a way to get their first-round pick on the field. He's been a one-man wrecking crew and is impressing the entire team. Look for Tryon to be a major contributor right away for the Buccaneers.
Bucs Offense
Jaelon Darden
Selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Jaelon Darden was viewed as a sleeper target for many in the wide receiver position. He joins a loaded receiver group though, as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown will work as the main three pass options for Tom Brady. Darden will have a spot on the final roster, but we might not see him at his fullest potential for a year or two.
Even so, Jaelon Darden has been impressive in training camp so far. It's also important to note that head coach Bruce Arians asked Brady to evaluate the rookie receivers. Darden joins a Bucs team that believes in his talents while catching the eye of Tom Brady as well. Look for Darden to play a sporadic role in 2021, but he has the potential to become a major contributor in 2022.
Kyle Trask
It was no surprise the Buccaneers selected a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, but not many believed it'd be Kyle Trask. Even though he received some flack prior to the draft, Trask has been proving his worth during training camp. He has virtually no chance of seeing the field this year, but that's exactly how the Bucs planned it. Kyle Traks will be the third-string quarterback while the coaching staff works with him to help him develop.
Trask is in a winning situation in Tampa Bay. He's playing behind and learning from the greatest quarterback of all time. Meanwhile, once he's ready to take over as the starter in a few years, the Buccaneers should still have a stellar roster for him to work with. Trask proved to be a valuable quarterback in college and consistently delivered the ball to the best weapons on his team in Florida. If Kyle Trask can develop, the Buccaneers could have a dynasty on their hands.
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