Bucs’ top two draft picks earn starting roles ahead of Week 1

Rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter will open Week 1 as starters as Tampa Bay sets its first regular-season depth chart.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will waste little time getting their top two 2026 draft picks onto the field.

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Rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter are both listed with Tampa Bay’s starting defense on the depth chart released ahead of Week 1. Bain will start at outside linebacker opposite Yaya Diaby, while Trotter joins veteran Alex Anzalone as one of the Bucs’ two starting inside linebackers.

Baker Mayfield remains at the top of the quarterback room with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels behind him at QB2, while Bucky Irving leads a backfield that also includes Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker. At receiver, Jalen McMillan, Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka occupy the three starting spots.

Tampa Bay’s secondary has Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish listed as the starting cornerbacks, with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith at safety. Keionte Scott, another rookie, sits behind Parrish at cornerback.

Here is the full Week 1 depth chart:

Offense

PositionFirstSecondThird/FourthWRJalen McMillanTed Hurst IIIWRChris Godwin Jr.Kameron JohnsonLTTristan WirfsBen ChukwumaLGBen BredesonBilly SchrauthCGraham BartonDan FeeneyRGCody MauchLuke HaggardRTLuke GoedekeJustin SkuleWREmeka EgbukaTez JohnsonTECade OttonPayne DurhamKo Kieft / Bauer SharpQBBaker MayfieldJalon DanielsRBBucky IrvingKenny GainwellSean Tucker

Defense

PositionFirstSecondThirdDLCalijah KanceyElijah RobertsNTVita VeaRakeem Nuñez-RochesElijah SimmonsDLA’Shawn RobinsonDeMonte CapehartOLBYaya DiabyAnthony NelsonDavid WalkerILBJosiah TrotterSirVocea DennisILBAlex AnzaloneChristian RozeboomOLBRueben Bain Jr.Al-Quadin MuhammadCBZyon McCollumBenjamin MorrisonAyden GarnesCBJacob ParrishKeionte ScottKevin KnowlesSAntoine Winfield Jr.STykee SmithMiles Killebrew

Special teams

PositionFirstSecondPRiley DixonPKChase McLaughlinKOChase McLaughlinHRiley DixonLSEvan DeckersPRKameron JohnsonTez JohnsonKRSean TuckerKenny GainwellKRKameron Johnson

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs’ top two draft picks earn starting roles ahead of Week 1

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