The Buccaneers completed the unhappy duty of cutting their roster to 53 players ahead of the 2026 regular season, and while no cut is easy, three in particular had to sting. Roster limitations forced Tampa Bay's hand, leading them to part ways with a few preseason stars and a once-promising draft pick.
Here are the Bucs' three most difficult cuts from this weekend:
Jack Pyburn
The Bucs took an enormous gamble in cutting undrafted free agent Jack Pyburn. First, he was one of the most productive players in the NFL during the preseason. He led the league with four sacks and added five tackles for a loss and four quarterback hits.
Second, if Pyburn even makes it through waivers, he intends on making the unprecedented move of returning to college and playing another
season at LSU. While legal challenges may still block his path, Pyburn appears intent on being listed on an active football roster in 2026, all but eschewing the Bucs signing him to their practice squad.
Elijah Klein
The Bucs drafted Klein out of UTEP in the sixth round of the 2024 draft amid endorsements from offensive line experts like OL Masterminds' Brandon Thorn. Over his first two seasons in the NFL, Klein has cross-trained at every position along the offensive line except for left tackle. He saw limited action in the regular season but appeared capable as a pass protector.
This year, the Bucs opted to cut Klein in favor of Dan Feeney, Luke Haggard and 2026 fifth-rounder Billy Schrauth. Feeney offers far more experience while Haggard is a longer athlete possibly better suited to offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's wide zone system. Schrauth appears to have supplanted Klein as the favored draft pick on the line.
JJ Roberts
The second-year safety from Marshall was poised to break out last season after making a splashy debut in training camp as an undrafted rookie. Unfortunately, an ACL tear robbed him of any chance to exhibit his skills even in the preseason. Still working his way back from such a catastrophic injury, Roberts was unable to get on the field this preseason and make a case that his rehabilitation was successful.
It's even more unfortunate, as the Bucs are in dire need of safety depth, retaining just three on the active roster following final cuts. However, his days in Tampa Bay may not be over. While Roberts' health is the reason why the Bucs could not keep on the active roster, it is also the reason why he is likely to pass through waivers and be available to sign with Tampa Bay's practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Three toughest cuts from Bucs Wire final projection
