The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to churn the back end of their roster this offseason, and the latest transaction brings a fresh face to the linebacker room while parting ways with a running back who spent the 2025 season on the practice squad. According to the team's official announcement, the Bucs have signed Nebraska linebacker Javin Wright and waived running back Michael Wiley.
This is a classic depth move in mid-May -- the kind of transaction that rarely makes national headlines but often tells you something about where a team's front office is focusing its attention. Let's break down what this means for both players, the positions involved, and the bigger picture for Tampa Bay as we approach the summer portion of the offseason program.
Javin Wright: A Long, Athletic Addition to the Linebacker Room
Javin Wright comes to Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska, and at first glance, his profile is exactly the kind of developmental piece that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles like to take a swing on.
Wright is a big-framed linebacker -- listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds during his time with the Cornhuskers -- who brings plus length and the kind of versatility that modern NFL defenses covet. He wasn't a full-time starter at Nebraska, but he was a productive rotational piece who showed up on special teams and flashed the ability to drop into coverage.
For a Buccaneers defense that already features a deep and talented linebacker corps -- including veterans Alex Anzalone, Christian Rozeboom, and returning core pieces like Yaya Diaby, SirVocea Dennis, and Chris Braswell -- Wright is likely competing for a spot at the bottom of the depth chart and, more immediately, a role on special teams.
What makes this signing interesting is the physical profile. Bowles has historically valued length and athleticism at the linebacker position, especially for players who can rush off the edge or cover tight ends and running backs. Wright checks those boxes from a measurables standpoint, even if his college production (career totals of 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one interception) doesn't jump off the page.
The question now is whether Wright can translate that frame into on-field impact at the NFL level. He'll get his first real opportunity during OTAs and minicamp, and if he shows well, he could push for a practice squad spot or even a backup role in the fall.
Michael Wiley Waived: What Went Wrong?
On the other side of this transaction, the Bucs have waived running back Michael Wiley, who had been hanging around the fringes of the roster since joining the team in 2025. Wiley went undrafted out of Arizona and signed with the Buccaneers as a priority free agent, but he never managed to crack the active roster on a full-time basis.
Wiley's departure leaves the running back room thinner, but not necessarily in a way that will cause concern. The Bucs currently carry Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker, Kenneth Gainwell, and Josh Williams as the primary backs, with Owen Wright also in the mix. That's a solid group that features a blend of youth (Irving and Tucker are both ascending talents), experience (Gainwell has been a valuable third-down back), and special teams ability.
Wiley was always going to be a long shot to make the final 53. His role was likely restricted to camp competition and emergency depth, and with the Bucs carrying so many bodies at the position, something had to give.
Still, it's worth noting that the front office didn't hesitate to make this move when a player they liked became available at a different position. That suggests the team feels comfortable with its running back depth -- and perhaps has its eyes on a different type of addition at the position later in the offseason.
Roster Implications and Positional Depth
Let's zoom out and look at what this move does to the overall roster construction.
At linebacker, the Bucs now have a crowded room. With Wright joining the fold, the team has 16 linebackers on the current 90-man roster. That number will obviously get trimmed significantly by the start of the regular season, but for now, it creates a competitive environment that should push everyone to perform during camp.
The key veterans -- Alex Anzalone, Yaya Diaby, and Chris Braswell -- are locks to make the team. Players like SirVocea Dennis, Nick Jackson, and Mohamed Kamara are likely fighting for rotational roles and special teams snaps. Wright enters that mix as a true developmental prospect who will need to prove himself in practice and preseason games.
At running back, the room is now down to six players after Wiley's departure. Bucky Irving is the clear lead back after a strong 2025 campaign. Sean Tucker showed flashes of big-play ability and is probably the No. 2. Kenneth Gainwell brings a veteran presence and passing-game value. Josh Williams and Owen Wright are competing for the final roster spot or practice squad roles.
The Bucs could still add another back before training camp -- perhaps a veteran free agent or a player released by another team -- but for now, the team seems content to roll with what it has.
What This Tells Us About the Bucs' Offseason Philosophy
Transactions like this one are a reminder that roster building is a year-round process. The Buccaneers are not a team that sits still. Even after the draft and the bulk of free agency, Jason Licht and his staff are constantly monitoring the waiver wire, pro days, and the undrafted free agent market for talent upgrades.
Signing a player like Javin Wright -- a relatively unknown prospect from a program that doesn't produce a ton of NFL talent -- says the Bucs are willing to take calculated risks on players with specific physical traits. They're not just filling camp bodies; they're looking for diamonds in the rough that their coaching staff can develop.
Wright, in particular, fits a niche that Bowles has shown he values: a long, athletic linebacker who can potentially cover ground in zone and match up with athletic tight ends. If he hits, he could be a valuable depth piece in a year or two. If he doesn't, it's a low-risk waiver claim that cost nothing but a roster spot.
Looking Ahead: The Next Steps for Both Players
For Javin Wright, the immediate path is clear: get on the practice field, learn the playbook, and impress the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator during OTAs. His best chance to stick will come on special teams, where the Bucs are always looking for long, athletic bodies who can run and tackle in space.
For Michael Wiley, the NFL dream isn't necessarily over. He'll likely clear waivers and become a free agent, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him catch on with another team's practice squad late in the summer. He showed enough in Arizona and during his brief time in Tampa to get another look somewhere.
Final Thoughts on the Transaction
This is a low-stakes, medium-impact roster move that speaks to the Buccaneers' ongoing effort to improve their depth at key positions. Javin Wright is a developmental linebacker with intriguing length and athleticism, and Michael Wiley's departure opens the door for another player to compete for a role in the backfield.
For Bucs fans, it's a reminder that the 90-man roster is always in flux. The team that takes the field for Week 1 will look different than the one we see in May, and moves like this are part of that constant evolution.
Stay tuned -- there's still plenty of offseason left, and the Bucs are far from done making moves.