TAMPA, Fla. — John Spytek can create all the backup scenarios he wants for the draft and free agency, but the Bucs’ vice president of player personnel said it’s difficult for a Plan A, B or C to account for nights like Oct. 8, 2020.
Late in the fourth quarter of a Week 5 loss to the Bears in Chicago, linebacker Devin White rolled across nose tackle Vita Vea’s right leg, breaking it. With a limited window to find a replacement, the Bucs traded for veteran Steve McLendon. He turned into an option for not only the short term — 17 combined tackles, including two for loss, in 2020 — but also the following season, when he re-signed with the team.
Spytek and his scouting staff have time to prepare for offseason events on the NFL calendar. But their ability to navigate the “daily churn” of a season — which resumes with the initial 53-man roster set and the Sept. 11 opener creeping closer — is one of the more underappreciated parts of roster construction, Spytek said.
