Why Rookie Capehart's Return To Practice Is A Big Deal For Bucs' Defense
Boasting a near-perfect athletic score, the former Clemson standout returns from surgery to provide vital depth and relief for Tampa Bay’s veteran-heavy defensive line rotation.
Don't underestimate rookie DeMonte Capehart's importance to the Bucs' defense.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an incredibly deep group of defensive tackles heading into the 2026 season. Vita Vea is a monster, and remains the heart and soul of Todd Bowles' defense.
Calijah Kancey is looking to stay healthy this year and prove that he is still a big part of the team's future. Newcomer A'Shawn Robinson brings a nastiness to the middle of the Bucs' defensive line.With those three, it may be easy to overlook a rookie fifth-round draft pick.
However, Capehart figures to be an important piece of Tampa's defense, even if he only earns a rotational role as a rookie. The former Clemson Tiger is an athletic marvel at the DT position. At The Combine, he measured at 6'5 and 313 pounds, then wowed everyone by running a 4.
85-second forty-yard dash—his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.97 ranked 8th out of 2,046 DTs since 1987.Unfortunately for the Bucs, Capehart has missed most of the team's offseason program while recovering from wrist surgery.
He couldn't participate in Tampa's rookie minicamp and was still dealing with the injury when the Bucs started their OTA practices.Now Capehart is back at practice, and it is a big deal for the Bucs' defense.Small Role Could Pay Large DividendsEven though Capehart will be low on the depth chart this season, even a small role for the rookie could pay large dividends for the team.
The trio of Vea, Kancey, and Robinson must have their snaps properly managed to maintain their effectiveness over the season.Both Vea and Robinson are 31 years old. While Vea is still playing at a high level, he played a career high number of snaps last season with 764.
That wear and tear may catch up to him this season. It would benefit Tampa to decrease his workload so he doesn't burn out before the year is over. Robinson played 658 snaps in 2025.
Can he maintain that number now that he is a year older? Or would Tampa be better served by letting the 23-year-old Cap
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