Tampa Bay Buccaneers cuts have been trickling in over the past couple of days, ahead of the official NFL 53-man roster cutdown on August 26.
Just over 24 hours before the deadline on August 25, FOX Sports NFL reporter and Buccaneers insider Greg Auman relayed a surprising decision on X.
“Bucs are releasing veteran corner Bryce Hall, who got back healthy after missing all of last season with injury,” Auman reported. He added that Hall “could easily land on another 53, but would be welcome back on [the] practice squad in Tampa if he doesn’t.”
Hall and Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles both spent several seasons with the New York Jets, although not at the same time.
Shortly after Bowles’ tenure as head coach of the Jets ended after the 2018 season, Hall was drafted in the fifth round in 2020. That type of draft status doesn’t typically guarantee you a starting role at the NFL level, but a collegiate injury lowered Hall’s draft stock, and the Jets saw him as a first-team player once healthy.
From there, Hall was given a legitimate shot at a starting cornerback role over the back half of 2020 and for the entire 2021 campaign. In total, he started 24 games for the Jets early on and then added two more starts later in year four with the team.
Unfortunately, Hall was never much of a ball hawk despite adequate coverage ability, forcing just 2 interceptions over 40 appearances with the Jets.
After New York eventually replaced him with players like Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, Hall landed in Tampa Bay with Bowles and the Buccaneers in 2024. But he lasted only one game before suffering a “dislocated right ankle and a fractured right fibula” that forced him to miss the remainder of last year’s campaign.
Bryce Hall Was Expected to Survive the Buccaneers’ 53-Man Roster Cutdown
Every season there are a few cuts that surprise most fans and media members covering the team, and Hall’s departure could qualify as one of those moves for the Buccaneers in 2025.
No, it’s not like Hall was expected to start or play a key role, but he was viewed as plus depth at cornerback, and Tampa Bay has been dealing with CB injuries all summer.
After a fan asked Auman why he believes Hall was unexpectedly cut, the reporter gave the following response.
“The depth is [there] in [Benjamin] Morrison and [Jacob] Parrish,” Auman replied. “My guess is they want more special-teams value from a fifth corner.”
On the bright side, Hall’s release is a good sign that Morrison will be healthy for the start of the season.
Buccaneers CB Room Takes Shape After Bryce Hall Cut
Along with Hall, the Bucs’ reported roster cuts at cornerback and safety include Tre Avery, JayVian Farr and fan favorite rookie Shilo Sanders. More moves are surely coming in the secondary, but it feels likely that Tampa Bay will not be trading veteran starter Jamel Dean anytime soon.
He’ll pair with Zyon McCollum, Morrison and Parrish to make up a solid top four to start the year. Not to mention versatile nickel option Christian Izien.
With Hall released, there should be room for at least one more player at cornerback, maybe two, depending on how many safeties the Buccaneers keep. Veteran Kindle Vildor and recent draft pick Josh Hayes are most likely leading the discussion for that spot at this time.
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