A new face in the defensive tackle room
Travis Shaw, a rookie undrafted free agent, has joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive tackle room, displacing Haggai Ndbuisi, who was cut. Shaw brings potential after a college career that saw him transfer to Texas and fall to the undrafted ranks. The switch gives the Bucs a replacement for their injured player while increasing the overall health of the defensive line.
Shaw, once a top recruit for Mack Brown at North Carolina, played three college seasons but was passed over in the draft. He briefly joined the New England Patriots but was released before camp began. Now, he's attempting to establish himself in the NFL with the Bucs. His college experience included brief playtime, with 156 snaps in 2022, 133 in his second season, and 337 in his third, where he showed 15 defensive stops and six pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ndbuisi’s NFL journey ends with a cut
Ndbuisi, himself an undrafted free agent in 2022, spent the past four years with multiple teams, including the Broncos, Commanders, Patriots, and Texans. He now enters his fifth NFL season but failed to stick with a sixth team. Despite being signed for depth, the likelihood of him securing a roster spot was very low, especially with the Bucs focusing on younger, more promising talent.
The Buccaneers likely knew the odds when they signed him for depth. With the defensive line already loaded with veterans and draft picks, the chance to make the 53-man roster was slim. His departure is not unexpected. Having moved across five teams in four years, Ndbuisi’s NFL story ends with yet another team cutting ties.
Bucs’ defensive line reshaped for depth and competition
Tampa Bay added depth to the defensive line with Shaw’s signing and is expected to see healthier versions of Calijah Kancey and Elijah Roberts in 2025. New signings like A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, plus sixth-round pick DeMonte Capehart, have expanded the depth chart. Capehart, in particular, is seen as a key developmental talent with more room to grow than a veteran UDFA like Ndbuisi.
The team also brought in rookie UDFAs Deshawn McKnight and Josiah Green, adding to the competition. While Shaw may not make the regular roster, the practice squad offers a lifeline for a player still seeking his first NFL opportunity. The Bucs are also retaining veterans like Elijah Simmons and Jayson Jones, who provide further depth and experience.