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Bucs Reveal How Locker Room Chemistry Pushes Rookies

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 9:09 AM ET

The life of an NFL rookie isn't for the faint-hearted, and for Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Devin Culp, he had to bide his time for his opportunity.

A seventh-round draft choice last season, Culp was third in the depth chart behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham as he went through most of the season without making a genuine impact.

But then came Week 17, where Culp got on the field and had three receptions for 52 yards, and he followed that up in Week 18 with two catches for 36 yards.

Still, only getting limited game time (just 91 total snaps) can be hard for a rookie, but Culp detailed how his teammates and coaches helped keep him on the straight and narrow.

"The entire room as a whole, love my guys in the room," Culp said. "I got a lot of love and respect for Coach [Justin] Peele and Coach [Jeff] Kastyl because those guys, they preached it to me, they saw the times where I was maybe a little down because I just wanted to play, but they just always were constantly reminding me each and every day stay consistent, stay in your routine, stay ready, and eventually when I had the opportunity I was able to do what I did with it."

Now, Culp enters Year 2 with some positive momentum to build from, and while he likely will again be down the pecking order with Otten and Durham ahead of him, he has the experience of last season to lean on.

Head down, down hard, and your time will come.

Granted, that is easier said than done when you believe you should be playing, but that's life for an NFL player, and for Culp, he's taking it one step at a time to make sure that when his number is called, he's ready for the opportunity.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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