Strange Draft Year For Cornerbacks
April 26th, 2025
New Bucs cornerback Benjamin Morrison, their second-round draft pick.
So the Bucs drafted Benjamin Morrison, the Notre Dame cornerback coming off hip surgery, at No. 53 overall in Round 2. But he was only the fifth cornerback off the board.
The past few years, the draft market for corners proved very different.
In 2024, the eighth cornerback selected came off the board at No. 50. In 2022, the eighth corner was taken at No. 49. Those are huge discrepancies when compared to this year’s draft.
Sandwiched in between was the 2023 draft, when the fifth cornerback selected was at No. 32 overall.
So is 2025 a rough draft year for cornerbacks, or did the Bucs get an absolute steal in a draft that was heavy early on offensive players?
Time will tell.
Many considered University of Michigan cornerback Will Johnson to be the most talented cornerback in this draft after Travis Hunter. Johnson is a true ballhawk (9 college interceptions, the same total as Morrison). And Johnson is very long and lean in the Todd Bowles mold, and he was a 2023 All-American. But his history of knee issues spooked some NFL teams.
Johnson was the fourth cornerback taken after freefalling to the Cardinals at No. 47 overall last night, just six selections prior to Morrison.
Joe will forever wonder if the Bucs preferred Johnson over Morrison.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:22 am
B Mo is the best corner in the draft if not hurt last year
He would of locked up Jeremiah Smith in the Natty
6 picks as a true freshman is wild, and 3 picks the next year when QBs don’t throw your way on purpose
Check his stats against the top receivers he faced, dudes the definition of a seatbelt
April 26th, 2025 at 8:31 am
LEWI,
He may be all those things you say he is, but until he proves it ,
he is just Jamel Dean II
April 26th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Dean, McCollum, and Morrison as outside corners.
Winfield, Smith as safeties
Parrish slot corner
Izen as slot corner and safety back up.
Hall as outside corner back up unless he starts season on injured list.
That is 8 defensive backs.
Vildor, Hayes, and Merriweather fighting for the last spot, it seems.
I lean the youngest Merriweather.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:32 am
I like Morrison too. The hip concern was the only thing that really bothered anybody I think. Too many fans here whining that we don’t take risks in the draft, well herr is a semi risk though I bet the Bucs vetted his medical pretty solidly. We haven’t picked a CB that’s high in a while. If he hits the ground running, all Dean and McCollum have on him is playing time.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:33 am
It’s 💯 about remaining healthy and able to play.
The Bucs said that their medical and training staff checked his records and gave the thumbs up on the success of his surgeries for torn labrum’s in his hips.
So… if that’s the case and he doesn’t injury is labrum again he will have been a great pick.
In his case the question is injury
In every case you just don’t know if a player’s college success is going to translate into the NFL …
Fingers crossed…
April 26th, 2025 at 8:40 am
This guys highlight tape is amazing, he plays right on the line, no more 10 yard cushions. Hes like velcro
April 26th, 2025 at 8:49 am
I read in a quote from Morrison that they waited purposely for his growth plates to stabilize before doing surgery and that he’s 100%. That being the case he could be one of the best picks and steals for years to come.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:12 am
Crap shoot with health….sure thing with talent & character…
April 26th, 2025 at 9:13 am
I have a friend who played OLB back when Thurman Thomas was in college; yes, a long time ago. Players routinely went after your knees back then. NFL teams showed interest in him, but his trainer steered them away because of a knee issue. He eventually got a tryout with the Bengals, where he blew out his knee on day three. He never played again and now walks with a cane. The point of this story is that trainers know their players in ways that fans and media do not. If morrison got the go-ahead from them, then I’m fine with the pick.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:24 am
B. Morrison is damaged goods already coming in withe a history of injuries.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:19 am
I’ll bet they had Johnson and Morrison in the same tier. That’s how you think about efficient drafting and both are great athletes with some injury risk. Anyone can get injured- in the NFL there’s risk involved on every play. Teams that win the Super Bowl are the deepest ones that luckily remain the healthiest.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:32 am
No risk, no reward!
April 26th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Johnson and Morrison would have likely gone in top 15 without the injuries. That would likely pull guys like Amos and Thomas up a little and make it seem like a better class, imo.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:51 am
Man the Debbie Downers on this site are energy sucking….Bet they will be the first to jump off the couch and cheer like crazy when he has a pick six to win the game, screaming i love this kid, always knew he’d be great!
April 26th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
The Buccaneer fan base is what it is. It is atypical I think when compared to most NFL teams. That does not mean I feel that the Debbie Downers are easy to ignore. For me being a fan means always trying to see the glass as half full. I believe I am realistic enough to acknowledge negatives when they occur. That said I am very happy with our picks so far.
April 27th, 2025 at 1:59 am
I thought the same thing Joe. I felt like with the rule changes of Roger and the refs CB would continue to be highly valued. Surprised that we seemed to have our choice in round two and three.
Go Bucs!