Bucs May Have Nailed The Jacob Parrish Pick
May 4th, 2025
New nickel corner?
A lot of folks are zeroed in on Bucs second-round pick Benjamin Morrison, the corner from Notre Dame. If healthy, some think he would have gone in the first round.
However, one of the better draft evaluators, Dane Brugler of The Athletic, seems the think the corner the Bucs drafted later on Day 2 might be the most surprising.
Brugler listed both his favorite pick and his surprise pick for each team. For Tampa Bay, he has third-round selection Jacob Parrish out of Kansas State as his favorite.
Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
… Parrish probably was in the second-round discussion for the Buccaneers, so they couldn’t pass him up again when he was available in the third. The former Kansas State corner has ordinary size but outstanding read-react quickness and a nose for the ball, which allows him to play inside and outside.
Here is the advantage Parrish has over Morrison: The Bucs are likely to keep Morrison off the Bucs’ practice fields throughout underwear football season, which for rookies begins Friday with practices closed to the general public.
Morrison, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said last week, is not expected to play. So Parrish will get a head start on Morrison.
While it appears Parrish could play inside corner or outside corner, the Bucs probably have Parrish penciled in for a battle at nickel.
Last year’s nickel, Tykee Smith, has been lobbying Bucs coach Todd Bowles to be moved to safety full-time. It appears Bowles is open to that request. So, in theory, that leaves nickel as a gig open for Parrish to win.
May 4th, 2025 at 11:15 am
and Izien is what a super-backup at all the secondary positions? i know he’s been forced to play outside CB before and nobody bashed his performance
May 4th, 2025 at 11:19 am
I don’t like Izzy
May 4th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Izien may have been undrafted, but that seems to motivate him. I don’t see him giving up the nickel position without a fight. It should be an interesting battle.
May 4th, 2025 at 11:30 am
For a UDFA, Izzy is a GREAT player. Kid actually started his rookie year and acquitted himself well
May 4th, 2025 at 11:35 am
If you don’t like Izien it’s gotta be a you problem the guy has been solid since being drafted has more pics than Dean since being drafted can play multiple spots and is an attack dog frfr I honestly don’t like when he’s not in the field big things happened usually he looks for the big play and when in position he makes it happen
May 4th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Depth in the backfield. Looking like quality depth at that. Hallelujah.
May 4th, 2025 at 11:39 am
Last year, Parrish took 470 snaps as an outside CB, 91 snaps in the slot, and
44 in the box. He may prove to be even more versatile than Izien.
If Parrish can get turnovers like Tykee Smith did last year, the Bucs have found some treasure.
May 4th, 2025 at 11:49 am
I don’t wanna see any Izien slander in these posts. Great, we upgraded him but he’s been a solid contributor for a UDFA. He’s a very useful backup and Swiss Army knife for that secondary.
May 4th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
I agree, flowers for Izian. I only saw him play well.
May 4th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Izein is A DOG Really like him hope the Bucs keep him around for a long time he can play everywhere lock him up
May 4th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
I thought Izien was actually better at outside CB than Funkmaster or Hayes.
I even think Izien outplayed Winfield last season.
I want Izien on the field. He plays balls to the wall every snap.
He hits hard. He’s short and hits guys in their thighs and quads. He’s destroys dudes.
Izien also causes fumbles and makes interceptions.
If Winfield sucks again, I hate to say it, but he should be cut and Izien could start alongside Tykes Smith in the near future.
Whatever happens. Keep Izien.
Parish?
He’s Ronde Barber 2.0. A short dude. Over looked. But tough and smart.
I am stoked about our corners. And yes. Take our time with Morrison.
No need to rush until Week 2 of pre-season.
And any news on Bryce Hall?
Is he rehabbing with Godwin at One Buc?
May 4th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
I really like moving Tykee to the other ‘full-time’ Safety position opposite Winfield Junior. That would be such a dynamic duo together, that could do A LOT. God, tho… I just hope they can both, get through an entire season together, completely healthy. They could be THE BEST Safety Duo in the entire league… ‘Old-School’ Baltimore Ravens level. Making ‘Big-Time’ PLAYS, all over the field.
May 4th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Beeej Says:
For a UDFA, Izzy is a GREAT player.
——————————————-
^^^^^^THIS!
To get him without investing any draft capital was a steal!
May 4th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
@pryda30 is not a smart person.
Everybody loves Izien.
He’s a true Buccaneer Man.
Izzy our super DB!
May 4th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Was this an Izien article?
My hope is that Parrish will be as good as Tykee!!!
May 4th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Morrison and Parrish aren’t competing. They don’t play the same position. Parrish is a nickel and Morrison is an outside corner that’ll slide in once Dean takes a powder.
May 4th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Interested to see him against our rookie WRs in practice
May 4th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Along with his coverage skills, Izzy is an excellent tackler! One of my favorite players because he rarely disappoints me. Makes plays. I would really like to see him playing beside AWJ
May 4th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Sounds like some quality has been added to the DB room. Just what this team needed badly.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Off topic but I’d like for Licht to pickup a beefy DL dude to slam to door when Vea takes a breather. Maybe the Gator kid will be that guy.
Parrish as Barber 2.0 would be sick.
Izian is rock solid.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Izzy is that overlooked guy that you’re always wanting to upgrade, but can never find anybody who’s actually better. I don’t know this Parrish guy yet. Seeing as this is year 3 for Izzy, isn’t he up for a new contract next year. I think UDFAs start with a 3 year contract. He’s a keeper for sure.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Parrish is pretty fast too. 4.35 40.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
All our corners have insane athletics/RAS scores especially McCollum, Dean, Morrison, and Parrish. Our secondary should be blazingly fast! Certainly faster than any team’s top 4 receivers.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
Izien may start at nickel. And Parrish may beat out Dean and Morrison at corner. Tykee can play all over and so can Winfield. Josh Hayes learned some hard lessons last year but he gives great effort and I hope he makes the team. McCollum ought to take another jump 2nd full year at corner. Bryce Hall, who knows? A healthy Winfield and a 2nd and 3rd pick and maybe a Bryce Hall sighting? Todd Bowles, despite evidence to the contrary, knows defensive back play. It’s time to let the competition begin. Better have plenty of ice.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Like I’ve been saying Joe, I got trust in Jason Licht, he’s been coming up with these overlooked gems, it’s been really good, even now without Brady they keep the team moving forward. Baker has been super good and there were doubts all over him. Baker on paper has his A game on and I like it. ESPN and all you guys, eat your heart out baby. Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
May 4th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Parrish will beat out Izien for #1NCB . Morrison will take over for Dean eventually. Which will improve our secondary depth tremendously, having two starters from last year as backups. If our pass defense can go from (29th) last year to about 10th-15ththis season we’re going to SB . GO BUCS!!! 11 or 12 wins coming soon
May 4th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
I think after Izien’s first 3 or 4 games, he got exposed a little more in his first season. But the dude seemed to take a step forward a little bit more in his 2nd season.
May 4th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Yeah, I like this pick. We’ll see how it turns out.
May 4th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Not sure I understand all the unrealistic love for Izien.
He might look great on our defense, but that’s a super low bar.
We might just be settling for the best of the worst.
He can’t be that good if our pass defense is this bad.
And we won’t know how this draft turned out for several years.
Taliking up a player that has yet to play a down makes no sense.
May 4th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Smith starts at SAF & plays 75-85% of defensive snaps with some coming at NCB situationally getting 3-4 takeaways total.
Parrish starts (eventually) & plays the majority of snaps at NCB in a rotation with Izien. Collectively the targeted catch rate of the NCB position is 10-15% lower than the average of the last 3 years.
Morrison gets some starts & plays 40-50% of snaps at both outside CB spots getting 1-2 takeaways.
Bucs defense improves to middle of the pack. We finish regular season NFCS champs at 11-6. Make some noise in the playoffs showing better ball security in clutch situations finishing 13-7 feeling good about making a run in 2026.
It’s fun to think about GO BUCS!!
May 4th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
TB#1, its called calculated decisions as fans after seeing whats occurred….not hard to understand. I get it, everyone is supposed to agree with elementary you, but we dont, and you dont like it so you go off. its “unrealistic” stupid…but go ahead
May 4th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
I’m curious why our nickel back is a revolving door. Seems like a fairly important role in Bowles’s scheme, so it’s surprising that he hasn’t zeroed in on 1 guy to lock it down yet. I thought for sure that Smith was drafted for that position. A 2nd yr guy gets to lobby out during his rookie season?
May 4th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Re: Izien, the guy is a Swiss army knife…not the best crving blade, saw, or tweezers, but he gets the job done when called on. And let’s face it, with Dean, AWJ, Morrison (potentially), and let’s not forget McCullom’s concussion issue last yr, he is called upon often. He’s a low cost keeper
May 4th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Bucs keep drafting small Secondary guys. Small guys keep getting hurt, particularly when they get run over by monster Tight Ends, Running Backs & larger Wide Receivers.
Last year:
o Antoine Winfield: 5’9 & 203 lbs … 9 games
o Tykee Smith: 5’10” & 202 lbs … 13 games
o Christian Izien: 5’10” & 200 lbs … 14 games
o Jordan Whitehead: 5’10” & 198 lbs … 12 games
Size matters. When a 5’10” CB keeps getting run over by a 6’6″ Gronk outweighing him by 60 or 70 lbs, sooner or later it’s gonna take a toll. Of course, giving them a 15 yard cushion to build up a head of steam probably doesn’t help much either.