Why The Disrespect For Zyon McCollum?
June 22nd, 2025
Solid numbers.
From time to time, Joe sees commenters slamming Zyon McCollum as a bad corner. Joe just doesn’t get it.
Nothing to Joe suggests McCollum is one, unless you live or die with picks being your only gauge of a good corner.
In his first year as a starter, Joe thought McCollum did really well. He ranked third in the NFL in passes defended with 17. McCollum was also second in the league in pass breakups with 13. McCollum had two picks last season, the first two of his career.
Joe doesn’t know how folks can twist things to suggest McCollum is a rotten cornerback. Given the fact 2024 was his first year as a full-time starter, Joe can only guess McCollum will improve even more.
Last season was a solid foundation for McCollum to build on. Seems crazy for Joe to throw that all away for who, an unproven, injury-prone rookie? Why?
Most passes defended during the 2024 season:
Denzel Ward – 19
Derek Stingley Jr – 18
Zyon McCollum – 17
Michael Jackson – 17
Alontae Taylor – 16
Brian Branch – 16
Jack Jones – 16
Cam Taylor-Britt – 16
Marlon Humphrey – 16 pic.twitter.com/t2nfBF8461— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) February 24, 2025
June 22nd, 2025 at 11:15 am
They didn’t watch the games just typing to be seen
June 22nd, 2025 at 11:17 am
Passes defensed has never been a stat I liked, nor pass breakups. A far more telling stat would be percentage of passes defensed or breakups (if you only prevented 13 out of 200 passes thrown your way to be completed, it wouldn’t be a great stat, for instance). A great corner is rarely even seen during a game because the opposing QB doesn’t throw his way – the receiver is too well covered.
June 22nd, 2025 at 11:29 am
Id actually take him over Dean any day. He’s young and going to break out this year. Dean should be a backup to the rookies by season’s end.
June 22nd, 2025 at 11:39 am
Dean is really good too. His problem is he cannot help the team from the IR.
June 22nd, 2025 at 11:51 am
When Zyon’s rookie contract is up he’ll be making $20 mil a year–somewhere
June 22nd, 2025 at 12:20 pm
He’ll be even better in 20025.
June 22nd, 2025 at 12:44 pm
I think he’s a great corner with a great attitude
June 22nd, 2025 at 12:54 pm
I guess there are detractors among the Buc faithful, but I don’t recall too many posters on JBF getting down on McCollum . The dude can play! I agree with BucEmUP, he’s a better corner than Dean.
June 22nd, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Zyon is solid.
June 22nd, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Weaker corners get attacked more often.
Percentage, as @ Scotty Mack mentioned, would be a more telling stat.
June 22nd, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Who, on the endless list commentators, says that?
June 22nd, 2025 at 1:39 pm
I thought he played well. I’m a fan.
June 22nd, 2025 at 1:45 pm
1987—
I agree. It might take him 18,000 years, but he should be among the best by then! Know it’s a harmless typo, but I’m bored.
Sorry, it’s the offseason and we’re looking for anything to comment on as we wait for camp to begin.
Even the Joes are stuck in the media vs Bucs disrespect mode. In their defense, it’s difficult to write about what’s going on when the answer is nothing.
June 22nd, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Denzel Ward – 4th overall selection
Derek Stingley – 3rd overall selection
Zyon McCollum – 157th overall selection
The whole point of the position is to make it as difficult as possible for the offense to complete passes and facilitate its’ pass attack. Sticking with a WR throughout his route to where the QB has to go elsewhere is a good individual rep for a CB.
Basketball players swats a shot attempt into the stands, crowd doesnt crew because it wasn’t a steal. We’ve got to appreciate > just the designer stats
June 22nd, 2025 at 2:52 pm
I fall into that group making comments about the commentators. I can’t wait until training camp either.
I thought McCollum played pretty well. I can’t analyze it much deeper than that. I have not subscribed to a service to watch game film closely. I can’t even keep up with the JoeBucsFan articles. I thank y’all for not picking on me. 😀
Go Bucs!!
June 22nd, 2025 at 3:58 pm
C’mon man as a former POTUS liked to say. Bucs had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL the last couple of seasons. Kind of hard to say any of the DB’s or safeties were even average. McCollum was beaten a lot last year. Any doubt? Replay last seasons games and it will be obvious. Only Tykee Smith acquitted himself well last year.
June 22nd, 2025 at 4:07 pm
If two people say something negative about anyone, it’s newsworthy among some websites. Especially when they have nothing else to talk about except what other bloggers and commenters say.
June 22nd, 2025 at 4:51 pm
zyon wont last. he’s not that good.
June 22nd, 2025 at 4:52 pm
48.2% completion rate in primary coverage.
June 22nd, 2025 at 4:54 pm
Go Zyon go Bucs. Play up on the guy you’re covering.
June 22nd, 2025 at 6:37 pm
he got beat a few times, needs to improve
June 22nd, 2025 at 8:56 pm
Maybe the “injury prone rookie” is there to replace Dean, not McCollum.
June 23rd, 2025 at 12:31 am
It doesn’t matter if he makes it.
That is the beauty of it. We don’t WANT to have to pay anyone $20 million a year.
That’s why you draft well.
If we can keep him at 15 then ok.
We are in a unique position to be the aggressor in FA next year.
If you are strapped by needs you overpay.
June 23rd, 2025 at 4:36 am
I am hoping for a Zyon improvement and actually thought he did okay last season. Thinking they will extend his contract this coming year, but you never know. Ira’s last podcast talked a little about this and Zyon. Either way it goes for Zyon, no surprises.
June 23rd, 2025 at 6:46 am
Zyon is solid. The national media are lazy and biased.
June 23rd, 2025 at 6:57 am
Dean is still the better CB.
June 23rd, 2025 at 7:51 am
Just absolutely horrible ball-skills.
June 24th, 2025 at 4:08 am
rn zyon is somewhere between solid and great…
and that’s a high compliment…
he’s our #1 corner and rightfully so…
also i think he had a 3rd int taken away by a penalty or some weird bowles coaching decision, or something odd, last season as well…i could be wrong – but i sort or remember something to that effect last season