A Bucs Thumbs-Up For Keeping Zyon McCollum
September 6th, 2025
New contract.
Earlier this summer, a stat floated around Twitter that had the Bucs with 82 percent of their roster consisting of guys the team drafted.
It was the highest percentage of own drafted-and-developed talent in the league. And from the keyboard of NFL analyst Ben Solak of BSPN, that is why the Bucs are and will continue to be a good team.
Yesterday, the Bucs were able to get an extension done with starting cornerback Zyon McCollum. His new contract will keep him under Bucs control through the 2028 season.
And Solak then took to Twitter to announce drafts and re-signings like this are why the Bucs are a successful franchise.
@BenjaminSolak: This is great business. McCollum is an ascending player who will still hit the market before he turns 30 for a third contract, but the Bucs get him at a decent discount for now.
Bucs are locking up young pieces. This is a gonna be a good team for a while folks!
What is interesting to Joe about this is that McCollum got a fat new contract after only starting one full season. So either the Bucs were very impressed with his first year as a starting corner, or they believe McCollum is on the verge of a breakout year.
September 6th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Makes me wonder more about their views on Otton. He seems to be in the exact middle of TE’s, which would put him at maybe $9 mil/yr. Wondering if they are gonna do that
September 6th, 2025 at 8:16 am
The motivation was his performance for sure, but also planning for some big contracts coming up. By locking him now they are preserving space for others.
September 6th, 2025 at 9:38 am
There goes any leverage Dean might have had. Zyon being locked down.
September 6th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Otton is decent, but easily replaced. McCollum is a rarer talent. Hall and Rachaad White kinda fall into the same boat as Otton. IIRC, the cap is $279.2 mil. That means if all 51 players that count against the cap got paid the same they’d get about $5.5 million apiece. Love ’em of not, you can’t pay everybody.
September 6th, 2025 at 11:22 am
It’s pretty hard to drop into soft zones and let receivers catch the underneath stuff all day. Todd obviously believe Zyon excels at not covering, and will not cover even less tightly in 2025.
September 6th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
McCollum in a good CB, and he’s only going to get better with more experience. He’s definitely got a good skill set. Fast and athletic! I too believe this will be his breakout year.
BEAT ATLANTA!!!
September 6th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
I might add, regardless of position, players get more expensive every year. So, it makes sense to lock up good young players still playing under their first contract, because when they reach free agency, they’ll cost you a lot more.
September 6th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
This sends a great reminder to Josh Hayes, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, and Kindle Vildor … Play you get PAID!! .. Should help elevate that CB room
September 6th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
I as out yesterday and didn’t see this news until now.
WOW, that’s a great deal the Bucs got. I thought for sure he’d cost around $20m a year to keep.
September 6th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
September 6th, 2025 at 9:38 am
There goes any leverage Dean might have had. Zyon being locked down.
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I don’t hate on Dean like a lot of the low IQ idiots in the comments who have no idea what they’re watching, but at the same time drafting a bunch of young guys is a sign the Bucs weren’t planning on bringing him back – mainly because Zyon has developed into the teams top corner (Dean would be the top corner but can’t stay healthy) and Dean can’t stay healthy, and is getting older.
Also note Zyon’s deal is 3 years, in addition to his current year, so he’s got 4-years. Then guess who will need to be paid right when Zyon’s contract is up, Parrish or Morrison, hopefully both.
September 6th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Coach extended.
GM isn’t going anywhere.
Wirfs, Godwin, McCollum, & Goedeke locked in for the next few years.
Kancey, Diaby, Smith, Morrison, Parrish, Egbuka, McMillain and a few others on rookie deals.
Mike & Lavonte are going to stay on 1-Year deals as long as they feel like coming back.
If Baker can build on last year he’ll probably get a raise and extension.
Chukwama is being molded into a homegrown utility tackle, hope he stays healthy and keeps learning.
Feels like we’re trying to turn a SB “window” into a door we can just kick as long as we’re healthy and playing well. Not just this year, but I’d love for it to be the next 2-3 years. Why not us?
September 7th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Great Move! Zyon is a great CB! We wanna hold on to him. He is developing into something special.
Well done Jason Licht