Rondé Barber: 2026 Bucs Need To Add “A Lockdown Cornerback”
December 27th, 2025
This might trouble some folks at One Buc Palace.
The Bucs just drafted two cornerbacks in Rounds 2 and 3 this year, and they dropped top-dog cornerback money on Zyon McCollum this summer — a season before he was to hit free agency.
With that firmly in mind, Hall of Fame Buccaneers cornerback Rondé Barber says super-high on his Bucs offseason wish list is a “lockdown” cornerback.
“Find two guys or one guy that has the ability to just win when you need them to,” Barber said. “I think the draft is probably the best way to go do this.”
The take came on the WFLA-TV streaming show aptly named The Rondé Barber Show.
“This is high on my list … because there’s been too much inconsistency in our secondary,” Barber added. “A guy with length and obviously the ability to stay in phase with a guy that big” like Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
Third-round pick rookie Jacob Parrish? Too short, Barber said.
Parrish measured 5-10 at the NFL Scouting Combine this year.
Second-round pick rookie Benjamin Morrison? He just needs more time and reps to get the NFL game down, Barber added.
That Morrison take made Joe run for the toilet. Joe would love to ask Barber: ‘Well, if Morrison needs time, when exactly will he see the field with a blue chip new rookie, Parrish and McCollum ahead of him on the depth chart?’
Barber said he assumes Jamel Dean leaves the team in free agency.
Joe is much concerned with the pass rush and retooling at linebacker than the cornerback position.
December 27th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Jason Licht believed KJ Britt would be a good MLB, believed Sirvocea Dennis would have a great year, believed Chris Braswell was a good second round pick, believed David Walker was going to be the answer , believed JTS was a good 1st round pick , believed trading back on first round to pick Logan Hall was a good idea. Believed picking a tackle (Barton) to make him a Center was a good idea. Believed it was a good idea to keep Barton at Center for his second year even though he led the team in penalties and played worst than Hainsey. Believed Danielle Hunter , Sweat, Greenard, Trey Hendrickson, Chase Young that were all available at some point in the last 5 years they were not worth it. Believed trading for Micah Parsons , Hendrickson , Crosby was also not worth it. Believed trading for Phillips at trade deadline was also not worth it.
I believe a GM that makes all this horrible decisions is very incompetent and should be fired.. so what makes you think he can find a lockdown corner ?
December 27th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Hey Joe, Ronde is correct. We need a shut down corner badly. Yes we need OLB and MLB too. We need all 3. Car is in our division they now have a receiver we can’t cover. Ronde seems to think Dean is gone. To keep him they need to pay him. However. He does not stay healthy We need a guy like JC Horn, . He plays hard and is physical.Give Morrison a shot to take McColumn spot or maybe better trade him.
No way around it the defense needs players on all 3 levels.
The Bucs must address the secondary.
December 27th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
We need defensive line help and a sure fire defensive end that will be used appropriately. They also need to fortify the offensive line. They need depth there desperately. Top 4 picks need to be on the defensive and offensive line. We do need another cb and got to find a d end in FA since this team can’t ever seem to develop one.
December 27th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Need to sign or draft a LB that can play right away too!
December 27th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Ronde needs to realize we have alotta other needs, edgex2, linebackersx2, a young version of Vita Vea
December 27th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
mostly we need to start with a new head coach even if Ronde does not think so
December 27th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Dean is most likely gone in f/a.
Zyon is bored and way overpaid, trade him. (if you can)
Windfield…overpaid…just needs to move on.
Vita is getting long in the tooth.
Kancey is always injured.
Nelson and Hall….what can I say ?
YaYa is serviceable.
Braswell….laugh
Reddick….bye bye
Parrish good slot, keeper
Tykee…keeper
Izien…keeper
3-4 Bowles scheme…disaster
Defense coaching staff…joke
Overall outlook for the defense….not good
December 27th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Bowles would have him play soft zone. What’s the point?
December 27th, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Bucs need a new hc in 2026
December 27th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
If prototypical 3-4 pass rushers are very hard to find and develop then move to a 4-3 and a less complex system.
As it stands now we don’t have the talent to be effective with a 3-4 nor do we have the talent for a good 4-3.
Coaching aside we’re screwed on the defense side of the ball.
All the stars are beginning to align for a complete tear down coach and team rebuild. Nobody is safe. Jason is probably running a tally on just how many draft picks he can get. If Baker bought any boats or water toys they’ll probably pop up for sale next spring.
December 27th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
This team has more ???? than a episode of Jeopardy
But it’s a blessing that we’re in the NFC South
If we were still in the NFC West, it would be a disaster
I’m all for whatever they decide to do
December 27th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
“””I meant if we were still in the NFC Central”.
December 27th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Lakeland, we would be more buried if they were in NFLW.
At least Ronde is verbalizing that this team needs help in DB. Also, the need to draft a suitable DB. Licht may be more of a problem than Bowles. CAN THEM BOTH!
December 27th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
And a lockdown linebacker, lockdown DE, lockdown DT and lockdown safety.
December 27th, 2025 at 5:31 pm
And that is why he has no business being a GM.
December 27th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
If only Barber could talk to RodMunch, he would learn that Tampa already has a lockdown corner in Jamel Dean. Understandable that Munch knows more about CB play than Ronde Barber.
December 27th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Ronde seems to be thinking in terms of what will improve Bowles system….anyone watching knows our secondary is more than serviceable if we had an effective front seven. Dean, Davis and Winfield were all rookies when we won the SB. This idea of winning on defense through the secondary is just backwards. Bowles has been attempting to do so for 4 yrs. It doesn’t work.
Also what’s the point of a lockdown CB when you force them to sit in zone? It makes no sense. The entire scheme and play calling make ZERO sense going back to the Rams game when Bowles calls an all out blitz leaving Kupp wide open. Seriously….go watch the confusion on the players faces with that play call. It’s absolutely dumb. We blitz Matt Stafford of all QBs. We we’re watching rookie QBs pick apart these blitzes, Bowles is an absolute joke as a play caller in today’s league.
December 27th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Yeah pretty sure a lot has been invested in the secondary the last couple years.
It’s the opposite strategy of what has been shown to win in the NFL. Always build front to back. Eagles kept loading the DL then when they had a stout front 7 they added a couple young DBs and won a SB.
Tampa did a similar thing adding Winfield to their stout front in 2020.
This team needs to spend its first 5 picks of the draft on the front 7. Hungry DTs, DEs and LBs. If Evans returns, the O is back in tact, need more C/G depth and TE/RB to replace Otton/White but that can be done cheap. Secondary should be mostly set.
Just need new coaches, Ronde.
December 27th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Rod Munch couldn’t find his a$$ if both his hands were tied behind his back.
December 27th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
so we need an Edge, a TE, two ILBs, a CB, at least one solid depth guy at Guard, and to resign Evans in order to compete. Licht’s gotta get to work this offseason.
December 27th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Also a HC , OC, DC, QB TO DEVELOP, PASS RUSHER, PASS RUSHER, LINEBACKER, OG , CB
not that much
December 27th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
Barton would probably be better at G.
LB:
AIDEN FISHER (Indiana)
JACK KELLY (BYU)
RED MURDOCK (Buffalo)
JACOB RODRIGUEZ (Texas Tech)
CJ ALLEN (Georgia)
KYLE LOUIS (Pitt)
KAM ROBINSON (Virginia) (only thing with him is an ACL injury)
ANTHONY HILL (Texas)
ISAIAH SMITH (SMU)
SECONDARY:
CHRIS JOHNSON (San Diego St)
KEITH ABNEY (Arizona St)
DEVON MARSHALL (North Carolina St)
CHANDLER RIVERS (Duke)
TREYDAN STUKES (Arizona)
GENESIS SMITH (Arizona)
KEIONTE SCOTT (Miami)
JAKOBE THOMAS (Miami)
JUDGE COLLIER (South Carolina)
BRANDON CISSE (South Carolina)
JALON KILGORE (South Carolina)
EMMANUEL MCNEILL WARREN (Toledo)
AMARE FERRELL (Indiana)
KAMARI RAMSEY (USC)
XAVIER SCOTT (Illinois)
AHMAAD MOSES (SMU)
DE:
AHKEEM MESIDOR (Miami)
RUEBEN BAIN (Miami) (be gone though)
ANTHONY SMITH (Minnesota)
GABE JACAS (Illinois)
CAMERON ROBERTSON (SMU)
DERRICK MOORE (Michigan)
MELKART ABOU JAOUDE (North Carolina)
DT:
DOMONIQUE ORANGE (Iowa St)
DONTAY CORLEONE (Cincinnati)
DARRELL JACKSON (FSU)
TERRY WALL (SMU)
AHMAD MOTEN (Miami)
BRANDON CLEVELAND (North Carolina St)
OL:
FRANCIS MAUIGOA (Miami)
SPENCER FANO (Utah)
FAALIL FAALELE (Wake Forest)
KEYLAN RUTLEDGE (Georgia Tech)
RILEY MAHLMAN (Wisconsin)
JACARRIUS PEAK (North Carolina St)
I’m sure I’m missing some & yeah I’m sure some will have some comments about it all.
December 27th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
I don’t like disagreeing with Rhondes takes, but I have to remain true to my own thoughts. If we can get Sonny Styles in the 1st. Gabe Jacas Edge (Illinois please go watch his film) it will help our secondary quite a bit.
December 27th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Barton would probably be better at G.
LB:
AIDEN FISHER (Indiana)
JACK KELLY (BYU)
RED MURDOCK (Buffalo)
JACOB RODRIGUEZ (Texas Tech)
CJ ALLEN (Georgia)
KYLE LOUIS (Pitt)
KAM ROBINSON (Virginia) (only thing with him is an ACL injury)
ANTHONY HILL (Texas)
ISAIAH SMITH (SMU)
SECONDARY:
CHRIS JOHNSON (San Diego St)
KEITH ABNEY (Arizona St)
DEVON MARSHALL (North Carolina St)
CHANDLER RIVERS (Duke)
TREYDAN STUKES (Arizona)
GENESIS SMITH (Arizona)
KEIONTE SCOTT (Miami)
JAKOBE THOMAS (Miami)
JUDGE COLLIER (South Carolina)
BRANDON CISSE (South Carolina)
JALON KILGORE (South Carolina)
EMMANUEL MCNEILL WARREN (Toledo)
AMARE FERRELL (Indiana)
KAMARI RAMSEY (USC)
XAVIER SCOTT (Illinois)
AHMAAD MOSES (SMU)
DE:
AHKEEM MESIDOR (Miami)
RUEBEN BAIN (Miami) (be gone though)
ANTHONY SMITH (Minnesota)
GABE JACAS (Illinois)
CAMERON ROBERTSON (SMU)
DERRICK MOORE (Michigan)
MELKART ABOU JAOUDE (North Carolina)
DT:
DOMONIQUE ORANGE (Iowa St)
DONTAY CORLEONE (Cincinnati)
DARRELL JACKSON (FSU)
TERRY WALL (SMU)
AHMAD MOTEN (Miami)
BRANDON CLEVELAND (North Carolina St)
OL:
FRANCIS MAUIGOA (Miami)
SPENCER FANO (Utah)
FAALIL FAALELE (Wake Forest)
KEYLAN RUTLEDGE (Georgia Tech)
RILEY MAHLMAN (Wisconsin)
JACARRIUS PEAK (North Carolina St)
I’m sure I’m missing some & yeah I’m sure some will have some comments about it all.
December 27th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
I could see them even considering a TE & a P, too!
December 27th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I am certainly not qualified to speak with any authority on salary cap issues. However it seems to me, after looking at spotrac, that with the 2026 increase the Bucs could be in great shape if they could shed Zyon and AWJr. They just might be willing to throw enough money at Baker to entice him to stay.
My initial thoughts were that the owners were boxed in and likely would have to keep Bowles but things just keep getting worse.
Perish the thought, but I think they might have to burn it all down and hire Chucky. I can’t think of any other alternative. At least Gruden has the experience and might persuade Baker that he could light it up with him running the offense. At least Gruden would recognize a good DC for the job. The Gruden factor would keep the media focused on the Bucs and help to keep them relevant. After the Glazers and Gruden made nice, one had to think that was a possibility if Roger approves.
December 27th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
You have to give the secondary a chance. Give them a pass rush, give them some linebackers. Utilize the safeties correctly. Jamel’s gone so I can see adding another cb. But you don’t even know what you really have yet. Half the secondary are rookies with minimal experience and no pass rush? Call me crazy… hasn’t this been a five year issue on the pass rush? I’ll take the five gap years like the patriots and a coaching staff that can scout and develop talent. Over what ever the hell this crap of a 50th season has been… status quo with this staff. I won’t even bother watching the games… imagine what the seats will look like next year. Playoffs or not. Tampa could barely sell a home game this year… (spits in disgust)
December 27th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
I’ll take the freaking rams ball boy for head coach. How much more embarrassing can the games get?
December 27th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Jesus no on Gruden. Especially if you’re talking about a rebuild. That’s the absolute WORST situation to put Jon Gruden in. He is better with vet players and has zero patience developing rookies. That’s his track record.
On another note – I wonder about the Licht/Bowles dynamic when it comes to pursuing and signing players. How much of that is Bowles passing on players because “they can’t learn his system “. For example, Licht asks Bowles if he needs anyone at the deadline (perhaps Jaelen Phillips) and would it be really out of character for Bowles to tell Licht he’s good with “his guys”?
Bowles also has a heavy hand in which players are drafted – especially on defense. Morrison was 100% Bowles. Again, I’m sure Bowles tells Licht which players will “fit his system” when it comes to developing a draft board.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:22 pm
feel like licht has drafted poorly since the super bowl. the best players on this team were players on that super bowl team.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Mhystic-
That might be the dumbest rant I have ever heard
December 27th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
I was told that Licht was concentrating on the Defense and that next draft is to fix the offense…that sounds so stupid. Licht sucks
December 27th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
I don’t think you can truly assess the corners with the worst past rush in the NFL and a scheme that clearly the players do not understand, nor have confidence in.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Does Houston run a 4-3.. or a 3-4? They have the players who are talented, play hard and are coached well. Look at their DC as an interview.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
Rondé the Shill doesn’t have the backbone to say what the Bucs really need.
December 27th, 2025 at 10:04 pm
That’s a luxury pick now unfortunately. Have about 8 other needs ahead of that.
December 27th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Fire Bowles and all associated with him. A promising defensive unit (not that long ago experienced the joy of a Superbowl victory) has been betrayed by a defensive guy and a GM (who clearly values offensive players). I understand working within the cap but with this supposedly being a 50 years of progress, why are we regressing into the 1976-1977 teams. As Todd stated, “the coaches have done everything they can”. They have lost the locker room no matter how much the players say to the nation media. They have all been paid to sell tickets (short of on-field performance). Prove me wrong.
December 27th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
How would we know if we have a shutdown corner? Our DBs are so often playing soft zone, soft man or out of position.
December 27th, 2025 at 11:16 pm
Stormy
If Bowles is determining picks based on ability to play his pathetic system, then neither he nor Bud Licht are doing very well at it. The picks they’ve made aren’t getting it done.
This is the softest, most timid defense I’ve ever witnessed on most any team and especially on a Buccaneers team. Sapp Lynch and Brooks must be tremendously disappointed.
Time for Bowles and Licht to go.
December 27th, 2025 at 11:32 pm
As long as Mr Softzone Cover Nobody is the head cheese, what a waste of a lockdown CB. Useless in Bloweaz’s D.
December 27th, 2025 at 11:51 pm
I agree Joe. If fans would just chill and think rashionally for a sec most not all but most of our secondary has had a down year. Idc about Winfield making the pro bowl it’s a popularity contest. The got guys with no ints over Dean who has 3 and pick 6 a sack and FF. But outside of Parrish , Dean and smith our secondary has bin trash. If we had 2 edge rushers that could actually get to the QB it would tremendously help the secondary. Vea needs help and we are wasting his talent he ain’t getting younger lol
December 28th, 2025 at 4:29 am
#0bucsfan doesn’t get it. It’s how the players are being coached and misused. This dood could make the 2002 Bucs D play like the 2017 Bucs D.
December 28th, 2025 at 8:22 am
I’m with Joe. Get even a decent pass rush (doesn’t have to be world class) and shore up the middle with great linebackers and the corners we have will be fine. That is, if they stay healthy and we all know that they won’t.
You can never have too many corners or wide receivers. I’m just not wasting a premium draft pick on one when the team has far bigger needs.
December 28th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Lakeland: “If we were still in the NFC West, it would be a disaster”
The Bucs were 3-1 vs. the NFC West this season. They are currently 2-3 against the NFC South.
Oh, and the Bucs were never in the NFC West.
December 28th, 2025 at 8:31 am
1. DL
2. LB
3. LB
4. CB
5. CB
December 28th, 2025 at 8:33 am
I want a LB fast enough to race Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs to the sideline and push him out instead of watching him get around the corner and keep going.
Constantly.
Also one that WRAPS UP AND TACKLES. Maybe two of them.
December 28th, 2025 at 8:40 am
And good God don’t hire Chucky!
December 28th, 2025 at 8:44 am
Man, the people trashing Licht must think none of these players drafted since 2020 are any good:
Tristan Wirfs
Antoine Winfield Jr
Luke Goedeke
Rachaad White
Cade Otton
Zyon McCollum
Calijah Kancey
Cody Mauch
YaYa Diaby
Payne Durham
Graham Barton
Tykee Smith
Jalen McMillan
Bucky Irving
Emeka Egbuka
Benjamin Morrison
Jacob Parrish
Tez Johnson
December 28th, 2025 at 8:45 am
(I left the dozen backups off the list)
December 28th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Dean is gone at end of the season. Bucs and Licht told him they didn’t want him, cut his salary and gave up his rights for 2026. Then they gave McCollum $48m. Drafted a nickel CB and an injury prone CB from ND that has looked awful any time he’s been on the field. Just a mess.
December 28th, 2025 at 10:30 am
Dean is our best corner hands down. So let’s get rid of him now? Yes he is injured a lot, but what’s alternative? We need to focus on the trenches. Who cares about a CB when the opposing QB has all day to throw?
You build from the front to the back. Anything other than that philosophy is just wrong imo.