Jacob Parrish Lauded As Bucs’ Top Cornerback
January 7th, 2026
It’s official. The Bucs got another third-round gem in the draft.
It was obvious from his first practices at One Buc Palace; rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish was a baller. A dawg. Hungry, fast, talented and ready to play hard.
Parrish played the entire 17-game season, mostly at nickel cornerback but he also saw full games at outside cornerback. He notched two interceptions and two sacks, but more important, Parrish could tackle.
Yeah, Parrish hit a rookie wall after the bye week, but that’s the norm. His second interception was critical in the Bucs’ season finale win on Sunday.
On the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday, head coach Todd Bowles called his rookie the team’s top dog at the position.
“That’s probably the hardest thing to do, for [Parrish] to come in and play nickel,” Bowles said. “And it’s a whole different animal when you go inside then when you play outside. For him to juggle the two and still play it well, I think he has a very bright future.
“He was probably the most consistent and probably the most athletic and the best corner that played ball [for Tampa Bay] this year, even though he played inside at nickel.”
Parrish should be a lock to play outside cornerback next season. He needs to be on the field. Joe liked how fellow rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison flashed at times (second-round pick) but he has a ton more to prove, including that he can stay healthy. Morrison missed seven games to injuries.
As for disappointing starting cornerback Zyon McCollum, Joe’s not sure how the Bucs should or will proceed there. The Bucs brought in competition for him in the draft but then handed McCollum a fat multi-year contract.
January 7th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
No 1st or 2nd round gems. Get them out.
January 7th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Good we just need a good DB coach. How many CBs over the last few years that was labeled as up coming stars with the Bucs? Now it a whole different situation
January 7th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Egbuka wasnt a gem? Wtf are you talking about. He fell off but let’s be real is going to be an absolute stud.
January 7th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
A smaller, more athletic SMB. Think about it, and you’re welcome. It’s taken us a long time to figure out how and with whom to replace that trio of Dean-Davis-Bunting. They weren’t perfect, they had some plays slip by them but to hell if they didn’t rise to several different occasions for us collectively.
There’s a few corners in this years draft we could get without a 1st round selection that’d I wouldn’t be mad at adding to our infusion of youth on defense.
Can’t wait to see how Parrish looks with a full offseason of NFL level preparation. Think Ronde referred to him as a silent assassin, whilst likening Parrish to himself. Pretty high praise.
January 7th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
If you have a sorry coach what does it matter
January 7th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Totally agree, you saw it in preseason, he wants to play!!!. Yes can we pick up 2 more like him and trade McColumn. Pick up an edge rusher like Cosby in free agency, maybe an Inside LB and draft another great MLB and yes we could see a huge difference in the defense next year.
January 7th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Emeka was still a gem we just have a offensive coordinator who doesn’t know how to scheme his WR’s open.
January 7th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Uh anyone notice a trend?
Christian Izien as a UDFA his season with int’s two straight games and was pretty good. Upgrade to Tykee Smith who was a stud and now Jacob Parrish.
That’s Three years in a row so apparently the only secondary position they know how to develop is the nickel spot. That is a track record so how do we get that consistency at outside corner?
January 7th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
HC….
Check Wirfs, Emeka, Clancy, AWJ, Vita. Don’t be a hater. It doesn’t look good on you.
January 7th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
If these indications are true and Belowszo is back in any capacity, Parrish will turn to suck just like every other DB The Great Failure has used his regression therapy on.
January 7th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
Gotta have a decent % of your starters on rookie contracts. Out with Dean, IN with Parrish, Morrison and Smith
January 7th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Hire Daboll as OC
January 7th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Good for the kid.
As a rookie – he did well.
I hope for big improvements next year.
January 7th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Coach Bowles claimed Zyon got “bored” out there. Hunhuh. Did Zyon really say that? Maybe the kid said “We players are bored with this failed defensive scheme”
January 7th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
He’s good for what the team has faced. He is one of the few actually playing.
I think a fan could run the def and offensive positions better than the two we currently have. 😆
January 7th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
I like how you’re thinking Football 1. I’ve been saying similar things for days. We need to beef up depth in free agency and hopefully get 1 or 2 rock solid front 7 players and then draft a bunch more. Speedy great tackling and covering linebackers and sacking productivity edges would be great!
January 7th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Morrison looked good in that last game, and has flashed at times, the last game put some hits on guys or came flying in with bad intent. At least he’s showing heart and skill even if he is green, I think he’ll be good baring the dredded “I” word
January 7th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
The key to being able to transition from nickel to outside is pure speed. Parrish sure has that! Morrison too. If Dean wasn’t being a bonehead at the end of the year keeping him would save draft picks for the front 7. He’d make a great rotational starter. DB’s get injured a lot. Agreed on trading McCollum.
January 7th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
I’m not sure that anyone on that D should be “lauded”. It’s just a nice way of saying ‘who stunk less?’
January 7th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Really? Cause I saw the games. He’s little. Easily broken, doesn’t tackle well. And based on his size and the way he plays, won’t last long.. the slobbering for Litch is wild
January 7th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Whoop de doo and I don’t care….I just saved close to 1k on NFL feetball thanx to the stinking Glazers.
January 7th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Morrison is another Buc Bust pick.
January 7th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Bucmn they LOST!!!!
January 7th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Keep Izien on the field!
He’s a dawg!
Izien should start at nickle.
Parish and Zion at outside CB.
Zion’s contract is guaranteed.
Izien, Tykes Smith and Parish play with their hair on fire.
U guys remember when Monte Kiffin was here?
John Lynch said they did the same thing over and over and over again!
No more “walk throughs!”
Practice harder! Practice faster!
Simplify the defense!
January 7th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Parrish and Morrison should not be starting. Both can’t tackle or cover. They were getting beat by big slow tight ends and both were out muscled. They were getting juked on running plays. What a joke. This team needs a few FA shutdown corners and it’s not these guys. Rookie clowns that are not very good.
January 7th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Not good at all.. not sure whose scouting or picking these scrubs
January 7th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
Bowles calling Parrish Top Dog, that explains it all. Nobody is buying the hype , everyone in the secondary is terrible. BTW, The LBs can’t tackle and the D line is just weak and slow. Blitz’s can’t even get to the opposing QB. The defense is always in the lower tier, like 27th or lower. Another year of Bowles making a few superficial changes along with Licht’s stupid drafts and weak FA signings are not go to make any difference. I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring Reddick and JPP back. lol.
January 7th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
If Parrish is the best we have , we are in deep trouble. Fans are a lot better judge of talent than either Bowles or Licht because we just see what happens on the field and don’t have to justify stupid picks. You know, like the excuse that Zyon had bad games because he was bored. really … really. the guy is a bum if he can’t get ready to play.
January 7th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Toad will ruin him before his second contract.
January 7th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
Try it again.
Bolwes is great, he taught his stellar defensive backfield everything they know. They’re only getting better. Next year maybe they’ll jump to 6th worst.
January 7th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
“Easily broken, doesn’t tackle well.“
Whaaaaaaaaat!? Credibility came and went with this when sentence, unless you need an eye patch irl or have been staring at the sun
January 7th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Jacob Parrish the best? Can’t be, RodMunch tells us that Jamel Dean is all world. Dean has never, ever been beaten. For that matter he has never made a tackle. Munch says that Dean is in an eternal zone with no real responsibility except to pass receivers off to some invisible secondary member.
January 7th, 2026 at 9:52 pm
The Bucs probably won’t win a single game next season. This whole roster was just wasted. I feel so bad for Mike Evans and Chris Godwin it’s going to be another 20 years before a playoff win.
January 8th, 2026 at 2:17 am
Parrish and Morrison both had “boy” bodies.
They are only 21.
They need an intense off-season to get stronger and faster.
They both at least WANT to be good.
We need a 4.4 ILB to pair with LVD next year.
SVD is okay on special teams.
KJ Britt cost us a season. SVD cost us a season.
They were both 5th round picks.
Our defense was nasty when Devin White was balling
We need another 1st round talent at MLB.
À 4.4 or 4.5 MLB.
Lavonte can still be our #2 ILB for one more year.
But need to invest more than à 5th round pick on our MLB!
January 8th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Most of you guys are so pessimistic, it is boring and predictable much like the coach you all hate on. Please stop posting and support our BUCS or stfu. Thats my team no matter what. Im a tampa native and thats just the way it is. If you dont like what’s happening with the BUCS then stop paying attention ya buttfaces. Ya always get on here first and fill up comment section like the trolls you are. Maybe we get an aggressive offensive scheme, maybe our defense finally comes together like it was 5 or 6 years ago. Hope for the best be a fan .