“The First Real Nickel We’ve Had Since Sean Murphy-Bunting”
February 22nd, 2026
Bucs cornerback Jacob Parrish slammed into the rookie wall last season along with a couple of teammates.
One particular stats tell that story well.
Parrish, playing largely at nickel corner, had 7 tackles for loss through the Bucs’ first 10 games. He had none in their final seven games.
Still, Parrish did more than enough to impress Bucs fans that were paying attention. He proved to be a legitimate talent and a sound tackler, damn good for a third-round draft pick.
That got the attention of another Bucs nickel corner, retired legend Rondé Barber.
Barber was very impressed, so he said on the WFLA streaming show that bears his name.
“Having a guy like Jacob Parrish, who is in my mind, the first real nickel we’ve had probably since Sean Murphy-Bunting; everybody else has been a safety trying to convert,” Barber said. “And Todd [Bowles] told me this however many preseasons ago, he wants a guy that can play against the run. He’s got to be physical. You look at Jacob Parrish, you don’t say, ‘physical.’ But you put the tape on, all you see is physical.”
Joe wants Parrish on the field more often. During the Bucs’ winless December, which featured consecutive losses to the slimy Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins, Parrish played less than 75 percent of the defensive snaps.
In the season finale, with Parrish playing outside cornerback in place of Jamel Dean, who skipped the game with a shoulder injury (surprise!), Parrish played 100 percent of the snaps.
Joe gets the value of having a quality nickel corner, but the Bucs have to find a way to get Parrish more snaps. The Bucs defense isn’t good enough to have one of its best players watching from the sidelines.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:22 pm
That’s the thing about the nickel, they’re on the bench when a lot of important things happen
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Don’t care who plays just want an effective defense but with bowles still at the helm just gonna keep wanting I guess can’t wait until 2027
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:38 pm
We fans are so fortunate to have a coach who inspires his team to finish strong and win the crucial games in crunch time.
8-9 is a good record in today’s NFL. The play of Parrish and Egbuka down the stretch illustrates the coaching prowess of Bolwes.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Meh, they better not count on him or for that matter Morrison next season. Neither were very impressive. Could be poor play or could be Bowle’s soft slimy defense? Hope Bucs sign a decent FA CB or two and a Safety.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Morrison missed camp and preseason, he’ll be ok.
February 22nd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
…Jamel Dean, who skipped the game with a shoulder injury (surprise!),
Well, the sometimes bored Zyon skipped the last 4 games with an undiaclosed (pretend???) hip injury. Why dump on Jamel and a big blackout on Zyon?
February 22nd, 2026 at 5:09 pm
Can he Rush the Passer too? LOL
February 22nd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
SMB was mediocre the majority of the time he was in Tampa. The only time i saw him play competent football was the 2020 playoff. Parrish on the other hand is special. always around the football and is a playmaker.
February 22nd, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Trade Dean! Anyone want him??
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
It was nice to see Parrish live up to the hype. He was considering a steal in the 3rd round and so far is proving to be. I just hope Morrison can stay healthy next year and settle in and start to see some plays from him that he produced in college, cause he is the only true ball hawking corner we have so I’m looking forward to seeing if he can start translating that into turnovers
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Parrish was solid last year. A menace in coverage and fast to the quarterback when blitzing. Looking forward to seeing more of him
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:14 pm
buc4evr Says:
“Meh, they better not count on him or for that matter Morrison next season. Neither were very impressive.”
It’s called developers for a reason, buddy.
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:48 pm
How is everything a rookie wall?
Parrish looked really good for the most part, all season long. But he’s the third corner, so he’s not going to play top 2 corner snaps. But slot corner is an incredibly important spot – and having less than 7 tackles could just mean he got better, so balls weren’t thrown his way, or he was defending them so there was no tackle to make.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:52 pm
Aqua: Just shut up
February 22nd, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Parrish was a real bright spot on the 2025 D…Licht & the scouting department deserve props for identifying his scheme & play style fit…Then selecting him on Day 2 / pick #84 – when I think most people had him graded out late-late on Day 2 or early Day 3.
I think Licht has locked in on good draft prospects in recent years…Which is good to see and well needed. Production and scheme fit over physical attributes & potential.
If he can continue to lock in 4-5 quality starters each year, the Bucs have a shot at maintaining a well balanced competitive roster. Year after year.
I have been pointed with my opinions on his draft prowess over the past decade +, but 2022-2025 has been a very good streak…You have to give credit where credit is due!
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:25 am
I must point out that Ronde was down hard on the Parrish pick- his daughter went to the same school/he watched him live in person for years, right? I’m not poking fun at a Bucs great so much as I’m noting how even the most obstensibly qualified evaluators can be all the way off and reverse opinion.
Parrish got Bowles Gruden-level excited on draft day as I recall the “pick-is-in” war room reaction cam showing us but no more M J Stewart(still NFL) B-S this year, no SMB, no Parrish and no Tykee Smith Bowles’ fetish picks on day two. I forgot twinkle-toes Morrison- draft front 7. Todd has his misfit secondary toys. Ride or die with them. Weak as the talent in this draft is… no more dabs/willing accomplices/excuses for Todd Bowles. That isn’t where the problem is.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:26 am
DBs- not dabs obviously.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:32 am
My thoughts….
1) re-sign Dean….Dean has figured out that eating healthy allows you to be on th field much longer in a season. He admitted that…
2) Try to trade Zyon…Dude’s mental game sucks!!
3) Sign Bradley Chubb to 2-3 year deal…
4) unsure on Mike Evans….Dont overpay!!!! Could see either way in this one. Depends if he wants to be here…
5) Sign a free agent ILB !!!! Unsure who but needs to be captain material right off…Enjoy retirement LVD!!
6) Need a RB!! Maybe Tyler Allgeier could be a decent fit??
7) Would like to see free agent TE acquired!! Thinking Isiah Likely??
8) for the draft, I’d go DT 1st round or Sonny Styles if he gets past Dallas…if Styles is gone, maybe trade down here some to get another 3rd rounder…
February 23rd, 2026 at 2:54 am
But we miss Izien on the field.
Izien is very physical. He causes fumbles. He gets interceptions.
We really miss the fire of Izien on the field.
I think Izien is just as good as Winfield.
I wish we played more dime defense on 3rd down.
Only 1 LB. I even said last year, I want a package with 7 DBs and rush 4.
But every third down, I saw LVD and SVD on the field!
Why!?
On obvious passing situations,
Get the linebackers off the field!!
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:22 am
I thought Izien was only good 1st 4 games of his 2024 season and since has been below average.
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:24 am
correction 23 season
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Hopein1hand… Says:
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:25 am
I must point out that Ronde was down hard on the Parrish pick- his daughter went to the same school/he watched him live in person for years, right? I’m not poking fun at a Bucs great so much as I’m noting how even the most obstensibly qualified evaluators can be all the way off and reverse opinion.
————
I’m not disputing you since I might have missed it – but when did this happen? I’ve only heard Barber talk pretty glowingly about Parrish.