Will Jacob Parrish Regularly Play Outside Corner & Nickel?
February 27th, 2026
Older Bucs fans remember that Rondé Barber played outside cornerback and shifted to inside nickel cornerback often. Simply put, Barber didn’t come off the field.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles sounded like a man prepared to utilize second-year cornerback Jacob Parrish the same way.
Bowles said Parrish and fellow second-year cornerback Benjamin Morrison will compete at outside cornerback this offseason but Parrish will not relinquish the nickel role he thrived in last season.
“They’ll both play outside,” Bowles said. “They’ll definitely battle oustide in the spring and the summer and we think we got two good ones there, and Parrish will definitely go back in the nickel as well. But Parrish will definitely go back in the nickel as well when it’s time to go in there.”
Bowles also was adamant that Tykee Smith, who moved from nickel in 2024 to safety in 2025, will stay at safety.
Joe loves the concept of keeping Parrish on the field. He’s too good to not play every snap. Joe also has learned to be skeptical of what Bowles says about the nickel position since he changes nickels every year. In 2022, he moved Antoine Winfield, Jr. there. In 2023, it was Christian Izien. Then Smith and Parrish in successive years, when both were rookies. He changed nickels when Bucco Bruce Arians was head coach, too.
Regardless, the Bucs have a lot of flexibility at nickel if Izien returns for a fourth season; he’s a restricted free agent.
February 27th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Parrish was probably our best defender last year. Morrison missed camp and it showed, but he can be good if he stays healthy in camp and the rest of the season. Zyon might end up being the weak link in the secondary. He’s always been a poor tackler and is a liability in the lower red zone in man coverage.
February 27th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Todd McShay will be on “Wake Up Barstool” on FS1 at 11:00. I’m actually watching him from 9:00am on my DVR. The repeat episode is always ‘back-to-back’ as of right now, until they decide on what (if anything) they’re doing to fill that time slot. I’m sure this will be VERY GOOD. The McShay segment usually is.
February 27th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Even if Bowles had Rondé Barber in his prime his Swiss cheese scheme would yield the same results.
The guy has been coasting for years on perceptions that he is some defensive mastermind.
Just ask Cousins or Ewers how tough the Bowles defense is to pick apart.
Absolutely unforgivable that he was allowed to keep his job.
#SuperBowles
February 27th, 2026 at 10:46 am
I was thinking yesterday, about HOW BADDDDD last year’s draft was for the Bucs, that I literally had to rack my brain for over a MINUTE (maybe two lol), while trying to remember WHO they even took with their 2ND-ROUND PICK LMAO. That is HOW BAD. LoL. Morrison, the “God Son,” by the way! Hahahah.
February 27th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Well, actually it/he wasn’t very good today. Of course, since I talked him up. Don’t waste your time. Nowhere near as good as usual.
February 27th, 2026 at 11:04 am
So I’m assuming MelvinJunior is just some kind of troll…..can anyone confirm or deny..
February 27th, 2026 at 11:26 am
I don’t know if MelvinJunior is a troll, but after last year and Bowles and JL retention I confess I am.
Signed
Fan since ’68 turned troll.
February 27th, 2026 at 11:55 am
Draft a CB. Trade Zyon for some other defensive help. Start Parrish, Morrison, and draft pick
February 27th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
@BigBucBoi, I don’t know if we can trade Zyon with how much we are paying him – maybe a team wanting to lose and wanting more picks for next draft would take him?
I like Zyon as a person, he just seems like he can’t get his mind right while playing despite having the athletic tools.
I could see this year playing out in so many different ways – I for one am not confident in putting money anywhere on this team this year.