Filling The Hole At Cornerback
March 20th, 2026
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Joe has bad Bucs news and good Bucs news.
First the bad: The Bucs have a hole at cornerback they didn’t need to dig.
Now the good news: Folicly-challenged Billy Barnwell at BSPN believes the Bucs are one of 20 teams that can compete for a Super Bowl for the 2026 season, provided the Bucs fill this hole.
Don’t ya’ just feel all warm and fuzzy now?
What’s missing: Cornerback. Some cornerstone pieces won’t be back with the Bucs in 2026. Legendary wideout Mike Evans left for the 49ers in one of the highest-profile departures of the offseason. Linebacker Lavonte David saw his contract expire, and he remains available. And cornerback Jamel Dean signed a three-year, $36.8 million contract with the Steelers.
Dean’s absence might actually have the largest impact of those three, given that the Buccaneers are relatively stocked at wide receiver and ably replaced David with some much-needed coverage range from Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. Dean allowed a 63.1 passer rating in coverage while missing just 2.1% of his tackles. He probably deserved to be in the Pro Bowl.
The Bucs have Zyon McCollum locked in at one starting cornerback role, and Jacob Parrish was solid in his rookie year operating out of the slot. Dean’s departure, though, will elevate 2025 second-round pick Benjamin Morrison to the starting lineup. And while plenty of cornerbacks have rough rookie seasons before maturing in subsequent years, Morrison had a very rough debut campaign. He allowed a 112.2 passer rating in coverage on 359 snaps, including a 72-yard touchdown to Patriots wideout Kyle Williams. Morrison also had two pass interference penalties and a holding call declined. The Panthers repeatedly went after the rookie in their home-and-home with Tampa Bay down the stretch, and I’d expect more of that if Morrison’s in the starting lineup.
Based on just the 2025 season alone, Benjamin Morrison is not an starter, that’s all there is to it. Not yet, anyway. He did come into OTAs last year as a rookie recovering from surgery so Joe is going to give the Notre Dame grad rope here.
Would Joe be shocked that Morrison, now healthy, dedicated himself to an offseason program and looks like a new player this summer when training camp starts? No.
And if that is the case, great. But just based on his play he is in no way ready to be an NFL starter. Frankly, based on his play last year, Joe wonders if Zyon McCollum is a starter.
But here we are with a hole on the roster where the Bucs’ best corner was. It didn’t have to be like this.
If Todd Bowles moves Jacob Parrish to full-time outside corner, that’s a smart move. Parrish was damn impressive last year and Joe would argue he was the Bucs’ most consistent rookie. Parrish sure never vanished in the second half of the season.
If Bowles wants to keep Parrish at nickel corner, then there’s a problem. You are then looking at McCollum and Morrison as your starting corners, possibly with no edge rush. That will be fun!
So unless Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafts or trades for a starting corner, this could be a very, very long season for the Bucs’ pass defense.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Morrison missed EVERYTHING prior to the season, no way he was gonna be effective
March 20th, 2026 at 9:10 am
One name… Rhonde Barber. Let give the guy some time to get settled.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:15 am
The front 7 has a direct impact on the back 4. How long did it take for the “grave diggers” to go to “sheet shovelers” when the front 7 were traded, signed elsewhere, got hurt, etc. Middle of the D is key from front to back, same as a baseball team. If you get to the QB and put him down and disrupt the timing that is huge for pass coverage. When we chipped at the Houston D last year and gave Baker just enough time he completed passes and scored points. Our D looked like they were an old electric football game on the field last year, especially the line and backers.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:17 am
And I think Morrison will be just fine now that he’s had an off-season to get healthy. If Zyon can’t get his act straight get him outta here, same for Winfield if he doesn’t return to form, but he did flash last year.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Why did Licht waste a high day 2 pick on a CB who already had a history of injuries in college? Dude only played about 6 games in his final year at Notre Dame. If this kid does not pan out, the pick will go down as another failed 2nd rounder along with Trask, Aguayo, Braswell, Noah Spence, Justin Evans, MJ Stewart and Logan Hall. In contrast Licht has hit on Goedeke, Mauch, Carlton Davis, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet. Looks like Licht is batting under 0.500 with 2nd rounders and this Morrison pick does have Bowles’ prints all over it, Todd played with the kid’s dad!
March 20th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Surprised we didn’t pick up a vet corner in free agency. Always liked the idea of double dipping (FA + draft pick up) to account for a miss.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:25 am
I swear the Jamel Dean narrative over the last few years is amazing:
“He’s a bum!”
“Out again, cut him!”
Plays a whole year and leaves.
“We let our best player on defense leave. We suck!”
March 20th, 2026 at 9:29 am
It’s going to be a mistake if there’s no competition for either starting CB spot this offseason. Parrishs’ role at nickel back is the only one that should be safe, but we need to go out and get some talent that can come in to compete with Morrison at least and if they can push McCollum, then so be it.
That’s the one position I think we’re ignoring in terms of draft priority and this ’26 class has a good collection of talent at CB. With the loss of Dean, it’ll be interesting to see if we go after CBs of similar stature/athletic profile as Dean.
Guys like:
-Devin Moore
-Tacario Davis
-Ephesians Prysock
-Tony Grimes
-Daylen Everette
-Andre Fuller
-Thad Dixon & a few more.
I would be shocked if the draft starts and ends without our secondary getting a/some new addition(s)
March 20th, 2026 at 9:35 am
J.Gallo 84 … ‘Surprised we didn’t pick up a vet corner in free agency.’
Me too, big time. I always look at each position group asking the question ‘Who’s the Alpha dog in that group?’ It’s that Alpha dog who’s gonna provide the FIELD LEADERSHIP that’s critical to the team’s success.
Usually the Alpha is the veteran in any particular position group. He’s the guy who’s survived the initial 4-5 year period after being drafted & got a 2nd contract, oftentimes with a different team. Some survive long enough to get 3rd or even 4th contracts.
Looking at our CB group, McCollum is the veteran but I can’t see him as a FIELD LEADER. Would love to see us sign a veteran free agent CB who could push either of our outside corners for a starting gig. Might cost us $10-$12 mil a year for a good one, but that’s OK. It’d be money well-spent. Add a rookie CB to the position group and we’d have the 5 CBs we normally go into the season with.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:35 am
How did Morrison’s rookie year compare with Vernon Hargreaves? Seems like VH was even worse.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:36 am
I’d love to read an article on here saying they signed Rasul Douglas. There’s no way he’d be all that expensive and he’s a veteran which is what they need in that room.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:38 am
“A very long season for the Bucs pass defense.” Yet again! same old song every year with Bowles.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Nice rack.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:43 am
I was reading A to Z Sports 4 round mock draft last night
And they have the best mock draft for us that I’ve seen
1. OLB Cashius Howell -Texas A&M
2. CB D’Angelo Ponds – Indiana U
3. LB Kyle Louis – Pittsburgh
4. TE Oscar Delp- Georgia
Ponds is only 5’9 175 lbs, but he’s a solid Slot CB
One of the best I’ve ever seen play
He use to cover Jeremiah Smith when they teammates at Chaminade – McDonald in high school during practice. He has like 31 PD in college, including 3 against Miami in the championship game. And he had a pick six in the semi- finals.
March 20th, 2026 at 9:45 am
*** l meant Chaminade -Madonna
March 20th, 2026 at 10:02 am
“Would love to see us sign a veteran free agent CB who could push either of our outside corners for a starting gig.”
An interesting potential free agent imo would be Kyu Blu Kelly. Last year w/Las Vegas was his first real taste of starting action, having been passed from Seattle, to the Commanders, and then Packers in 2023.
Found his way to LV last season with Spytek, played his way into making 8 starts and played in more games in 2025, than he did in his first 2 years in the league. Wasn’t outstanding, but soild and at 24 he’s a young veteran looking for a long-terms spot on somebodys’ roster. Why not us?
March 20th, 2026 at 10:07 am
When feeling confident that were picking up a corner or safety in rounds 2-4.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Joe,, I don’t see how the Bucs can start these two corners?. They were both horrible last year. This reminds me of Bowles saying Dennis was going to be great and he liked the depth at LB. Morrison, like Dean can’t stay healthy. However , Dean when healthy was pretty good. Morrison, can’t stay healthy and when on the field he can’t play. McColumn, really, was their a worse corner in the NFL last year. This guy should have been put on the bench. Somehow Parrish needs to replace one of these two and they draft a corner who can start. Anyway, too many holes to fix on defense and the Bucs simply are not addressing them now. I guess they are rebuilding, it is the only thing that makes sense. Anyway, no way this team wins next year unless the offense scores boat loads of points. Maybe that is the plan.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:14 am
If you wonder why Evans left, well just look what they have done with the starting corners, and that is just the tip of the problem
March 20th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Tampering happens every year, wouldn’t be surprised if the 49ers tampered with Evans. Licht probably just doesn’t want to open up that can of worms, it’s rare the NFL hands out punishments for tampering.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Deprh should be added. Morrison is a ? But he was injured and was drwfted high given his upside. Im more concerned about injury than performance, one of these guys go down, they are f@cked. Need to add another decent body.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Sorry Joe’s! Commented on the wrong article!
March 20th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Well, the good news is that Jamel Dean is gone.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
IF we add a CB early in this Draft. Just not before an Edge Rusher/ILB is taken in Round 1….
But I would be so down to move Parrish outside and let the two best men win of the 3 and Draft NCB Keionte Scott out of Miami. Dude plays old school and brings a physical presence to that D. He’s a dawg and brings the juice too. I’m an FSU guy, so it pains me to admit it, but I love the way he plays and his play style is one that sticks out.
If you wanna keep Parrish inside at NCB – although a bit undersized, Ponds out of Indiana is a DAWG too Love the way he plays and competes. I actually wouldn’t mind coming away with an Indiana OL this Draft either (the Notre Dame transfer Pat Coogan?)!
March 20th, 2026 at 10:33 am
Good, bad, or awful….Morrison will start. There is no way the Bowles doesn’t put his pet project in there. Just cross your fingers.
The next problem is that Bowles and crew can’t self scouting the roster properly, so they’ll think their backups are good enough to play, and the result will be soft off coverage whenever those guys are on the field, and the result of that will be no rush getting to the backfield because recievers are open all over the field.
The future is so easily predicted when it comes to Bowles and his skills.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:38 am
….and Gruden would love him some Keynote Scott, because when he comes to the practice field, he brings the juice and doesn’t have to FAKE IT!
March 20th, 2026 at 10:45 am
There’s no reason why Licht can’t get 4 impact players on defense from this draft
This draft is loaded with talent at ILB, CB, DT, Edge Rushers
I like Ponds at CB, he played outside at Chaminade and JMU and IU
He started every game in college, never missed a game
Had 169 tackles, 3.3 missed tackle rate, only had 2 missed tackles in 2026
Something like a 55.8 passing rate against him
He’s solid, a beast mode CB
I like Scott from Miami also
Terrell from Clemson
Hood from Tennessee
Moore from Florida
March 20th, 2026 at 10:52 am
Remember Bowles played with BM21’s daddy. Ben is being gifted this position not because he earned it on the field. My prediction is that Dean is and will always be the better outside corner between the two and Ben will be even more injury prone than Dean ever was. But that is just my opinion.
March 20th, 2026 at 10:55 am
Aright aready. SUPER BOWL RUN! Here we go again. Let the hype begin now. Oh yes Bucs are CONTENDERS!!!
March 20th, 2026 at 10:58 am
Tim Morrison and Bowles were best buds with Washington
When Licht called Benjamin Morrison during the pick
Licht handled the phone to Bowles
Bowles to Benji, tell your dad l said hello
March 20th, 2026 at 10:59 am
I meant Bowles told Benji….tell your dad I said hello
March 20th, 2026 at 11:01 am
Absurd. Dean is the key to the Super Bowl. Get a brain.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:01 am
But, Benjamin Morrison is a good CB
Last season he was rusty, hadn’t played in awhile
And he was never healthy, but he’s young ( only 22)
I think he’s going to be alright
March 20th, 2026 at 11:03 am
When Dean agreed to a paycut, he was never resigning with the Bucs. The Bucs were never in the equation because of his annual injury history.
Why pay a player a full time salary when he’s absent half the season continually. 🤔 That’s the definition of insanity.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:06 am
Our draft needs to be
Edge
CB
ILB
DT
OL
ILB
OL – we had 4 starters get hurt last year
Not sure we need a TE, depends on what Zac wants here. His 2 TE set in Atlanta had Pitts ( speed guy) and Woerner ( blocking guy) . Think we’ve got that covered with the 4 we have
March 20th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Great picture of Ben Morrison, he looks intimidating – watch out, he might just run up and kiss you…
March 20th, 2026 at 11:11 am
The entire back end of the defense is a question mark. Front 7 got a couple reinforcements, but the LBs and corners are anybody’s guess. We have two kids who were rookies last year and McCollum at corner. No experience and no depth and damn sure no cohesiveness back there. How this was not addressed in FA is malpractice. LB room is sad also. Anzalone just a 1 for 1 replacement for LVD and Dennis a ST backup at best. Totally depending on drafted rookies to shore up the middle of an already suspect defense is not a plan. It is a delusion. We are a rudderless ship with a drunken captain. JL for ROH, please!
March 20th, 2026 at 11:12 am
I guess we could sign Lattimore now. lol. Is Amari Cooper, Samuel Douglas, or Reed still available?
March 20th, 2026 at 11:14 am
“”This reminds me of Bowles saying Dennis was going to be great and he liked the depth at LB””
As did Jason Licht. The 2 nitwits struck again.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Lakeland … ‘Benjamin Morrison is a good CB’.
I agree with you, but his injury situation really hurt him last year. He’s got good length & speed (6’0″ & 190 lbs running a 4.39 sec 40-yd dash) & made his reputation based on press coverage in college. I love that and wish that Bowles would use more man-to-man (on 3rd down especially) and less zone.
Morrison’s stats from last season were a combination of very good and not so very good. He only got 359 def snaps in 10 games, but made pretty good use of those. His 58.5% Completion Percentage Allowed (41 targets – 24 completions) was quite good I thought, especially for a rookie, as were his 4 PDs.
On the other side of the coin though, he allowed 3 passing TDs in 10 games and had a Missed Tackle Rate of 18.8%. Numbers like that can get you a seat on the bench.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:24 am
FortMyersDave Says:
March 20th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Why did Licht waste a high day 2 pick on a CB who already had a history of injuries in college?
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Morrison was widely viewed as a 1st-round talent, and the injury he dealt with in college has been resolved.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:27 am
BucU
Don’t forget that Braswell is going to shock you!
March 20th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Defense Rules Says:
On the other side of the coin though, he allowed 3 passing TDs in 10 games and had a Missed Tackle Rate of 18.8%. Numbers like that can get you a seat on the bench.
———————————————————————————–
I believe that learning how to tackle properly will be a point of emphasis for the Bucs in training camp. It needs to be!
March 20th, 2026 at 11:30 am
This team is doomed. We make Swiss cheese look like the Berlin wall.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:37 am
So now we are getting somewhere in admitting it’s not Bowles or Bowles defense. It’s a lack of talent. No edge. No solid cb at any position either 1,2 and slot. Oh LB too.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:40 am
need dbs and lbs plural and the biggest need is edge. lets draft a te at 15
March 20th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Iv said it before and I’ll say it again. There is no faith in this head coach, this team and these players need a disciplinary coach that holds players accountable, and Todd Bowles is not that. 6-11 season coming.
March 20th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Not a fan of missed tackle rates. Seen too many mistakes made with that. Making plays is what I heard this Morrison was all about. And I haven’t seen it yet. Close but no cigar. Guess we can call Morrison and McCollum M&M. Hopefully they won’t melt in our hands.