Todd Bowles And Rasul Douglas
April 5th, 2026
A Todd Bowles crush?
So at Todd Bowles’ table at the NFC Coaches Breakfast in Phoenix on Monday sat Joe and only one other Tampa-based media member.
Strange.
Somehow, a trip to the NFL annual meeting and a chance to talk to the Buccaneers head coach, general manager and owner wasn’t prioritized by other local media. Even the Bucs’ in-house media passed.
This was Phoenix, not Vancouver, and there were multiple daily non-stop flights from Tampa with the NFL action less than 20 minutes from the Phoenix airport.
Oh, well. Joe suspects most fans will blame Bowles.
Back to the breakfast, on multiple occasions Bowles mentioned how much he likes a few free agent cornerbacks still on the street. One one occasion, Bowles sounded like he had a crush in his voice.
Joe’s been studying the corners available and thinks Bowles has a thing for Rasul Douglas.
Douglas turns 31 in August and grew up about 10 miles from Bowles’ hometown in New Jersey. More important, Douglas is the kind of long corner Bowles has historically loved. He’s 6-2, 210 pounds. But even more important, Douglas surprised a lot of people with a bounceback season last year for the Dolphins. Douglas started 13 of the 15 games he played in and had 13 passes defensed. Those 13 passes defensed tied for 14th-most in the NFL.
Douglas also has a load of postseason experience. He won a ring as a rookie with the 2017 Eagles and also started in the postseason for Green Bay and Buffalo.
Last year, Douglas played on a one-year, $1.5 million contract plus incentives. Simply put, a year ago the NFL thought Douglas was no longer the $7 million corner he was in the past.
It seems Douglas is still on the street only because he’s waiting out a raise or a multi-year deal, which is common for veterans who already have banked a lot of cash.
Joe was intrigued to read what various Dolphins fans and media had to say about Douglas. Also, the data nerds claim Douglas allowed only 430 yards in coverage and a 73 passer rating, both very good marks.
Douglas is known as a strong zone corner. So Joe wonders if Bowles sees that and thinks, ‘I sure could use a guy like that in the mix.’
April 5th, 2026 at 11:43 am
It is nice to know there may be some quality veteran CB help still available. Think we will need at least one more experienced DB added to room no matter how many more we draft.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Good backup plan. Better than Vildor was last year.
April 5th, 2026 at 11:53 am
I don’t see why they haven’t brought in a proven vet like Rasul Douglas
They have been dragging their feet , l don’t get this
You sign a vet like Douglas, and draft a stud CB
April 5th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Sign him with alacrity. The more good, proven corners the better. McCollum could turn everything around and be amazing this year or he could still be stinky, for instance. And Morrison should continue to get better, but there’s always injuries to contend with too. And our secondary is famous for injuries.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Sign him. Todd will have him reminding us of Rod “Toast” Jones in no time.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
I live in Vancouver, rarely see NFL players or coaches here
April 5th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
They will sign a FA CB like Douglas and draft another.
April 5th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Definitely be on board with signing Rasul for depth and drafting a CB in the top 4 rounds.
Secondary would be in good shape.
At this point, if they could trade back and move some picks around to end up with
DT – McDonald
OLB – Mason Thomas
ILB – Rodriguez
That would be ideal world for me. Look at CB and G after that.
April 5th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
I think we should stop signing all free agents except a good backup QB. Wait until after the draft now.
April 5th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Fred and Barney leading the franchise
April 5th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
They already signed a good back up QB
April 5th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
“Somehow, a trip to the NFL annual meeting and a chance to talk to the Buccaneers head coach, general manager and owner wasn’t prioritized by other local media. Even the Bucs’ in-house media passed.
This was Phoenix, not Vancouver, and there were multiple daily non-stop flights from Tampa with the NFL action less than 20 minutes from the Phoenix airport.
Oh, well. Joe suspects most fans will blame Bowles.“
————————-
Let’s see. Bowles is sub .500, can’t motivate anyone, lost 7 of 9 and could not stop a 3rd and 28 or 4th and 14.
And no one cares to hear what he has to say.
Zyon is bored.
So who is to blame?
April 5th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
People don’t want to sit next to him because they’re tired of hearing his excuses repeated constantly.
April 5th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
But can he rush the passer?
April 5th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
You blame the idiot that gave Zyon a 3 year $48 million contract
I don’t know which genius decided to do it
April 5th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
If I see 3rd and 28 again im gonna scream!! Bowles was taken off the field the play prior to 3rd and 28 ..UGH!
April 5th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
That other Tampa based media member mentioned you by name, but you won’t extend the same professional courtesy. Strange.
April 5th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
I don’t mind going DT, but with the recent signings we seem to be set at the position.
I know the D needs fixing, but as long as TB is coach we aren’t going to win because of the D I think our best chance is to score and score some more. I’d draft Sadiq at 15, red zone O needs to be top notch.
Best scenario, we need to trade back. Make a mid 20’s pick BPA (CB, DT, OLB) and then trade back up into the top of the second for ILB.
April 5th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Zyon earned his money. We could have Dion Sanders and Darrell Green at the corners with Ed Reed and Troy at safety in Todd’s defense and they would still give up a 3rd and 28
April 5th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Please keep signing players to compete for jobs during training camp.
April 5th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Joe Takes a Dig At Fans!!
Your Right Joe the Fans are asking too much of Bowles
BUCS MAY WIN DIVISION YEA!!!!!
Cheap shot Joe
You got to sit at the table so now You climb on the Bowles Train
Or as Most Fans call it the TOILET
April 5th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
I have said before that I thought he would be a good signing. They should also add Avonte Maddox too, he can play multiple positions in the secondary.
April 5th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
Joe,
I believe he played through surgically repaired (pins) in hand/finger). Played timid/weak and hurt the team more than IR.
April 5th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
So many people on this site act like little girls. Crybabies.
Bowles is a very good, very knowledgeable coach. You could see on the field people dropping out of position on the defense and doing things like leaving their zones to bite on play action. I think he benched some of them claiming they were injured. He probably did that to be nice and not end people’s careers but you could tell he had about had it by the end of the year. Everyone on that defense has been taught their basic responsibilities ad nauseum. I think the defense mostly fell apart because the offense completely fell apart. That’s what happens when you start third and fourth string guards off the street. We got decimated by injuries. Grow up, face it, and let’s move on to hopefully a much better season. We have the talent to make it happen (augmented by the draft anyway).
April 5th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
I don’t want a corner early in this draft. We did that last year. Time to pad the front seven. That said, we could use a good vet at corner. Douglas fits the bill.
April 5th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
ModHairKen Says:
“Let’s see. Bowles is sub .500…”
Not for the Bucs he isn’t, and that’s all that matters.
April 5th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Ash Says:
“They already signed a good back up QB”
Browning is not a ‘good’ backup.
April 5th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
I’d be happy with a first-off-the-board corner, DT, TE. Beats a 6th best edge anyway. I would prefer to build the defense front to back but corners do take longer to develop. Perhaps a balanced approach would help. Lack off pass rush is destroying the confidence in our secondary.
April 5th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Lakeland Says:
“You blame the idiot that gave Zyon a 3 year $48 million contract
I don’t know which genius decided to do it”
You mean the Zyon who ranked among the NFL’s top cornerbacks in passes defensed in 2024?
Through the first five weeks of the 2025 season, McCollum ranked as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks according to PFF. He showed high-level performance in limiting opposing passers, often producing metrics comparable to elite cornerbacks, with high pass-breakup counts and a strong, high-volume tackler.
He was doing very well until his season ending injury.
April 5th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
1) Edge
2) OG or Edge
3) CB or OG or DT
4) CB or OG or DT
5, 6 7) BPA
April 5th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Gene Deckerhoff2 Says:
“Please keep signing players to compete for jobs during training camp.”
After the draft, there will be a lot of young talent to sign, along with guys released because their replacement was drafted.
April 5th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
i’m shocked nobody wanted to have breakfast with santa. ho ho hold the bullsh1t and maybe people wouldnt tune him out.
April 5th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Todd would figure out how to get everyone on the field at the same time
April 5th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
If we can sign him then I think he’s t will be a nice FA haul. We are definitely missing a CB.
April 5th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Hey, Douglas meets the Bucs criteria for FA signings. He’s over 30. Sign him; he’s a keeper.
April 5th, 2026 at 7:04 pm
Disagree somewhat Hodad.
Corner is thin. Morrison hasn’t proved anything. Parrish looks like a keeper, but hit the rookie wall and McCollum jury is still out. Another good young guy would push them all, repace the weakest and provide for injury relief.
Granted, we have holes all over to fill. Pick your poison. Get the best value available at each pick. Trade back if we can. DT, LB, OG all work for me.
April 5th, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Guys complaining about players over 30 aren’t privy to the fact our intial 53 had 12 players at or above the age of 29 last year which ranked 7th/8th youngest in all the NFL?
Oldest tenured veteran in our CB room right now is 26 year old Zyon McCollum, who turns 27 in May.
Anyways, Rasual Douglas would be welcome
You can be a good team with a decent mix of old, not so old and young players.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Sure, there’s all kinds of good players who haven’t been signed yet. This happens at this juncture in free agency, like never. Wanna body for cheap? Then go for it.
Give up your #1, #2 and Winfield and go get Bailey or Bain.
In a “what have you done for me lately league,” what has Winfield done for us lately? Granted, Winfield took the league by storm as a rookie, and he almost personally won two games by strip fumbles. But he gets beat often in recent years, so maybe it’s time while he still has value.
Isn’t anybody else tired of always seeking diamonds in the rough? How about a nice, shiny cut to perfection one early in Round 1?
April 5th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Styles may drop far enough that it might make sense to move up and get him. I don’t think he makes it to us though it might be close.
April 5th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Stpetematt. Put down the crack pile Bowles is dumb stubborn and stupid players like him because they get a paycheck and no responsibility. Bring back Richard Williamson or Dumby Smith or Raheem Morris 3 more idiots. Throw in Ray Perkins
April 5th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
Bingo George ^^^^
April 5th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Joe, you should have invited Lakeland and Rod ButtMunch to join you. They are the only two guys that would go, even including Bucs media, to be bored to death listening to Monotone Toilet Bowles…what comes out always looks the same, smells the same, and sounds the same going down.
April 5th, 2026 at 9:52 pm
I admit I missed the true point of the article
April 5th, 2026 at 11:57 pm
Root vegetables are not good with cognitive awareness,
April 5th, 2026 at 11:57 pm
Right on, Secondary.
April 6th, 2026 at 12:30 am
Find it hilarious how petty Joe is in refusing to even mention SR or PR. Too funny & sad at the same time lol.
Not sure why you’re misrepresenting this. Really not the point of the media comment or anything to do with Rasul Douglas. –Joe
April 6th, 2026 at 1:56 am
Apologies for stating the obvious, not looking to offend 🙂 . Do like the Douglas add, hope it happens. Adding a vet like him & a solid rookie in the 1st-4th would definitely help make the CB less of a weak spot going into the season. Otherwise could def see Licht drafting two CB’s to compete, but think a vet add would be preferred just to increase the experience/knowledge factor in the room.
April 6th, 2026 at 2:15 am
All they have signed are a bunch of bargain players who are already past the age of 30.
April 6th, 2026 at 2:23 am
JA
Probably have to pay some of AWJ’s salary too. I would go for Styles. Some good rookie safety help in the draft.
April 6th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
In favor, and sure he is an improvement over the massively overated Jamel Dean. Now get someone to takeover for Zyon McCollum. With any luck at all, Bucs will have 7 new starters on Rod Munch’s favorite defense. Speaking of Munch who poor mouthed Mike McCarthy as a potential new coach for the Bucs, it is interesting that an exceptionally well run Pittsburgh franchise run by the Rooney Family thought McCarthy would be a good choice for the Steelers. Munch remains the fool on the hill.