Aaron Schatz: Bucs Still Need A Corner
May 9th, 2026
Who plays outside corner?
Joe doesn’t think Aaron Schatz is off his rocker. And just maybe, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles would agree.
Just before the draft, Bowles stated publicly the Bucs needed two new corners by training camp.
Well, the Bucs drafted (nickel) corner Keionte Scott. One is not two.
Aaron Schatz, the inventor of DVOA and former publisher of Football Outsiders (RIP), typed a piece for BSPN on the biggest hole on each team’s roster.
For the Bucs, Schatz didn’t have to think too hard. It’s cornerback.
Outside cornerback depth
The Buccaneers have plenty of options in the slot. Tykee Smith was a nickel a couple of seasons ago, Jacob Parrish was a nickel in 2025 and fourth-round rookie Keionte Scott is a great nickel/safety hybrid addition.
But what happens if there’s an injury to one of the starting outside cornerbacks, either Zyon McCollum or Benjamin Morrison?
Zyon McCollum, not Jamel Dean, should have been the odd man out. McCollum was awful last year yet it was Dean who the Bucs let walk out the door to Pittsburgh.
Unlike Dean, McCollum is still under contract. As always, follow the money.
(Thinking of the Bucs letting their best corner, Dean, just up and leave, reminds Joe of a Raheem Morris quote. “I’ll tolerate you until I can replace you.”)
Joe would move Jacob Parrish to outside corner. He was the Bucs’ best rookie last year, from Week 1 through Week 18. Bowles often says Parrish can play outside. OK then, move him and let Scott take over at nickel.
At the other corner position, should Benjamin Morrison be gifted a starting job? Did his play last year suggest he’s earned that? So almost by default, McCollum likely will retain his starting job unless Morrison fully blows up in training camp.
But Schatz is right. If Parrish goes down, the Bucs better have an edge rush; otherwise, it’s going to be a jailbreak.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Dean about to turn 30, was a given we weren’t re-signing him
May 9th, 2026 at 8:19 am
I’ll wait patiently. teams release valuable veterans!
May 9th, 2026 at 8:28 am
I’m on a roll, the Kmart blue light special mod software has flagged every post I’ve made today
May 9th, 2026 at 8:30 am
I should be an NFL writer. I said this exact same thing a week ago. The Bucs addressed most of their “need” areas, such as Edge, depth on both lines and ILB. But did not really cover the DBs completely.
We need on more in case of injury. And this position always has injuries.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Surprised the trolls haven’t posted yet. All they have in their lives is to sit by the computer and wait to respond with some negative spiel to Joe’s articles.
Maybe mommy took away LynchMobs and 3.28.Evans wifi privileges
May 9th, 2026 at 8:34 am
When I go to a steak house and get a badly cooked steak, I blame the cow.
Never should you blame the cook preparing the steak, even though he gets paid to do just that.
Eat Kit Kats, scheme Swiss cheese pass defense, fire everyone but the architect of the scheme, storm out and declare victory.
Stuck in reverse is the new normal in Bucs land.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:35 am
^^^ *one (not “on”)
May 9th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Injured players are returning healthy + a really good draft class should result in a Bucs rebound. I’m expecting a winning season and a team that will excite its fans.
Bucs are putting the pieces together and now it’s up to the Bucs to execute.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Kenny Moore is worth a look.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Regardless of who starts at outside corner, Parrish, McCollum and Morrison will all play significant snaps. Scott may get some snaps there too. A vet CB has to be on the radar for a camp signing. It needs to be someone capable of starting if needed. Okuda, T. White, Diggs, R. Douglas or better. It would be good to get someone not over the hill to keep for a couple years. JL method of picking up useless scrapheap guys who can’t play isn’t cutting it.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:48 am
3.28, HC Grover, and Lynchmob about to cry in their cereal while telling us how terrible the season and every player and every play will be this year. Will add zero value as normal.
Me, I’m fired up about the new additions to the team. I wanted Bowles gone too, but I’m not going to cry about something I can’t change. Get on board or get gone, but I can’t change that either. Just pointing out the inevitable troll tears coming.
Let’s go Bucs!!
May 9th, 2026 at 8:51 am
It might not take an injury to get the Bucs to think about bringing in some depth to the CB position. There were stories on the web last year where it seems that some in the organization may have thought certain starters were mailing it in. I think one was Zyon M. Bowles himself said the kid was often “bored” and to be honest, he was not effective last season. Can he be counted to be a solid starter? If not, then you have Morrison and Parrish as he could be moved outside and then who, Josh Hayes?????? Bucs filled some holes in the off season and draft but I think Schatz is onto something here, Morrison and Zyon could be really good but given last year’s problems down the stretch, I would not be surprised if Bowles does not get jason to bring in some more depth.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Roster is not set and we’re a long way from camp. I’m fully expecting a few CB additions with 1 being a potential starter. Also want a thumper RB for short yardage first down needs.
Props to Licht for adding size, talent, and attitude to the D front 7 (and Scott). We greatly needed that infusion and Licht got it done. More to come hopefully.
May 9th, 2026 at 8:57 am
We have a bunch of guys now that can play CB
We need a high quality CB, not just a CB
But they are not available at the moment
We just don’t need a CB
May 9th, 2026 at 9:04 am
“move Jacob Parrish to outside corner…. and let Scott take over at nickel.”
Pretty sure that’s the plan – and its the correct move.
Bucs DO still need another capable CB – coach Bowles already said so weeks ago.
But considering all the ‘needs’ this team had prior to FA and the draft (Dynamic Edge, 2 DTs, 3 ILB, 2 CB, a legit X receiver and a backup Guard) I would say GM Licht did a fantastic job of filling almost every one of those roster deficiencies with talented players – and he didn’t put the team in a big financial hole to do it either….
May 9th, 2026 at 9:13 am
I am not being negitive. However, I have been saying since before the draft the Bucs are in dire need of not 1 but 2 starting caliber corners. Absent Parrish, whom has not as of yet been moved to the outside the Bucs have zero I repeat zero starting corners. They let Dean go. Currently you have Morrison and McColumn. If you watched them play last year then you know they are not starting corners . In fact from last year they may be the worst in the league. I am happy they got Scott and hopefully Parrish can move and play well on the outside . However, who plays the otherside?. In my opinion until proven otherwise neither Morrison or McColumn can handle the position. Yes, Yes, and Yes we really need another starting corner badly!!. It has as of yet not been addressed. Maybe Morrison develops and a miracle happens to McColumn but, I would not gamble or give either one the position.
I surely hope we don’t start the season with 1 of those two starting. Maybe yes maybe as backups , maybe. I don’t know when in the game bad things happen with them in coverage.
May 9th, 2026 at 9:13 am
What they need more than another corner is a capable coach to coach the ones we have.
May 9th, 2026 at 9:21 am
If Zion McCullum was a trusted starting corner and Morrison came on as strong as Parrrish last year with no injury issues, I’d be perfectly fine with all three of them at corner and the best two of the three are the starters post camp.
But that isn’t the situation, and there are too many what ifs.
Not sure if one of the UFAs can rise to the occasion but I would like to see the Bucs sign a veteran CB between June and camp with at least average stats. Doesn’t have to be a top 20 CB, though I would love that if they can afford it + avoid trading away much draft capital.
It’s drafts like this last one we just had that show how much value you can get on day two and three.
May 9th, 2026 at 9:24 am
I’m not going to miss Dean or Evans’ hamstrings.
May 9th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Agreed. Personnel is important but in the end, no amount of talent will overcome a clueless HC. The Nerds Family just keeps kicking the can down the road, but why??
May 9th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Zyon McCollum
Benjamin Morrison
Jacob Parrish
Josh Hayes
Is this a joke?
We need 3 more corners!
Josh Hayes is a #6 or #7 CB.
He should not see the field.
I always want 7 capable corners.
We never have enough corners. Going back to the Schiano days.
I am really tired of the lack of depth at CB.
May 9th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Veteran FA Option(s)
L’Jarius Sneed | Age 29
Rasul Douglas | Age 31
Trevon Diggs | Age 28
Marshon Lattimore | Age 30
Potential Reclamation Projects (Trade)
Deonte Banks | Age 24
Emmanuel Forbes | Age 25
Note: Both acquirable via Day 3 compensation (5th–7th round pick). Both in contract years, playing for their next deal.
May 9th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Test
May 9th, 2026 at 10:06 am
The Bucs current CB room
Zyon McCollum
Jacob Parrish
Chase Lucas
Ayden Garnes
Kemon Hall
Keionte Scott
Benjamin Morrison
Demarion Williams
Josh Hayes
I think they are missing a high quality outside CB
May 9th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Imagine going to work Monday morning and all your computers were taken away and you were giving crayon to work with instead of your computer. How long could you use a crayon to work with before you got bored. Basically, that’s McCollum‘s plight.
Bowles doesn’t know how to scheme pass defense. I’ve watched his defenses since he’s been here and our defensive backfill has been getting skewered ever since.
The only time the defensive backfield played well was when we had heatseeking missiles coming off of both edges; JPP and Shaq.
We say that Bowles is a bad coach but at the same time we blame play players that are not equipped to win. We don’t need any corners. We need edges who can get to the qb. That’s what will take away the Bowles effect.
May 9th, 2026 at 10:24 am
On YT I found an analysis (by Real Coach Williams) of Morrison. He consistently, almost every snap, makes the same mistake, namely ‘false stepping’. So correcting just that should help Morrison a lot.
The big positive was that he is really good against the run. I guess that explains why Bowles is so fond of him.
May 9th, 2026 at 10:31 am
2 words…
L’Jarius Sneed!!
He’s still a F/A and damn sure can still play…
May 9th, 2026 at 10:32 am
I too have been saying we need at least one starting CB. Josh Hayes is good for Special Teams. Cannot be allowed to see the field.
May 9th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Fans hated Dean. Too injury prone. Talented but unavailable. Schatz is correct but this was a weak draft for corners.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:15 am
Kenny Moore
May 9th, 2026 at 11:25 am
…
May 9th, 2026 at 11:25 am
I agree that picking up an outside cb at some point between now and the start of the season is probably needed. Zion and Morrison could both be really solid starters on the outside but it’s too risky to just expect it to happen. I haven’t seen enough reps with Parrish on the outside to be any more confident with him. We know he plays well inside. Zion has shown that he’s capable when there’s a pass rush. B-Mo flashed some last year injuries got in the way of his development. I’m pretty bullish on Morrison if he can stay healthy.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Bingo. Can Josiah Trotter defend the pass? Can Benjamin Morrison turn the corner? All boils down to one thing: Coach ’em up.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:39 am
We know Bowles will overthink it, and play them all at every position so they all suck at them all. It’s brilliant. Versatility.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Joe Says:
May 9th, 2026 at 11:
…All boils down to one thing: Coach ’em up.
———————————————————————————
JTS, Hall, Zyon, Vos, Devin White, Vea, and countless other defensive players had very high potential. Name one player that Bowles has coached up!! Players digress under Bowles. The defensive stars, JPP, Shaq and Suh were brought in not developed here. Twee is the same player he was when he got here, if he has improved it’s because of his dad rather than Bowles.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Bucscoott Says: – — May 9th, 2026 at 11:15 am
Kenny Moore— Exactly!!!!
May 9th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Its hard to get excited. Same general running the show, and most of the defense is returning. He’s incompetent in development and his scheme is trash.
May 9th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
We have a full room of guys that can’t play outside corner and get destroyed on a regular basis. It’s either they are taking the wrong angles, getting beat bad, or just unable cover the WR. A lot of the WRs that are running routes are not super stars, it’s just that our CBs make them look so good. Last year our CBs didn’t even know where the ball was when it was in the air and were constantly getting turned around and trying to react. Bucs definitely need a good veteran CB.
May 9th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Those saying Kenny Moore are failing to understand that he was a premiere SLOT CORNER not outside corner….That won’t work here….
L’Jarius Sneed is the best move
May 9th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
We all know we need more quality CBs if we can get them.
Only so many draft picks or F/A are available tho and I’m glad we prioritized the line and LBs.
That will pay dividends on the back end also.
Lynchmob says
When I go to a steak house and get a badly cooked steak, I blame the cow.
—
Ok, cool story but then do you go back every single day…. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner…. And keep ordering the same steak ? You know who the chef is right ? You know he’s not getting fired anytime soon. Yet, there you are @ opening time every day talking smack about the chef.
The biggest difference is if this were real life (a real restaurant) someone would have shut you up by now.
Don’t like the steaks or the chef – find another steak house.
May 9th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Letting dean walk was 100 percent the right thing to do as once again he was injured last season and wouldn’t have been ready if the bucs did the unthinkable thing and made the playoffs. The most reliable thing about a cornerback can’t be injury at some point joe. The change at dline is going to have a ripple effect like it always does and bain is a freaking dawg with the kinda fire we haven’t had on the defense in a while exciting times for the bucs I feel.
May 9th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
All the corners will look better with improved D-line and LB play.
May 9th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Jack Says:
May 9th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
We all know we need more quality CBs if we can get them.
Only so many draft picks or F/A are available tho and I’m glad we prioritized the line and LBs.
That will pay dividends on the back end also.
Lynchmob says
When I go to a steak house and get a badly cooked steak, I blame the cow.
—
Ok, cool story but then do you go back every single day…. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner…. And keep ordering the same steak ? You know who the chef is right ? You know he’s not getting fired anytime soon. Yet, there you are @ opening time every day talking smack about the chef.
The biggest difference is if this were real life (a real restaurant) someone would have shut you up by now.
Don’t like the steaks or the chef – find another steak house.
Perfect response! I agree find another steak house
May 9th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
“KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles”
.
.
Wasn’t a whole semi truck full of KitKats recently stolen? Maybe I should call in a tip.
May 9th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Bowles sucks as a HC\DC. All the Pom Pom waiving in the world won’t change that fact.
It’s hilarious how upset people get for hearing a different opinion than their own.
For all of you that complain about those of us saying the same “negative” thing every post, welcome to the party pal!!!
All WE hear is the non stop Polly Positive lemming speak that allows the ownership to continue down the path of destruction.
A little push back is necessary and has to be served relentlessly.
May 9th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
Im beginning to think lynchmob is 3.28.evans son
They post the same thing everyday about Pom Poms.
I’m sorry lynchmob you tried out for the high school cheerleader squad
And didn’t make it. Aqua turd 💩 must be so disappointed. He always wanted to be a cheerleader himself . I’m sorry guys that your so miserable now.
May 9th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
L.Snead or R.Douglas
GO BUCS
May 9th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
Honestly we have no idea if our corners are good or not even Revis would get burned if our pass rush sucks which it did last season so pretty much got to ride with who we have now, Zyon as a 5th rounder has 1 bad year out with no rush, got to hope an improved front 7 helps this season
May 9th, 2026 at 10:05 pm
Dean had to go. Too unreliable due with his injury crap. I have no doubt he will be the same in Pittsburgh. Good bye.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:03 pm
McCollum was playing hurt all year, you know that, right? Dude was excellent the year before.
May 9th, 2026 at 11:32 pm
Yeah Dean always seems to be injured at the end of the season/playoffs too. Glad he’s gone. I think he cared a lot more about his individual statistics than helping his team win. One more corner followed by an open competition for outside corner positions and another competition for slot corner would be ideal. I have no doubt Scott wins the latter. There’s nothing wrong with Bowles or Licht. We have a great defense when we have healthy, good personnel and dominant pass rushers to play it.
May 10th, 2026 at 6:22 am
BINGO, THAT’S THE NUMBER 1 POSITION OF NEED RIGHT NOW, IF THE BUCS CAN SOME HOW ADD A STARTING CALIBER CORNER, THE DIVISION IS THEIRS, AND POSSIBLY A LONG PLAYOFF RUN.
May 10th, 2026 at 7:48 am
Lynch mob with the history of lynching in America it’s pretty obvious why you hate Bowles. And it’s not for football reasons…
May 10th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Dean had to go. Ben Morrison will get injured. It is his M.O.
Zion was weak last year, real weak. So, we do need a veteran corner. Trade for him if you really want improvement in the secondary!
Remember, the Bucs became the talk of the town with Sapp, Brooks and Lynch. We still need a Lynch type.
May 10th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
What do we know? We know that whoever plays for Todd will regress until suckage ensues, and whatever he decides on players will involve them all playing out of position and suffering paralyzing confusion. Nice job Jason.