Banking On Rookies
May 4th, 2026
Could another vet CB be signed?
A lot of NFL types are giving the Bucs all sorts of love for their 2026 draft.
But one columnist for NFL.com thinks the Bucs need to do more. And he’s coming at it with sound reasoning.
The Bucs, Kevin Patra pointed out, are banking on a lot of rookies on defense. One at each level.
Patra isn’t knocking the Tampa Bay draft. But Patra is sounding the alarm that banking on rookies is a gamble. And if the Bucs are serious about returning to the playoffs, another veteran addition to the defense wouldn’t be a dumb move.
The Bucs need [the rookies on defense] to step in as immediate contributors for Todd Bowles’ defense to turn around. Tampa has some players in the secondary, but last year’s group was plagued by a lack of depth when backups were thrust into action. Adding another veteran to the mix could boost the group when injuries ultimately strike.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles admitted prior to the draft that the Bucs were looking for two corners before training camp. The Bucs drafted one, Keionte Scott, albeit a nickel corner.
So adding a veteran corner seems like a decent possibility.
Look, Joe likes the rookies the Bucs drafted. But there’s a learning curve for these guys. To expect three rookies to be dynamite from Day 1 might be asking a lot.
Joe likes the idea of adding a veteran cornerback.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:25 am
Alontae Taylor….it will cost a little, but i remember scouting and liking him….still need to dig a little more though.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:29 am
sorry, i didnt realize Taylors not available….Lattimore or Diggs I guess….if we go that route.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:35 am
I believe in Morrison, McCollum, Parrish
And Keionte Scott will be a welcome addition
I don’t think we’re that desperate for a veteran CB
May 4th, 2026 at 12:46 am
Rasul Douglas
May 4th, 2026 at 1:13 am
If they bring one in we can tell how much faith Bowles has in B-mo and McCollum. He already has one slated for the bench and if he brings in a starter quality corner the other may get benched too so it depends on whether a new corner is a backup or starter quality. Im hoping we can get by with a backup.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:30 am
I rather play the young guys than a washed up veteran
May 4th, 2026 at 1:31 am
Not sure if Bucs can move on a remaining FA while Baker’s contract is pending…
May 4th, 2026 at 1:32 am
Vets have experience and tips to pass down.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:34 am
Baker will get his….just negotiating….gotta meet in the middle….45-50.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:36 am
Mad max you out your mind thinking Bucs will sign lattimore lol
May 4th, 2026 at 1:37 am
or we draft Mestemaker and move forward…thats who I want but want him to sit behind someone the first year.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:38 am
Maybe i am, what am i missing? Let me know mike….theres only a few available.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:41 am
Oh, i see now, nevermind….im on a night off, im working 60+ hours a week….my bad sorry, lol.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:49 am
Wouldnt it be some stuff though since Evans is gone now….i mean hey, why not?
May 4th, 2026 at 3:09 am
Scott is a great addition at DB, but do the Bucs still need too find a bigger DB?
With 12 and 13 formations becoming more common, do the Bucs have the size to match up against 3 TE sets and a tall X receiver?
McCollum is 6’2″; Morrison is 6″; Scott is the next tallest at 5’11”. JJ Roberts is 5’11” – is the “red shirt rookie’s” niche against 2 and 3 TE sets?
Then, Smith and Parrish are 5’10”-ish with Winfield 5’9″.
All of those guys are faster than TE’s and jump well, but are they going to be bullied out of the way at the point of the catch?
And, will those DBs trying to tackle TEs be like a lion trying to drag down a water buffalo – or a rhinoceros in the case of some 13 personnel?
May 4th, 2026 at 6:06 am
If we’re running zone we should be gang tackling much better than we have been. *THAT* has to change.
May 4th, 2026 at 6:17 am
“I believe in Morrison, McCollum, Parrish.”
I believe in Parrish. Not so sure about Morrison and McCollum. What did they give us last year? Sure, they might have had off years and they have great “potential” (hate that word).
And then, what about injuries?
I love the FA and draft additions to the front 7. Love the Scott pick. But I agree with our HC. The Bucs were 2 DBs short before the draft and we added one. Our DBs seem to spend a lot of time in the tub. We need another DB.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:06 am
they’ll grab a vet to act as a bryce hall type…no worries…
if not out there now, they’ve add one in during roster cuts – when some decent players are floating on rafts like tom sawyer
May 4th, 2026 at 7:21 am
Funny Joe. I was thinking the same as Petra last night as I thought about a couple of our rookies already being penciled in as starters. What if they are not quite ready for prime time? FA time. Better sooner than later me thinks. Camp cuts may give us someone later but…
Go Bucs!
May 4th, 2026 at 7:38 am
Just remember that rookies will play like rookies.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:53 am
Play the best players, rookies or not.
1974 Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs for the 1st time in 9 years.
1975 Dallas Cowboys added 12 rookies to their roster (the Dirty Dozen) and went to the Super Bowl.
May 4th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Makes me wonder why we let Jemel Dean go “for no good reason “
May 4th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Munch reminds us every day how good the defense was last year. The problem according to Munch was Baker faking injuries.
If a football expert, amateur, analyst like Munch, says so, why are we bothering to reshape the defensive roster?
In re-watching all of 2025 games it is obvious that the 2025 defense could neither cover or tackle. Hoping that Licht has pushed the right buttons. Go one more step and hire Jim Schwartz as DC.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:32 am
At least the rookies haven’t yet had enough time playing for the masturmind to fall into deep regression mode. Maybe they’ll have a few games to count on their instincts before the paralysis of the multi-scenario, multi-option, multiple-variant coverage calls sets in.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:57 am
There you go.
May 4th, 2026 at 11:24 am
The year gets too long for these rookies.
The draft process and year round training for testing, then for camps and the season. It must burn these guys out.
It’s why I’m glad our first rounder skipped all the testing. Hopefully after the Natty Bain took a month off, got a mental and physical reset before hitting the grind again.