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