Nickel Time For Todd Bowles?
April 25th, 2026
Cornerback Keionte Scott
Todd Bowles changes nickel cornerbacks seemingly every year. Joe’s not quite sure why.
It’s like Bowles thinks they’re smoke detector batteries.
Last year it was rookie Jacob Parrish at nickel, who succeeded then-rookie Tykee Smith, who took over for Christian Izien, who replaced Antoine Winfield, Jr. Yes, Bowles once thought Winfield best fit at nickel. Remember, Sean Murphy-Bunting? He primarily was the Bucs’ nickel in 2020 and 2021.
When the Bowles-Bruce Arians regime arrived, they thought M.J. Stewart would be their nickel and play like Tyrann Mathieu.
Today, the Bucs are thin at cornerback. Jamel Dean moved on to Pittsburgh and has not been replaced. Second-year man Benjamin Morrison is not viewed as a nickel at One Buc Palace. The heirarchy likely wants Parrish moved to outside cornerback, and Zyon McCollum appears to earn too much money to be moved to nickel.
So it it time now for the third Bucs rookie nickel in three years?
Joe’s got an eye on Keionte Scott in Round 4 of today’s draft. He’s out of the University of Miami, where the Bucs clearly spent a lot of time scouting.
Scott is 5-11, 193 pounds and is known for playing well in tight spaces and he’s a bit of a ballhawk and a blitzer with two pick-6’s last season, in addition to 13 tackles for loss and 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Joe has seen some suggest Scott is a second-round talent, as well as him being labeled a fourth-round guy.
After six years of college football (junior college, Auburn and Miami), Scott should be rather NFL-ready.
April 25th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Yes or Will Lee III…. or we go Trigg then Devon Marshall.
April 25th, 2026 at 11:15 am
RB Mike Washington
April 25th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Not sure why either
April 25th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Yes, yes, yes, yes!!
He’s got a few cut ups of that same weakside Blitz we used to send Whitehead on and where Parrish got home this past season. Scott is a ball of fire, a more than willing tackle and atheltically can stick with any WR. Love watching him blow up(and pick that one off) screen plays.
April 25th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Tons of good players left!
April 25th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Bucs remaining needs … an ILB that is not a liability in coverage
A CB that can cover WRs and push bank accounted Zyon and soft Benjamin
A backup interior Oline
Another TE
Defensive depth
Maybe a late round QB
April 25th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Use one of the fifth’s to move up and this man. Can’t count on Morrison or zion
April 25th, 2026 at 11:30 am
2 pick 6s , 13 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks yes get this dude. That’s one hell of a season for a CB.
April 25th, 2026 at 11:33 am
My guess is a DB, line depth, and good special team players
April 25th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Because Todd is a dum dum
April 25th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Why didn’t he go earlier? It would allow Parrish to move outside?
April 25th, 2026 at 11:43 am
JJ Roberts is our backup Nickel
And we will be drafting a CB, signing a few UDFA
The reason why Todd moved Tykee Smith from nickel
He wanted him on the field more
He probably want Jacob Parrish on the field more also
April 25th, 2026 at 11:51 am
I think JL loses out on key players he targets in higher rds and then gets rattled and does crazy s@@@, and Im sure it doesn’t help when the HC keeps handpicking busts or avg talent as his way to handle solution. If Morrison busts as well, and we get torched in middle of field coverage while Trotter is on field we will have a worse problem than we already have.
These CBs better step up now that we have a pass rush. Bcuz our defense is still too weak at ILB and CB. So let’s see what we do today here we go
April 25th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Since Trigg is being frowned upon, im going back to my original first mock that had Trotter….and suggesting TE Jack Endries…he’s a workhorse and he’s big…maybe our last 5th?
April 25th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
I will say if Jermod Mccoy is still there, get him. Let him heal, and if he needs another surgery, we can wait….the talent is there! especially 4th or 5th.
April 25th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Jermod Mccoy needs a new bone plug….ug. nevermind
April 25th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
He would be great on special teams as well.
He’s a dawg. He’s a psycho. He plays on fire.
I would love to add him to our special teams unit.
Lorenzo Styles is still available.
He ran a 4.28 40. Thats insane.
He could also be a good late round draft pick.
We need 2 corners to push Tippy Toes Morrison.
April 25th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
I surely hope Bowles and Licht don’t think they can start Morrison or McColumn anywhere except the bench. However they thought Britt and Dennis could play ILB. Anyway that means Parrish must take one position leaving them needing another corner and a nickel corner. This defense needs so much help. It is going to take a few years unfortunately .
April 25th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Great, another CB who can be coached up to present us with weekly reruns of Lost in Space. Bravo.
Time for a drink.
April 25th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Keith Abney II — make it happen
April 25th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
This CB Scott from Miami is still there after the 9th taken in 4th, 7 more to go
April 25th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Agree Joe. Our best nickel is now a safety. Still not happy so we move our nickel to the outside? That makes this a hole for the defense going on three seasons now. I get it this time though. Dean is gone and we need to replace him. Very little quality depth outside. I hope we can find someone who can play.
Go Bucs!
April 25th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Holy crap – Joe called it!
April 25th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Nailed it !
April 25th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Great call, guys!
April 25th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Joe nailed that one
As far as Todd’s pattern with nickel backs
Its gotta be money. Its part time.You pay less and if the guy pans out you can promote him.