“All-Pro” Praise For Zyon McCollum
October 9th, 2026
Buccaneers No. 1 cornerback Zyon McCollum is an inconsistent player.
Tampa Bay’s 2002 fifth-round draft pick is truly an elite athlete but too often doesn’t match that with A-list play and awareness.
McCollum has been up and down this season, as expected. He’s flashed superior play and also has gotten bailed out by underthrows.
Still, McCollum has been better than last year, and last night in Dallas he was great. This morning, head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles took that assessment a step further.
“Zyon is playing like an All-Pro corner right now,” Bowles said. “And it’s hard [for an offense] to go at [McCollum and Jacob Parrish] and play outside consistently.”
Bowles added that McCollum and Parrish “have been great all year,” including winning tests against elite receiver duos.
McCollum has a much better “mental state” this season, per Bowles, and he’s added more film watching and better understanding of the game. Bowles said McCollum, previously, was trying to win more often physically and now he’s playing a lot “looser,” and a lot “easier” and “smarter.”
Joe is being cautious with the McCollum hype. But he’s still just 27 years old with plenty of upside.
The Bucs likely will need him if they want to shut down the big No. 1 receivers across the NFC South.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Happy for Zyon and Todd.
I’ve been as harsh a critic as anyone one here.
Last night, that looked like a hardworking, imperfect but energized group of guys who were having fun.
I hope they can keep this momentum.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Watching Parrish last night covering those tall Dallas receivers & tight ends, I can see definite advantages to having 6’2″ CBs as opposed to 5’10” receivers. Add the extra couple inches of vertical jump that Zyon can generate, and that 6″ difference can be quite useful.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
Seems the new cornerbacks coach has these guys playing better.
October 9th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Man I can’t believe he’s been with the Bucs since 2002! Haha a little mistake in the article Joe.
He had a really good night and so did Parish. Parish had a bad drive and one other play that didn’t look good, but man, he really is growing fast. If he continues and Zyon keeps from mental issues like last year, they could really start running man coverage dang near all the time. They’re looking great! Hats off to them both
October 9th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
I have been reading reviews all day about this big win. I am so psyched for Larry Parrish. I knew he was a keeper when he was drafted. Plus the young QB. There is no reason why Bucs can’t beat Pittsburgh.. The Steelers aren’t exactly barn burners. Go Bucs!!
October 9th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Hey I have been a huge critic prior to the season. I thought he would really bring the team down. I actually stated and thought the team would start slow because of the secondary and all the new pieces. However., I as we all see him actually play like a real starting cb. Last night he was great as was Parrish. Parrish was no surprise other than he is even better than we thought.
Hats off to McColumn. Let’s hope he keeps trending up with the rest of the defense
October 9th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Zion was on Lamb like white on rice……or like Reggie White on Jerry Rice…..
October 9th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Parrish has been a baller and is very sticky in coverage
October 9th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Zion’s coverage speaks for itself, really glad he’s coming along and playing elite ball
Parrish has been a dawg since day 1
Once Bo-Mo settles in our secondary will be nasty
October 9th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
B-Mo* autocorrect 🤦
October 9th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
2-8 in our last 10 games. That’s a .200 winning percentage for the math impaired.
And we’re 0-3 at home this season. Unacceptable.
Pittsburgh is team you never know what you’re going to get. Sounds like the Bucs.
But that defense in Dallas is by far the worst we’ll play this year.
October 9th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
He’s come along way. I recall watching him as a rookie. He played in spots and was awful. At that time if the game was one hand touch he wouldn’t even be able to get one hand on a receiver.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
His guaranteed loot might be ending…let’s see what over the cap . com says.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
All the CBs have been playing well.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
We thought that the cornerbacks was the weakest position on the team when in reality it’s one of the strongest. Well done Jacob and Zyan!
October 9th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
Just watched Adam Schein completely destroy the Cowboys. If we don’t win another game, it was great watching the Cowboys get humiliated at home. Now they’re getting bashed and bashed by the national media. And the best was seeing Jerry’s head explode at the end of the game after Todd Bowles gifted them OT at the very least. And then he stormed out of his box.
October 9th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
They’re all inconsistent at this point. At least Z was a fifth round pick.
October 9th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Wasn’t McCollum bored last year? Don’t need to see more of this guy. With his stock rising, move him for a a 2027 draft pick.