Todd Bowles Explains A Difference Between Jacob Parrish and Zyon McColllum
November 10th, 2026
Todd Bowles knows a thing or two about developing defensive backs not taken in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
The Bowles list of successes is long.
Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum are two of those players, the current Bucs starting cornerbacks.
Speaking on WFLA-TV, Bowles noted how the NFL game slowed down for Parrish when he arrived in Tampa after being a 2025 third-round picks. From Day 1, per Bowles, Parrish was calm, cool and focused — at nickel corner or playing outside.
For McCollum, the story was very different.
“I think it just started slowing down for Zyon a lot this year from a concentration standpoint,” Bowles said of his 2022 fifth-round pick. “I thought last year his eyes were all over the place and he was seeing things that he shouldn’t have been seeing. This year, he just concentrated starting in the spring and just focused on the things he needed to do and not try to make every play.”
Candid stuff from Bowles.
What’s certain is that Parrish and McCollum may be the best corner tandem in the NFL through the first half of this season.
November 10th, 2026 at 8:54 am
Credit where it’s due. Here we were all worried about CB unit before season started.
November 10th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Yes they very well could be. I’m a big fan of these guys for sure. Parrish is also a very sure tackler which is higher on my list of importance for a corner than it is for most people.
I don’t know if we will make a trade or not this year, and the coach says we are listening, but I guarantee people are calling about the CBs. Jason, do not trade these guys.
November 10th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Bowles should be a CB coach. Not a HC for which he isn’t lose to qualified to be.
One simple change would bring about a tremendous shift in the direction of the franchise.
If they ever cut ties with the failure in chief, the team will get better instantly.
This storm cloud has been raining down on us since 2022 when he was installed.
If on the open market he would never get a call to be HC anywhere except Tampa.
November 10th, 2026 at 9:02 am
McCollum definitely was getting cooked early on but he turned it around. But his tendency to get bored or whatever is not very flattering. Parrish, Tykee, those two ball out. AWJR took the spot on the injured list that Jamel Dean held down.
I’ll give Todd credit though, the list of players in the defensive backfield that he’s developed since coming to Tampa is pretty long.
November 10th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Funny I was one of McColumn ‘s biggest critics before the season. I often stated the secondary was going to really hurt the team. I own up, and give McColumn his due. Yes he and Parrish are really good. It is so funny we all thought the Receivers and O Line were the strength of the team and the Secondary the weakest. Yes very odd indeed it is the exact opposite. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Yes some were suspect of Robinson. So today all we know is the receivers, Baker and Offense is pretty poor, running backs the exception. Maybe it is Robinson. I do think he should be changed. He is the one new piece in this group . One thing we know Baker will yet have another Offensive cordinator next year. He may set a record.
November 10th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Parrish is a great tackler. He stnads out on the fiield. Although Trotter is right there as well. Trotter is the next leader of this defense.
November 10th, 2026 at 9:09 am
“What’s certain is that Parrish and McCollum may be the best corner tandem in the NFL through the first half of this season.”
One could argue we have 2 All-Pro caliber CBs right now.
As a tandem they’re 100% top 3 duos in the league and they aren’t 2/3.
A combined:
-6 picks to 3 TDs allowed
-22 PBUs
-66 tackles, 6 TFLs
-58.7 allowed completion %
I’d argue some teams have that 1 CB, but in our case we have 2.