Inside The 2026 Bucs Cornerback Room

In football, a slant route is built on timing and precision. The receiver does not waste motion – he breaks sharply across the field into open space before the defense can react. It is simple in design, but separation is created through execution.

That same approach defines my weekly Saturday Bucs column, Slivon’s Slant.

Each week from now until training camp, I will take a look inside a different Bucs position group. The goal is to cut through the surface to find the clearest path in evaluating this roster as it takes shape. Then, once the season begins, the column will continue offering different angles for breaking down and discussing the team. So far, I have offered in-depth profiles of the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, outside linebacker, and inside linebacker positions.

With those positions covered, it is time to examine the cornerbacks.

Note: This week’s column will also feature Keionte Scott, who is projected to be the team’s nickelback.

Inside The Bucs Cornerback Room

Prove-It Performer: Zyon McCollum

Zyon McCollum more than passes the eye test. Few cornerbacks in NFL history have matched his athletic profile, and it is not hard to see that on display when he is on the field. Yet those rare physical gifts have not translated into premier cornerback play. The Bucs doubled down on McCollum before last season, signing the 2022 fifth-round pick to a three-year, $48 million extension that signified he would be the team’s No. 1 cornerback going forward over Jamel Dean. After seeing Dean have a career year and sign with the Steelers, McCollum has to prove the team made the right decision by putting it all together in 2026.

McCollum’s rise from backup to full-time starter reflects both his development and the trust he earned from Todd Bowles. Even so, one has to wonder how much trust Bowles still has in him. A promising first-half of the 2024 season showcased his ability to lock up top receivers, but he was called out that offseason for being “bored” at times. This offseason, Bowles added to that statement, sharing that McCollum has to work on his eyes and not get off target. Bowles has a point. McCollum has all the physical tools, but his eyes and discipline too often keep him from capitalizing on them.

McCollum has made significant strides as a tackler, but he must take his game to another level from a coverage and playmaking perspective. Through 60 games (42 starts), he has only three interceptions. After recording 17 passes defensed in 2024, that number fell to six passes defensed in 2025. The promise he showed did not carry over, as he was inconsistent in coverage before ending the year on injured reserve. His first test comes immediately against Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals in Week 1. At 27 years old, it is time for No. 27 to break out, or the team will seriously have to consider replacing McCollum and look elsewhere for a top cornerback.

Playmaking Potential: Benjamin Morrison

The Bucs front office’s decision to lock up Zyon McCollum over Jamel Dean was not just about McCollum’s promise. Drafting Benjamin Morrison in the second-round last year also played a key part, as they believed he could eventually become the cornerstone of the position. Viewed by Tampa Bay as a first-round talent, Morrison slipped due to a hip injury that limited him during his last college season. As a rookie in 2025, Morrison played sporadically, appearing in 10 games while missing the other seven games due to recurring hamstring injuries. That included missing time before the season, which did not help him hit the ground running in a complex defense when Todd Bowles put him out there.

What was appealing about selecting Morrison coming out of college was his knack for being a ball hawking cornerback. Famously going toe-to-toe with Ohio State (and now Cardinals) wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. gained him notoriety, but so did recording six interceptions during his freshman year in 2022. His sophomore year was an impressive follow-up, as he had three interceptions.

Seeing him slip in the draft, it made sense for Tampa Bay to target him, but now the team will be relying on him to go from being an unknown commodity to a reliable contributor. The team has insulated itself by giving Jacob Parrish every opportunity to compete for the outside job, but the secondary’s ceiling still depends on Morrison becoming the player Tampa Bay drafted him to be.

There is still plenty of time for Morrison to develop into a high-quality starter. The problem is Tampa Bay needs him to look like one much sooner than later. Should he fail to rise to the occasion, it puts that much more pressure on the other defensive backs and the scheme itself. It could also make the future outlook of the cornerback room bleaker, while narrowing the amount of depth and upside the group has. The Bucs have high expectations in bouncing back this season; Morrison is an X-factor for a defense that must improve.

Boundary Bet: Jacob Parrish

Jacob Parrish is the latest Bucs defensive back to have spent his rookie season in the NFL holding down the nickelback spot. After being solid in that role, Parrish is making the move from nickelback to outside cornerback in 2026. It is an interesting transition in more ways than one, as Todd Bowles has typically coveted more prototypical players than Parrish, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds. His physical traits are misleading, as he plays with a level of tenacity that makes him someone to watch this season.

How things transpired in 2025 on the defensive side of the ball caused some to overlook the success that Parrish had. One could argue that the third-round pick was one of the unit’s best players, as he played in all 17 games and recorded 76 tackles, seven passes defensed, two interceptions, and two sacks. Right away, his speed to the football was evident, whether by quickly diagnosing and breaking up passes or being sent as an extra blitzer. While no one will confuse him for looking the part of a thumper, he plays like it against bigger matchups and finds ways to win.

Appearing on the Pewter Report Podcast this offseason, Parrish made it clear he left plays on the field as a tackler and jumping routes. He is now focused on improving while adjusting to a completely different position. With training camp looming in a few weeks, the battle for the second cornerback spot is the most interesting one to watch in Tampa Bay. The team invested heavily at cornerback last year by first selecting Morrison. Parrish has more than just his name in the hat — he has a true chance at becoming a full-time player on the boundary.

Hybrid Hustler: Keionte Scott

The Bucs double-dipped in drafting Miami Hurricanes in late April. The addition of outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. was considered to be the steal of the 2026 NFL Draft, but Tampa Bay selecting defensive back Keionte Scott in the fourth round was another shrewd move. Expected to go one to two rounds earlier, Scott fell down the board as teams debated his fit. Todd Bowles holds no such reservations, as he will be the latest player to slide right into the nickelback position. While it has been a turnstile with Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, and Jacob Parrish holding the spot down, Scott can be the long-term answer in the slot.

Scott played a key role in Miami’s defense last season doing a little of everything. In 14 games, he recorded 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions (both pick-sixes), and two forced fumbles. His tackle for loss and sack totals really stands out for his position and speak to his ability around the line of scrimmage.

He plays like an extra linebacker with the recovery speed of a true corner. That has real immediate value lining up against tight ends, in the box, on the edge, or in the slot. Add in the fact he served as Bain’s tag-team partner, and it would not be surprising to see them pick up right where they left off. Scott’s skillset as a hybrid defender opens the door for the defense to try exotic looks and move pieces around. He will most certainly play a key part from the start.

Camp Casualty Candidate: Josh Hayes

There is a significant drop-off after the Bucs’ top three cornerbacks on the depth chart. That is why the topic of adding another veteran corner has been repeatedly brought up, as it would only take one injury for Josh Hayes to start working into the mix. A sixth-round pick in 2023, Hayes has seen his share of defensive snaps as an outside cornerback in Tampa Bay. Much of that came during the 2024 season, including in the team’s 23-20 playoff loss to the Commanders when he gave up a 5-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin in the fourth quarter.

Simply put, Hayes struggles in coverage, which limits his ability to see the field. In 2025, he made three starts and allowed 22 of 33 passes (66.7%) thrown his way to be completed for 216 yards and four touchdowns. While no one wants him to log significant playing time defensively, he shines as a gunner on special teams. That was obvious from his rookie season, when he led the NFL with 14 special teams tackles. The problem is that he is ideally a spot too high on the depth chart. With the team bringing in two veterans with a similar background, it could make Hayes a roster casualty this summer.

Special Teams Specialists: Chase Lucas and Kemon Hall

With the Bucs desperately needing cornerback depth, they did make two moves to add veteran help this offseason. The additions of Chase Lucas and Kemon Hall did not garner headlines, and neither signing should be viewed as a solution to Tampa Bay’s cornerback issues. Both profile more as special teams contributors than defensive answers.

Starting with Lucas, he comes to Tampa Bay after spending last season with the 49ers. He has yet to start an NFL game, with much of his experience coming on special teams. He did not appear in a regular-season game in 2024, but he carved out a role on special teams with Detroit in 2023 and again with San Francisco last season. In 33 career games, he has recorded 15 tackles. The concern is the same as it is with Josh Hayes: Lucas has allowed 12 of 17 passes (70.6%) thrown his way to be completed in limited defensive action.

Hall is very much the same player, appearing in 28 games and recording 24 tackles in his career. He has served as a special teamer for the Chargers, Cowboys, and Titans dating back to 2021. Do not expect him to make much of a dent defensively, as he allowed 11 of 11 passes thrown his way to be completed for 136 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. While the front office talked up adding Lucas and Hall into the mix, the only way they will positively impact games is on special teams. Anything else, and it is a liability.

Closing Slant

No position group on the Bucs roster carries a wider range of outcomes.

The cornerback room is the most unproven of any position I have profiled so far. The upside is undeniable, but expecting everything to click would be optimistic. Zyon McCollum has had the platform and received the contract to blossom as a starter, but he has been plagued by inconsistency. It is now-or-never for him to take the next step, and that extends to Benjamin Morrison.

Drafted just last year, Morrison has a prime opportunity to be a long-term answer at cornerback. Missing time and not flashing promise would make it hard for Tampa Bay to continue giving him starts, especially when the defense must improve. That has opened the door for Jacob Parrish, as he has a real chance at becoming the team’s best player on the outside should he make a seamless transition.

While not a true cornerback, Keionte Scott will handle the slot responsibilities. There is no NFL film of him to go off, but the tape he put together at Miami in 2025 was impressive. Should he showcase the same ability to affect games, he really opens up the secondary’s ability to be versatile. The depth chart is concerning after the top three outside corners, as Josh Hayes, Chase Lucas, and Kemon Hall offer little to get excited about from a defensive perspective. Each will be competing to play on Danny Smith’s special teams unit, but one would like to see the team add someone with more polish covering wide receivers than running down punt returners.

The ceiling for the room is being a young, athletic group that finally creates turnovers and gives Todd Bowles the flexibility he covets. The floor is another season of frustrating struggles against the pass that leaves the team searching for answers at cornerback once again. Few position groups will have a bigger impact on the Bucs’ success in 2026.