The Bucs may have gotten a steal when drafting Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. By many accounts, Benjamin Morrison is considered to be a top cornerback in this draft class, only slightly behind Travis Hunter, who went second overall.

So why did Morrison slide all the way towards the end of the second round? He played just six games last season because of a hip condition that required surgery. An injury like that sounds a bit dicey when it comes to a team taking a chance on him that early, but as it turns out, Morrison knew for a long time that he would need to have this corrective surgery done.

Benjamin Morrison Gets Through Injury Woes

As he told the Tampa Bay media after the Bucs drafted him, Benjamin Morrison was born with a bilateral hip issue. There needed to be corrective surgery to each hip, but he had to wait for his growth plates to continue to develop and grow. He also didn’t want to miss too much time playing football, so one hip was done in high school and the other was performed last season.

“It was bilateral,” Morrison said. “I knew I had to get both of them done eventually. We held off until the right time, waited for my growth plates to close but it was bilateral and we’ve got them both fixed.”

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morris – Photo by: USA Today

He had no problem putting it all on the line with a performance for teams just days ago before the draft.

“I just had a showcase about four days ago,” Morrison said. “I showcased that I’m healthy and ready to go. Obviously, there’s some protocol we still have to follow – get with the Buccaneers medical team for them to do their examinations on me. I feel great, better than ever – I showcased that four days ago. I’m just so excited to get to work.”

And to ease any other concerns that other fans may have, Morrison isn’t the first player to have this kind of injury be corrected. There have been two others that ended up being Hall of Famers.

“We got it taken care of,” Morrison said. “At the same time, I think of guys like Ed Reed, Brett Favre – some of the best to ever play the game – had this injury and no one was talking about that when they get their gold jacket. So at the end of the day I think I’ll be able to have a good, long career with this injury. I’m excited. This is the plan that God has for me.”

Bucs Have A Shutdown, Ballhawking Corner

When he was available Benjamin Morrison was a lock down corner for the fighting Irish. He recorded nine interceptions in three seasons, while also having 18 pass breakups and a pick-six. He prides himself on taking on the best receiver on the other team, and that was highlighted by a 2023 matchup against Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr.

While 2024 was cut short for Morrison, the Bucs just got a future starter for the 2025 season.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: USA Today

“I think [I’m] a versatile corner,” Morrison said. “I think I can play inside and outside. I think for me, a lot of it is intellectual, from the neck up. I also rely on my athletic abilities and understanding in the league, things happen faster [and] guys are bigger, but being able to adapt to that. I think at every level, I’ve been able to do a good job of adapting to the play style – not just adapting but also acclimating and taking it to the next level.

“For me, I feel as if the ball is mine as much as it is the receiver’s. I think when the ball is in the air, it’s mine. I think that’s the way I’ve always [seen] it. This past year was tough – I wasn’t targeted as much so I couldn’t showcase that. At the end of the day, I think it’s in my DNA. It’s what I do.”