Much of attention on the Bucs during this offseason has been about inside linebacker, outside linebacker and defensive tackle. That’s understandable considering the production they’ve had at the position, plus what they have on the table with the possibility of improving the team this year.

What has slightly flown under the radar on the defensive side is how formidable or not Tampa Bay will be at the cornerback position. The Bucs aren’t looking for a new starter, but they are a bit in flux with the starters they have.

Jamel Dean left the Bucs for Steelers, that was a given he was leaving Tampa Bay after he had to take a pay cut. Veteran Zyon McCollum was given a contract extension last offseason and had a bad year, so he’s looking to bounce back as the definitive number one corner. He’s been able to step up before and it wouldn’t be shocking if he did it again.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Eagles WR AJ Brown – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Can Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison Step Up This Season?

The big question becomes Benjamin Morrison going into year two. It felt like he Morrison’s rookie season never really got off the ground. He missed a lot of time OTAs and and a lot of training camp. He didn’t even play in the preseason, making his debut in Week 2 of the regular season. Morrison missed seven games total, and the lack of time and reps saw him struggle as a rookie. Tampa Bay is relying on Morrison to get his bearings about him and play at a higher level on the outside.

Not everyone is believing in Morrison, though. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is in that category. Barnwell had a recent article where he outlined a big remaining issue for 20 playoff contending teams going into this year. To clarify, the criteria for being a “contender” is any team that has made the postseason within the last two years, so although the Bucs missed the postseason in 2025, they qualify for making it the season before.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison and Bills WR Tyrell Shavers – Photo by: USA Today

Here’s an excerpt on what was said about Tampa Bay and Morrison:

“Dean’s departure, though, will elevate 2025 second-round pick Benjamin Morrison to the starting lineup. And while plenty of cornerbacks have rough rookie seasons before maturing in subsequent years, Morrison had a very rough debut campaign. He allowed a 112.2 passer rating in coverage on 359 snaps, including a 72-yard touchdown to Patriots wideout Kyle Williams. Morrison also had two pass interference penalties and a holding call declined. The Panthers repeatedly went after the rookie in their home-and-home with Tampa Bay down the stretch, and I’d expect more of that if Morrison’s in the starting lineup.

“The solution: Add a cornerback in the draft. The Bucs are going to give Morrison a shot at a full-time job in 2026, which makes sense given that they invested a second-round pick to add the Notre Dame product last season. Given how he played as a rookie, I’d hope that the Bucs add at least one cornerback to compete with Morrison.”

Should Bucs Draft A CB?

Its an intriguing proposition brought up in this article about the Bucs potentially taking a corner in the 2026 NFL Draft. But given the other needs on this team, it doesn’t appear that a corner would be picked until day three in rounds four through seven. There are still a couple of inside linebackers that the Bucs need to add, and bringing in another edge rusher is also important.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: IMAGN Images

A route that Tampa Bay could go with is signing a veteran corner. They could use a regular cornerback that plays on the outside who can come in ready to play if necessary. The first wave of free agency has gone by, but there’s still a long way to go. Another player could be added soon or it could go all the way into the summer depending on other players that become available.

There’s only so much cash that the Bucs have remaining. The front office will have to be smart about how they use it, but corner is defintiely a position where they have to add more depth before the season begins.

To see the full article on ESPN, click this link.

And check out the latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast where a conversation about the Bucs’ cornerback room was mentioned on the show. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel!