The Bucs have made most of their free agent moves this offseason, bringing in veteran help while re-signing key free agents. In doing so, just about all the available funds have been allocated for next season.
While Tampa Bay has checked some boxes, not every problem has been solved. Given the affordable talent still available, general manager Jason Licht has a chance to make another move to help the defense.
But at which position(s)?
Bucs Still Have To Add Another Cornerback To The Mix
No matter how confident the Bucs are that Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison will hold down the starting cornerback spots in 2026, it is a position where a veteran addition would be most felt. Outside of McCollum and Morrison, the room lacks a reliable third option.
Bucs CBs Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
McCollum regressed from his 2024 level that earned him a large contract, while Morrison’s up-and-down play during his rookie year casts doubt he will suddenly become an above average player in year two.
Who then could be brought in as insurance?
Pewter Report linked the team to bringing in another cornerback, with Rasul Douglas and Martin Emerson the two biggest names remaining on the market.
Bucs will turn their attention to CB in FA as they need a pair to replace Jamel Dean & Kindle Vildor on the roster. Two names to keep an eye on are Cleveland's Martin Emerson (25) & Miami's Rasul Douglas (30).
Both have good size at 6-2. Martin missed 2025 w/Achilles injury. pic.twitter.com/o1eZs1OdDl
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 13, 2026
Douglas is one player Pro Football Focus recently shared could be a steal at this point in free agency. After settling for a one-year, $3 million deal with the Dolphins last offseason, he rebounded and has real ballhawk value. PFF’s Bradley Locker said this about Douglas:
Douglas finds himself in a similar position to 2025, still without a new logo to don despite the arrival of late March. Yet it’s not because of Douglas’ performance last season, which was outstanding. Among 69 qualified cornerbacks in 2025, Douglas placed 21st in PFF coverage grade (72.6), 10th in passer rating allowed (72.6) and tied for 17th in reception rate given up (54.7%).
The yearly volatility of cornerbacks age 30 or older is high, which likely explains the lack of interest in Douglas so far. On top of that, he himself has been highly inconsistent, finishing with a 51.6 coverage grade in 2024. Nonetheless, if Douglas maintains his tremendous coverage acumen in 2026, he’ll be another bargain — and one of the league’s best signings regardless of position.
Dolphins CB Rasul Douglas – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Kirby Lee
As a strong zone-coverage cornerback who is 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, he would be a schematic fit in head coach Todd Bowles’ defense. Douglas’ struggles with the Bills in 2024 forced him to sign a prove-it contract in Miami, which afforded him the opportunity to prove he can still hold down a starting spot.
Playing in 15 games (13 starts) in 2025, he had 62 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and two interceptions. After recording 14 interceptions with three pick-sixes, combined with strong tackle and passes defensed totals across 2021-2023, Douglas is more than just a depth piece. In Tampa Bay, he would come in and seriously push Morrison for a starting job while giving Bowles a veteran he could turn to with Jamel Dean and Kindle Vildor both leaving in free agency.
Emerson is at a different stage of his career at 25 years old.
Browns CB Martin Emerson – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Scott Galvin
The Florida native looked to be the Browns’ long-term answer at cornerback next to Denzel Ward after being drafted in the third round back in 2022. He started his career with a solid rookie year that saw him earn six starts and record 63 tackles with 15 passes defensed. Emerson, who also is a taller corner at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, took the next step forward in 2023 with 59 tackles and 14 passes defensed along with four interceptions.
Since that point, his promising NFL career took an unfortunate turn.
Emerson struggled mightily in 2024 despite having a career-high 80 tackles, and he did not play at all in 2025 after suffering a torn Achilles during training camp. He is more of a risk than Douglas when it comes to bringing in a player with more recent production, but the reward would be potentially finding an answer this season who could be re-signed on a multi-year deal if he can rebound and look more like the cornerback he was entering the league.
Even at 30 years old, Douglas is the safer option given Emerson’s decline of play and coming off a major injury, but each player would add a level of upside to the Bucs cornerback room in 2026.
Would Bucs Entertain Adding Any More Veteran Defensive Help?
After signing defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, inside linebacker Alex Anzalone, and outside linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad, the Bucs can say they went out and shored up each position. One of those areas could be fortified even further by another signing.
Bucs GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Combing over the available free agents at this point, plenty of recognizable names remain.
Defensive tackle: DJ Reader, Calais Campbell, DaQuan Jones, Shelby Harris
Inside linebacker: Lavonte David, Bobby Okereke, Shaq Thompson
Outside linebacker: Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Von Miller
Of those positions, adding another outside pass rusher is the least likely scenario.
Between Yaya Diaby and Muhammad, Tampa Bay will be counting on them to provide a lot of juice, with the expectation of a premium 2026 draft pick, David Walker, and Anthony Nelson rounding out the room.
Inside linebacker is an area where a veteran could be added, especially considering the team rostered Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr. at the end of the season. Anzalone and SirVocea Dennis are the two current starters, but bringing back David would alter the outlook of the position, as would selecting a linebacker with the intention of him coming in to compete and unseat Dennis.
Bringing in another defensive tackle is the most logical move, even after adding Robinson.
Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey each have question marks given Vea’s age and Kancey’s injury history. Elijah Roberts is expected to have more playing time as the third defensive tackle along with Robinson, but a solid fifth defensive tackle could really make the trenches a strength.
Bills DT DaQuan Jones and Patriots QB Drake Maye – Photo by: IMAGN Images
Among the names available, DaQuan Jones would be the best fit, given his connection to defensive line coach Marcus West. West coached Jones the past four years with the Bills and the 34-year-old is a strong run defender who would also be a fit from a locker room standpoint.
While the Bucs have done most of their offseason shopping, they have enough funds to scrounge together to head back for a second trip to the store. If so, there are enough players looking for homes to make a significant signing that could pay dividends in 2026.
Do not be surprised if that move comes at cornerback, but one more addition to the front seven would be welcomed, too.
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Adam Slivon has covered the Bucs for four seasons with PewterReport.com as a Bucs Beat Writer, Social Media Manager, and Podcaster. Adam started as an intern during his time at the University of Tampa, where he graduated with a degree in Sport Management in May 2023.
In addition to his regular written content, he appears every Thursday on the Pewter Report Podcast, has a weekly YouTube Top 10 Takeaways video series, and leads the managing of the site's social media platforms.
As a Wisconsin native, he spent his childhood growing up on a farm and enjoys Culver's, kringle, and a quality game of cornhole. You can find him most often on X @AdamLivsOn.
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