Pewter Report analyzes each position’s strengths and weaknesses in Tampa Bay, as the Bucs attempt to three-peat as NFC South champions.

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Outside Linebackers
Inside Linebackers

Next up are Tampa Bay’s cornerbacks, a unit that features two of the best and highest-paid starting cornerbacks in the NFL. Carlton Davis III is the league’s ninth-highest-paid cornerback, making an average of $14.8 million per season. Jamel Dean, who just re-signed this offseason for four more years, ranks 12th at an average of $13 million per season.

But behind those starters is a lot of unproven talent. Veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting, a part-time starter during his Bucs career, wasn’t re-signed and wound up in Tennessee. Zyon McCollum, who struggled during his rookie season, is next on the depth chart as he enters his second year in Tampa Bay, followed by versatile reserve Dee Delaney and a few unheralded rookies and second-year players.

The Strength of Bucs CBs: Size And Experience In Coverage

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and Saints WR Chris Olave – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles loves big, long, physical cornerbacks with the ability to play press-man (although he doesn’t call that coverage as much as he should). He’s got two of the league’s best in Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean – both of whom are 6-foot-1 and listed at 206 pounds.

While Davis is considered to be one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league, he’s had modest grades from Pro Football Focus. His highest-graded season came in 2019 with a 70.4 mark. Dean has fared better in the PFF rankings, earning no less than a 74.5 grade and finishing last season with a career-high 77.9 grade.

Zyon McCollum, who enters his second season at 6-foot-2, 199 pounds, is the fastest and most athletic cornerback ever in pre-draft testing, according to Kent Lee Platte’s RAS (Relative Athletic Score). While McCollum is just getting his feet wet in the NFL, Davis has logged 63 career starts, while Dean has 38 starts and has played in 57 games. Dean has emerged as a starter over the last two seasons with 26 combined starts since the 2021 season.

McCollum has made strides this offseason and should see more action in 2023, especially with the fact that Davis and Dean have a history of getting dinged up and missing a few starts due to injury. But McCollum won’t necessarily be the third cornerback on the field in nickel defense.

Bucs CB Dee Delaney – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That will likely fall to veteran Dee Delaney or one of two rookies in Josh Hayes and Chris Izien. Antoine Winfield Jr. played nickelback last year but didn’t make much of an impact, so Bowles is moving him back to free safety this season.

Behind McCollum on the outside, the Bucs have some promising young talent with size. Rookie Keenan Isaac, who is 6-foot-2, 186 pounds, stood out in the OTAs and mini-camp and is currently No. 4 on the depth chart. He’s a sleeper to watch in training camp. Don Gardner (6-1, 180), Anthony Chesley (6-0, 190), Duron Lowe (5-10, 190) and Derrick Pitts (6-0, 177) round out the depth chart.

Best-Case Scenario at CB

Davis and Dean manage to stay healthy all season and one – or both – becomes a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback by coming up with five or more interceptions. McCollum makes a big jump in his second year and develops into a future starter down the road, while either Delaney, Hayes or Izien becomes a competent nickel corner while replacing Winfield in the slot.

The Weaknesses of Bucs CBs: Lack of Interceptions

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean are both really good in coverage, they’re not great when it comes to picking off passes. Too often, Tampa Bay’s terrific tandem settles for pass breakups rather than going for interceptions, and each has dropped far too many catchable balls.

Davis has just seven interceptions over his five seasons in the league, while Dean has seven over his four-year career. In 2020, Davis had a breakthrough season with four interceptions, but managed just one pick in each of the last two years. Dean has never had more than two interceptions in any given year.

The Bucs went from 17 interceptions in 2021 when the team posted a franchise-best 13-4 record to just 10 picks last year. Tampa Bay started off the season strong with six picks in the first four weeks, but wound up with only four more INTs over the last 13 games. Davis didn’t get his first and only interception until Week 14 when he caught a deflected pass from Joe Burrow. Dean had a pair of picks in New Orleans in Week 2, but was shut out over the last 15 games.

Behind Tampa Bay’s starters, Dee Delaney is the only other cornerback who has an interception on his resume with one during the 2021 season. Zyon McCollum logged 13 interceptions in his five seasons at Sam Houston, notching three picks in four of those years, so he has the potential to become a ballhawk in the NFL.

Worst-Case Scenario at CB

If Davis or Dean get hurt and miss extended playing time, a position of strength quickly becomes a position of weakness due to the lack of proven experience on the depth chart behind them. Even if that dynamic duo stays healthy, if they don’t hold on to the ball and create turnovers in 2023, Davis and Dean won’t ascend to a Pro Bowl level.