The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Right now, we’re:

53 days away from Bucs regular season kickoff
23 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff
7 days away from Bucs training camp

In the lead-up to training camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams will be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who will be crucial to the Bucs’ success in 2026.

Today, the series continues with cornerback Benjamin Morrison.

26 For ‘26: Benjamin Morrison Bucs Storylines In 2026

Can Benjamin Morrison Have A Healthy Year 2?

Like it is for Calijah Kancey and some others on the Bucs roster, health is the main talking point surrounding Morrison. The second-year cornerback had his share of injury problems — primarily with his hip — while at Notre Dame and heading into the draft. That’s what cost him a chance to be a first-round pick last year. Still, Tampa Bay felt strongly enough about him and was comfortable enough with his health status to make him a second-rounder.

Thus far, those injury concerns have persisted in the form of nagging hamstring issues. It all began in the preseason when he suffered a hamstring injury that cost him the entire exhibition slate as well as the regular season opener. He went on to miss more time at two different points during the season with that hamstring problem, and he appeared in just 10 of the Bucs’ 17 games overall.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

So it’s safe to say Morrison’s rookie campaign didn’t go as planned. Missing critical preseason action didn’t help when it came time for him to step onto the field in the regular season. And that would be fine under other circumstances, as you could assume he can just put that behind him and give it another go in 2026.

But with his injury history at Notre Dame and the fact that he already missed more time during the summer — some of OTAs and then the two days of mini-camp — with what Todd Bowles said was a “leg” injury? It feels fair to say any concern over whether Morrison can move past the injury issues and contribute to the Bucs defense is pretty valid.

Any more lingering issues during camp and the preseason may force Tampa Bay to make a move for a veteran corner to add to the mix with Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish. Because the last thing the Bucs need is another oft-injured cornerback who can’t be relied upon and leaves them needing to rely heavily on their CB4 and/or CB5 to play key snaps.

If Healthy, Will Benjamin Morrison Be The Bucs’ CB2?

Health has to be the priority for Morrison, sure, but there’s also the matter of what his role will be in Year 2. With Jamel Dean gone to Pittsburgh, the starting outside cornerback spot on the other side of Zyon McCollum is up for grabs. But right now, it doesn’t feel like it’s Morrison who is leading the race for that role.

The Bucs’ brass spoke early this offseason about the possibility of another second-year cornerback — Jacob Parrish — challenging Morrison for that outside spot despite spending his rookie season as the team’s nickel corner. The fact that Tampa Bay didn’t make any meaningful signings at cornerback and then drafted Miami’s Keionte Scott to potentially take over that nickel role makes the possibility of Parrish starting outside feel very real.

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

Part of it has to come down to the fact that the Bucs don’t know if they can count on Morrison to stay healthy. So, they have to have Parrish ready to start outside anyway. But there’s also the fact that Parrish proved at the collegiate level that he could get the job done. He then followed that up with a very good rookie year. Meanwhile, Morrison struggled to stay healthy and then struggled on the field even when he was healthy.

Morrison had four passes defensed and zero interceptions in 10 games (three starts) as a rookie. He earned a 47.0 overall grade from PFF, with a 50.0 grade in coverage and a 35.5 mark in run defense. His 40.3 tackling grade wasn’t pretty either. And then there’s the fact that over 40 targets, he allowed 23 catches (57.5%) for 344 yards (15.0 avg.) and three touchdowns.

Again, missing the preseason didn’t help Morrison’s development. He was essentially in a spot where he was thrown into the fire and had to figure it out on the fly, and he predictably struggled. So, in Year 2, can he stay healthy? And if he can, can he show enough of the talent that made him such a highly touted prospect? Doing so could land him a starting spot. But fall short of expectations and he’ll be on the outside looking in as a depth piece.

Will Benjamin Morrison At Least Begin To Live Up To His Draft Status?

While it’s still early enough in Morrison’s career — he’s in his second season and is only 22 years old — there’s some pressure on the former Notre Dame cornerback in 2026. Because even if he isn’t tasked with starting, he at least needs to make enough strides to prove to the Bucs that he has it in him to live up to his second-round draft status. If he fails to do that, he could be playing for his Tampa Bay career as soon as next summer.

There’s a recent precedent for that type of path. In fact, it’s a precedent that is too recent. The Bucs’ second-round pick before Morrison was Chris Braswell in 2024. He got off to a slow start as a rookie, didn’t take the expected leap in Year 2 and is now an afterthought at the outside linebacker position. He’s not even a lock to make the 53-man roster out of camp this year.

Life can come at you fast, and it’ll hit Morrison rather quickly if he has another injury-plagued season or he stays healthy yet continues to struggle. Think about it: If he can’t take a meaningful step forward this year, where does that leave the Bucs? They’ll head into the offseason with Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and just about no one else at cornerback.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: IMAGN Images

That would mean spending on a veteran free agent or using a premium pick on a cornerback in 2027. Tampa Bay ultimately took both routes when Braswell didn’t make any kind of impact in his second season. First, the team signed Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency, and then it selected Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 15 overall pick in the Draft.

Given their pending free agents, the Bucs may not have the money to go and sign an impact cornerback next March. But they can certainly draft one with a premium pick. What Morrison would have going for him is the lack of existing depth at the position, as he may not have a high bar to clear next summer when it comes to making the roster. But sticking as CB4 or CB5 in Year 3 is a far cry from being a second-round pick.

With all of that said, this isn’t even a conversation if Morrison puts 2025 behind him, stays healthy and plays well in 2026. But it’s a reality that will linger until he can prove it shouldn’t.

Catch Up On Previous Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Series

OFFENSE:

Baker Mayfield
Bucky Irving
Kenny Gainwell
Chris Godwin Jr.
Emeka Egbuka
Jalen McMillan
Cade Otton
Tristan Wirfs
Ben Bredeson
Graham Barton
Cody Mauch
Luke Goedeke

DEFENSE:

Yaya Diaby
Rueben Bain Jr.
A’Shawn Robinson
Calijah Kancey
Vita Vea
Alex Anzalone
Josiah Trotter
Zyon McCollum