On the surface, the Buccaneers’ cornerbacks do not look too different from last year. In reality, Tampa Bay is gearing up for a radical change to their secondary, in what could be Jamel Dean’s final year in Tampa Bay.
Since he was drafted in 2019, Dean has been one of the better cover corners in the NFL. The only issues he has had are a lack of turnovers and injuries. Otherwise, Dean is who the Bucs call upon to cover the best receivers on any given week.
Now, with just one season left on his contract and one year before he turns 30, Dean appears to be on his final run in Tampa Bay. His knee injuries last year put the Bucs in a position to rely on Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk, neither of whom proved equal to the task. It is why the Bucs drafted Benjamin Morrison in the second round of the 2025 draft.
Morrison was one of college football’s best cornerbacks in 2023, but hip injuries limited him last season. With a clean bill of health and now a signed contract, Morrison enters training camp as the heir apparent to Jamel Dean. Morrison is smaller but brings a comparable degree of physicality.
As Dean should remain a starter while he is healthy, Morrison will be facing off against the Bucs’ second-team receivers in training camp, Jalen McMillan and fellow rookie Emeka Egbuka. These should be the most spectacular battles of this year’s training camp.
Across from Dean and Morrison is Zyon McCollum, who took a big step to being a top NFL cornerback last year until a hamstring injury slowed him down in the second half of the season. His ceiling in the NFL is still predicated on his supreme athleticism, but his instincts and technique could use more refinement. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, there is no Bucs cornerback with more to gain from a strong 2025, starting with a standout training camp.
The Bucs brought back Bryce Hall after he broke his leg in the season opener last year. Hall offers solid depth, especially with Morrison on the roster. The Bucs also added free agent Kindle Vildor, who has plenty of experience. With Hall healthy and Vildor on the roster, the Bucs no longer need to rely on Hayes or Funderburk, who proved last year they cannot cover starting-caliber receivers.
To remain on the roster, Hayes and Funderburk must become indispensable on special teams.
The nickel corner position will also see its fair share of change despite addressing the position last offseason. 2024 third-rounder Tykee Smith was one of the better rookie defenders in the league last year, appearing to solidify a slot corner role that has seen several different players attempt to claim it. A similar turnstile at the safety position next to Antoine Winfield Jr. and the availability of 2025 third-round pick cornerback Jacob Parrish have pushed Smith to safety with Parrish sliding into the nickel position.
Parrish has the speed to play outside, but his lack of size might be a problem against X receivers. Still, his coverage acumen, despite his size, gives the Bucs added flexibility to adjust the secondary based on offensive personnel and alignments.
Third-year defensive back Christian Izien should continue to see action at nickel and safety as the team’s dime back. Izien could even enter the season as the starting nickel, but Parrish is bigger and faster, so it would be difficult for him to hold off Parrish for long, even with his experience.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers 2025 training camp preview: Cornerback
Reporting by Jason Kanno, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
