It doesn’t take lengthy to scan via the Bucs’ 2025 roster and discover gamers who fell wanting expectations from outdoors the constructing or inside it. That actuality formed an offseason centered round including perspective and having a renewed give attention to what comes subsequent in 2026.
Few gamers are taking as a lot from an offseason of reflection as cornerback Zyon McCollum. Heading into final yr with a recent new contract extension, McCollum went via ups and downs earlier than ending the season on injured reserve. It was removed from how he had imagined issues going. Showing on the Pewter Report Podcast on Monday afternoon, he offered perception into his motivation to enhance and the way the vitality across the constructing throughout offseason exercises has him working tougher than ever earlier than.
Zyon McCollum Dissatisfied With Final Season, Targeted On The Fundamentals In 2026
In the case of gamers who dissatisfied for the Bucs final season, Zyon McCollum is close to the highest of the listing.
Whereas McCollum has come a good distance from being a 2022 fifth-round choose, the bar was raised after the entrance workplace gave him a three-year, $48 million extension. The greenback indicators got here with greater requirements – to be the perfect cornerback on the roster. In giving him a brand new deal whereas restructuring Jamel Dean’s contract for him to hit free company a yr early, the message couldn’t have been clearer.
McCollum was given the runway to blossom and lead the place room for years to come back.
It was time to take off.
But, that failed to come back to move.
On the flip facet, opposing quarterbacks had extra success finishing passes when throwing his manner. His struggles had been amplified simply earlier than a hip damage in Week 15 lower his season brief. Whereas McCollum allowed a 57.1% completion share on 70 targets for the season, that completion share jumped to 78.6% on 14 targets between Weeks 12 and 13. His worst efficiency got here towards Rams huge receiver Davante Adams, as he was overwhelmed by the savvy veteran for 2 touchdowns in a 34-7 loss.
Rams WR Davante Adams and Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photograph by: USA At the moment
How final season ended was powerful on all of the gamers, however McCollum had extra time to mirror on what went mistaken whereas sitting out and watching the staff fail to make the playoffs. Everyone seems to be hungry, however he has attacked the offseason with much more of a chip on his shoulder.
“The entire building is hungry,” McCollum mentioned. “For me personally, going through ups and downs, I’m as hungry as ever. The training does change. You go through things throughout a season, and you start to understand and learn about yourself. ‘What do you truly need to work on? What do you truly need to hit in the offseason to become a better player?’ Being able to take all those things in and attack the offseason, tweak some minor things, get into incredible shape, and then go from there.”
Requested to supply a scouting report on himself about how final season went and what he took away from it, McCollum shared that the frustration was not felt simply by the followers. He felt it internally and is now on the level the place he needs to come back out of it for the higher.
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
“I was definitely disappointed in myself and my ability,” McCollum added. “It was one of those situations to where you got to go home and look at yourself in the mirror and figure out what you’re going to do – how you’re going to expect this thing to go. It was eye-opening, it’s all a blessing. To be able to go through things like that, to be able to understand and come out of that better. It really has me excited now, being able to go out and feel like I’m proving it again. To myself, to my family, of how much I love this and being able to go out there and have fun.”
Head coach Todd Bowles infamously referred to as out McCollum on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix, stating that he felt the cornerback received “bored” at occasions on the sphere. That resulted in not enjoying with as a lot method, which contributed to his 2025 struggles. Requested to comply with up on that remark throughout this yr’s NFL Scouting Mix, Bowles talked about his eye focus being the important thing space to enhance on.
That’s one thing McCollum has taken to coronary heart in his offseason coaching.
“Big emphasis on my footwork, my eyes, being in the right place, and being able to understand the game from that standpoint,” McCollum mentioned about his focus over the previous few months. “Really, it’s about getting back to the basics and the fundamentals. The X’s and the O’s – I’ve been in the system for going on five years now. That comes pretty naturally, that comes pretty easy. Just getting back to those basics, press work, footwork, pedaling and braking.”
Bucs CBs Coach Rashad Johnson Is “An Incredible Asset” For Zyon McCollum
The distinction for Zyon McCollum this offseason as in yr’s previous is who his cornerbacks coach is. With Kevin Ross being let go, assistant coach Rashad Johnson was promoted to take his place. McCollum is hoping to take the following step this season beneath Johnson’s instructing, and he spoke glowingly about what he brings teaching the room.
Bucs CBs coach Rashad Johnson and CB Zyon McCollum – Photograph courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
“Super excited about him,” McCollum mentioned. “He’s an unbelievable asset. Tremendous intelligible, he understands the X’s and O’s in-and-out. Top-of-the-line issues about Coach Rashad is the truth that he’s been a participant, and he was only a participant. He’s not too removed from the sport, so he’s in a position to relate to us as gamers in our communication fashion and the way in which we perceive and work completely different methods. He himself is a technician; he’s harping on all of the little issues.
“He’s harping on the footwork; he’s making sure that everybody has a plan before their plan. Super excited, we’ve been with him since my rookie year, just kind of in an assistant type of role. Now he has the ability to take the bull by the horns, and I think he is going to be a tremendous coach.”
Johnson is tasked with getting essentially the most out of McCollum, who has the instruments to be an elite, shutdown cornerback. His mixture of peak, velocity, and athleticism are well-documented for being among the many finest at his place. The outcomes haven’t adopted the traits, however Johnson won’t settle for something lower than success. As an eight-year security with 15 profession interceptions, he is aware of what it takes to play at a excessive stage. Count on him to push McCollum onerous to succeed in his full potential.
“He’s going to be animated and he’s going to demand excellence,” McCollum mentioned. “He doesn’t care who you’re. You would be a rookie or you can be a 10-year vet. If he sees one thing, he’s going to say one thing. Him being a participant, he can relate in a manner when it comes to understanding if a method works for you, he is aware of learn how to coach that method.
“He’s not going to force you to do anything. He has a lot of passion for this game. He loves it, and you can tell he wakes up with that fire. He comes to work and he’s a coach at heart; he’s a teacher at heart. He loves to give.”
Watch Bucs CB Zyon McCollum On The Pewter Report Podcast
Zyon McCollum shared lots with Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera on Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. To listen to extra about what McCollum mentioned throughout his close to hour-long look, click on the hyperlink under to observe.
