Bucs Legend Rondé Barber Raves Over Keionte Scott Choose

If there’s anyone that needs to be the authority on defensive backs in Tampa Bay, it’s Bucs Corridor of Famer and Ring of Honor member, Rondé Barber. Tampa Bay addressed the secondary within the fourth spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft, choosing Keionte Scott out of Miami. This was one other shock choose – not as a result of he isn’t match for Tampa Bay, however as a result of he fell that far to the place the Buccaneers may take him.

That skillset that Scott has offers the Buccaneers numerous flexibility. Ideally, he can play the nickelback position, doubtlessly beginning there this season. Barber, whereas on his present, The Rondé Barber Present, signed off on Tampa Bay’s choice of Keionte Scott. It spoke volumes about how he views the latest addition.

Legendary Bucs CB Ronde Barber – Picture by: USA Immediately

Rondé Barber Endorses Bucs Draft Choose Keionte Scott 

“He’s a total Todd Bowles-type nickel back, and that’s exactly who he should be,” Rondé Barber stated. “I know for a fact Todd Bowles likes Keionte Scott’s body type and production from a safety spot to play the nickel, just because of the way they like to play the run and the way they like to blitz this player. This dude was agent zero at Miami. The guy did everything, blitz, tackle for loss, he was a cover guy of sorts. I don’t know that we could have found a better player to kind of do everything for us in the draft.”

To Barber’s level, Scott’s stat line final season of 64 tackles, 5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pick-sixes, 5 move breakups, two compelled fumbles and two fumble recoveries is the definition of doing every little thing. Barber would know as he basically invented the nickel place and impacting the sport in a number of methods.

Few perceive the calls for of the place higher than Barber, who constructed his profession as one of the impactful nickel defenders in NFL historical past. His endorsement suggests Scott has the traits to thrive in a job that requires each intelligence and toughness.

Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Picture by IMAGN Pictures – Jeff Romance

Head coach Todd Bowles was seeking to discover a participant who can execute his imaginative and prescient in a essential trend. However it additionally offers Bowles and Tampa Bay’s defensive teaching employees a few choices. They’ve had a few completely different gamers excel on the nickel place lately. Christian Izien dealt with it nicely in 2023 whereas Tykee Smith and Jacob Parrish thrived in it within the 2024 (Smith) and 2025 (Parrish) seasons.

How Will The Bucs Set Up Their Secondary?

The upcoming 2026 season offers a special problem. Tykee Smith has since moved on to security enjoying alongside aspect Antoine Winfield Jr. That’ll be his position as soon as once more. Whereas Jacob Parrish was nice on the nickel place, the struggles that the Bucs have had at exterior nook could put him in that spot as a substitute in 2026.

It was a down 12 months for veteran Zyon McCollum, and with Jamel Dean leaving in free company, that leaves Benjamin Morrison on the different nook place. Coping with accidents all 12 months lengthy, Benjamin Morrison’s rookie season suffered because of this, too. This additionally put Parrish at exterior nook every so often throughout the season, but it was additionally the place he performed at Kansas State, so he’s snug in that place.

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Cornerback was the place that the Bucs didn’t deal with all an excessive amount of throughout the offseason. They signed some gamers which have bounced round, however they don’t have any true reply as a major backup in addition to having a battle between Morrison and Parrish for one position whereas the opposite backs up.

So drafting Keointe Scott permits for the Bucs to maneuver him into the nickelback position and put Parrish exterior. Scott will also be a backup security, and another choice for Tampa Bay may very well be to place JJ Roberts within the nickel if that’s the finest match. We may additionally see the Buccaneers play extra dime on third downs this season to get a linebacker off the sector and a number of other extra DBs. However that’s not doable if not for the Scott choose.

And with Rondé Barber’s approval, it simply makes it that a lot better.