In soccer, a slant route is constructed on timing and precision. The receiver doesn’t waste movement – he breaks sharply throughout the sector into open house earlier than the protection can react. It’s easy in design, however separation is created by way of execution.
That very same strategy defines my weekly Saturday Bucs column, Slivon’s Slant.
Every week from now till coaching camp, I’ll have a look inside a special Bucs place group. The purpose is to chop by way of the floor to seek out the clearest path in evaluating this roster because it takes form. Then, as soon as the season begins, the column will proceed providing totally different angles for breaking down and discussing the group. Thus far, I’ve supplied in-depth profiles of the quarterback, operating again, vast receiver, tight finish, offensive line, line of defense, exterior linebacker, and inside linebacker positions.
With these positions lined, it’s time to study the cornerbacks.
Observe: This week’s column will even function Keionte Scott, who’s projected to be the group’s nickelback.
Inside The Bucs Cornerback Room
Show-It Performer: Zyon McCollum
Zyon McCollum greater than passes the attention check. Few cornerbacks in NFL historical past have matched his athletic profile, and it isn’t exhausting to see that on show when he’s on the sector. But these uncommon bodily presents haven’t translated into premier cornerback play. The Bucs doubled down on McCollum earlier than final season, signing the 2022 fifth-round decide to a three-year, $48 million extension that signified he can be the group’s No. 1 cornerback going ahead over Jamel Dean. After seeing Dean have a profession yr and signal with the Steelers, McCollum has to show the group made the best resolution by placing all of it collectively in 2026.
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
McCollum’s rise from backup to full-time starter displays each his growth and the belief he earned from Todd Bowles. Even so, one has to marvel how a lot belief Bowles nonetheless has in him. A promising first-half of the 2024 season showcased his skill to lock up high receivers, however he was known as out that offseason for being “bored” at occasions. This offseason, Bowles added to that assertion, sharing that McCollum has to work on his eyes and never get off track. Bowles has a degree. McCollum has all of the bodily instruments, however his eyes and self-discipline too typically hold him from capitalizing on them.
McCollum has made important strides as a tackler, however he should take his sport to a different stage from a protection and playmaking perspective. Via 60 video games (42 begins), he has solely three interceptions. After recording 17 passes defensed in 2024, that quantity fell to 6 passes defensed in 2025. The promise he confirmed didn’t carry over, as he was inconsistent in protection earlier than ending the yr on injured reserve. His first check comes instantly in opposition to Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals in Week 1. At 27 years outdated, it’s time for No. 27 to interrupt out, or the group will severely have to think about changing McCollum and look elsewhere for a high cornerback.
Playmaking Potential: Benjamin Morrison
The Bucs entrance workplace’s resolution to lock up Zyon McCollum over Jamel Dean was not nearly McCollum’s promise. Drafting Benjamin Morrison within the second-round final yr additionally performed a key half, as they believed he may finally change into the cornerstone of the place. Considered by Tampa Bay as a first-round expertise, Morrison slipped because of a hip harm that restricted him throughout his final school season. As a rookie in 2025, Morrison performed sporadically, showing in 10 video games whereas lacking the opposite seven video games because of recurring hamstring accidents. That included lacking time earlier than the season, which didn’t assist him hit the bottom operating in a fancy protection when Todd Bowles put him on the market.
Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison and Patriots WR Kyle Williams – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures
What was interesting about choosing Morrison popping out of faculty was his knack for being a ball hawking cornerback. Famously going toe-to-toe with Ohio State (and now Cardinals) vast receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. gained him notoriety, however so did recording six interceptions throughout his freshman yr in 2022. His sophomore yr was a formidable follow-up, as he had three interceptions.
Seeing him slip within the draft, it made sense for Tampa Bay to focus on him, however now the group can be counting on him to go from being an unknown commodity to a dependable contributor. The group has insulated itself by giving Jacob Parrish each alternative to compete for the surface job, however the secondary’s ceiling nonetheless will depend on Morrison turning into the participant Tampa Bay drafted him to be.
There’s nonetheless loads of time for Morrison to develop right into a high-quality starter. The issue is Tampa Bay wants him to appear to be one a lot before later. Ought to he fail to rise to the event, it places that rather more stress on the opposite defensive backs and the scheme itself. It may additionally make the long run outlook of the cornerback room bleaker, whereas narrowing the quantity of depth and upside the group has. The Bucs have excessive expectations in bouncing again this season; Morrison is an X-factor for a protection that should enhance.
Boundary Wager: Jacob Parrish
Jacob Parrish is the most recent Bucs defensive again to have spent his rookie season within the NFL holding down the nickelback spot. After being strong in that function, Parrish is making the transfer from nickelback to exterior cornerback in 2026. It’s an fascinating transition in additional methods than one, as Todd Bowles has sometimes coveted extra prototypical gamers than Parrish, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 198 kilos. His bodily traits are deceptive, as he performs with a stage of tenacity that makes him somebody to look at this season.
Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
How issues transpired in 2025 on the defensive aspect of the ball induced some to miss the success that Parrish had. One may argue that the third-round decide was one of many unit’s finest gamers, as he performed in all 17 video games and recorded 76 tackles, seven passes defensed, two interceptions, and two sacks. Straight away, his pace to the soccer was evident, whether or not by shortly diagnosing and breaking apart passes or being despatched as an additional blitzer. Whereas nobody will confuse him for trying the a part of a thumper, he performs prefer it in opposition to greater matchups and finds methods to win.
Showing on the Pewter Report Podcast this offseason, Parrish made it clear he left performs on the sector as a tackler and leaping routes. He’s now centered on bettering whereas adjusting to a totally totally different place. With coaching camp looming in a number of weeks, the battle for the second cornerback spot is probably the most fascinating one to look at in Tampa Bay. The group invested closely at cornerback final yr by first choosing Morrison. Parrish has extra than simply his identify within the hat — he has a real likelihood at turning into a full-time participant on the boundary.
Hybrid Hustler: Keionte Scott
The Bucs double-dipped in drafting Miami Hurricanes in late April. The addition of out of doors linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. was thought of to be the steal of the 2026 NFL Draft, however Tampa Bay choosing defensive again Keionte Scott within the fourth spherical was one other shrewd transfer. Anticipated to go one to 2 rounds earlier, Scott fell down the board as groups debated his match. Todd Bowles holds no such reservations, as he would be the newest participant to slip proper into the nickelback place. Whereas it has been a turnstile with Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, and Jacob Parrish holding the spot down, Scott will be the long-term reply within the slot.
Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Picture by: Sophie Pallman – The College of Miami
Scott performed a key function in Miami’s protection final season doing just a little of every thing. In 14 video games, he recorded 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, two interceptions (each pick-sixes), and two compelled fumbles. His sort out for loss and sack totals actually stands out for his place and communicate to his skill across the line of scrimmage.
He performs like an additional linebacker with the restoration pace of a real nook. That has actual speedy worth lining up in opposition to tight ends, within the field, on the sting, or within the slot. Add within the truth he served as Bain’s tag-team accomplice, and it will not be stunning to see them decide up proper the place they left off. Scott’s skillset as a hybrid defender opens the door for the protection to attempt unique seems and transfer items round. He’ll most actually play a key half from the beginning.
Camp Casualty Candidate: Josh Hayes
There’s a important drop-off after the Bucs’ high three cornerbacks on the depth chart. That’s the reason the subject of including one other veteran nook has been repeatedly introduced up, as it will solely take one harm for Josh Hayes to begin working into the combination. A sixth-round decide in 2023, Hayes has seen his share of defensive snaps as an out of doors cornerback in Tampa Bay. A lot of that got here in the course of the 2024 season, together with within the group’s 23-20 playoff loss to the Commanders when he gave up a 5-yard landing to Terry McLaurin within the fourth quarter.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin and Bucs CB Josh Hayes – Picture by: USA At this time
Merely put, Hayes struggles in protection, which limits his skill to see the sector. In 2025, he made three begins and allowed 22 of 33 passes (66.7%) thrown his strategy to be accomplished for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns. Whereas nobody needs him to log important enjoying time defensively, he shines as a gunner on particular groups. That was apparent from his rookie season, when he led the NFL with 14 particular groups tackles. The issue is that he’s ideally a spot too excessive on the depth chart. With the group bringing in two veterans with the same background, it may make Hayes a roster casualty this summer season.
Particular Groups Specialists: Chase Lucas and Kemon Corridor
With the Bucs desperately needing cornerback depth, they did make two strikes so as to add veteran assist this offseason. The additions of Chase Lucas and Kemon Corridor didn’t garner headlines, and neither signing ought to be seen as an answer to Tampa Bay’s cornerback points. Each profile extra as particular groups contributors than defensive solutions.
Beginning with Lucas, he involves Tampa Bay after spending final season with the 49ers. He has but to begin an NFL sport, with a lot of his expertise approaching particular groups. He didn’t seem in a regular-season sport in 2024, however he carved out a job on particular groups with Detroit in 2023 and once more with San Francisco final season. In 33 profession video games, he has recorded 15 tackles. The priority is similar as it’s with Josh Hayes: Lucas has allowed 12 of 17 passes (70.6%) thrown his strategy to be accomplished in restricted defensive motion.
Corridor could be very a lot the identical participant, showing in 28 video games and recording 24 tackles in his profession. He has served as a particular teamer for the Chargers, Cowboys, and Titans relationship again to 2021. Don’t count on him to make a lot of a dent defensively, as he allowed 11 of 11 passes thrown his strategy to be accomplished for 136 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. Whereas the entrance workplace talked up including Lucas and Corridor into the combination, the one manner they are going to positively impression video games is on particular groups. Anything, and it’s a legal responsibility.
Closing Slant
No place group on the Bucs roster carries a wider vary of outcomes.
The cornerback room is probably the most unproven of any place I’ve profiled to date. The upside is simple, however anticipating every thing to click on can be optimistic. Zyon McCollum has had the platform and acquired the contract to blossom as a starter, however he has been stricken by inconsistency. It’s now-or-never for him to take the subsequent step, and that extends to Benjamin Morrison.
Drafted simply final yr, Morrison has a main alternative to be a long-term reply at cornerback. Lacking time and never flashing promise would make it exhausting for Tampa Bay to proceed giving him begins, particularly when the protection should enhance. That has opened the door for Jacob Parrish, as he has an actual likelihood at turning into the group’s finest participant on the surface ought to he make a seamless transition.
Whereas not a real cornerback, Keionte Scott will deal with the slot duties. There is no such thing as a NFL movie of him to go off, however the tape he put collectively at Miami in 2025 was spectacular. Ought to he showcase the identical skill to have an effect on video games, he actually opens up the secondary’s skill to be versatile. The depth chart is regarding after the highest three exterior corners, as Josh Hayes, Chase Lucas, and Kemon Corridor supply little to get enthusiastic about from a defensive perspective. Every can be competing to play on Danny Smith’s particular groups unit, however one wish to see the group add somebody with extra polish overlaying vast receivers than operating down punt returners.
The ceiling for the room is being a younger, athletic group that lastly creates turnovers and offers Todd Bowles the pliability he covets. The ground is one other season of irritating struggles in opposition to the go that leaves the group trying to find solutions at cornerback as soon as once more. Few place teams could have a much bigger impression on the Bucs’ success in 2026.
