The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t exactly sit on their hands last offseason when it came to addressing the cornerback position. They went after it with purpose, drafting Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, locking up Zyon McCollum with a three-year extension, re-signing Bryce Hall, and bringing in Kindle Vildor through free agency. On paper, that’s a full-scale reload.
But heading into 2026, the cornerback room still feels more like a question mark than a strength.
Jamel Dean was the standout in 2025, putting together a career year just in time to hit free agency. And while he was the Bucs’ most reliable presence on the outside, odds are he won’t be back in pewter and red. That leaves a sizable hole on the boundary - and the options to fill it come with more uncertainty than comfort.
McCollum, after earning his extension, took a step back in both performance and availability, missing four games due to injury. Morrison, the second-round rookie with plenty of upside, couldn’t stay on the field either - he missed seven games in an injury-riddled debut season. The talent’s there, but availability and consistency are still big question marks.
Jacob Parrish, on the other hand, looks like a gem. He flashed high-level potential and seems poised to be a key piece of the secondary for years to come.
But he’s currently slotted in as the nickel corner, which means the team still needs answers on the outside. With McCollum’s regression and Morrison still unproven as a full-time starter, Tampa Bay would be wise to explore veteran help - and one name that makes a lot of sense is Tariq Woolen.
Why Tariq Woolen Could Be the Answer
Woolen didn’t have his best season in 2025. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked 61st out of 114 qualified cornerbacks - not exactly shutdown numbers.
But that dip in performance might actually work in Tampa Bay’s favor. If his market value takes a hit, the Bucs could find themselves in position to land a high-upside corner at a reasonable price.
From a pure measurables standpoint, Woolen is exactly the type of player Todd Bowles gravitates toward. Bowles has consistently shown a preference for long, fast corners who can press and recover with ease.
Both Dean and McCollum, players Bowles handpicked, are over six feet tall and clocked 40-yard dashes in the 4.3s. Woolen?
He’s 6-foot-4 and ran a blazing 4.26. That’s not just fast - that’s rare.
And it’s not just about speed and size. Woolen’s ball production, outside of a quieter 2025, speaks for itself.
He had six interceptions as a rookie, followed by two in 2023 and three in 2024. He’s shown a knack for finding the football, something Bowles has emphasized in his defensive scheme.
The Bucs don’t just want corners who can cover - they want corners who can flip the field.
Of course, Woolen isn’t without flaws. He’s had moments of inconsistency in coverage, and one particular mental lapse in the NFC Championship Game - a taunting penalty that extended a drive and led to a touchdown - became a viral lowlight. That kind of mistake can be costly, especially in the postseason spotlight.
But he’s still just 26. The raw tools are there, and with the right coaching and a more stable defensive environment, there’s reason to believe he can clean up the mental side of his game and return to form.
Tampa Bay’s Opportunity
The Seahawks have some tough cap and roster decisions looming. Devon Witherspoon is trending toward a major payday, and other defensive backs like Josh Jobe and Coby Bryant are also heading toward free agency. There’s a real chance Woolen could hit the open market - and if he does, the Bucs should be ready to pounce.
Replacing Jamel Dean won’t be easy. But adding a player like Woolen - one who fits the Bowles prototype and still has upside to grow into - could go a long way in stabilizing a secondary that’s currently more potential than production.
Tampa Bay made the investment last year. Now it’s about finishing the job. If Woolen’s available, he might just be the missing piece.