The Buccaneers have checked off a lot of boxes this offseason, but one job still feels unfinished before training camp opens: adding a veteran cornerback.
Tampa Bay came into the offseason with obvious holes at pass rusher and inside linebacker, and those spots have already been addressed. The Bucs signed Al-Quadin Muhammad, who is coming off an 11-sack season with the Detroit Lions, and used the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Rueben Bain Jr. At linebacker, they brought in veteran Alex Anzalone and added Josiah Trotter with their second-round pick.
That’s a strong haul. But the cornerback room still looks like the one place where the Bucs could use a steadier hand.
Zyon McCollum is the only cornerback who has a locked-in starting job right now. Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison are battling for the spot opposite him, and that competition comes with a lot of uncertainty.
Parrish started at nickel last season, but if he moves outside, rookie Keionte Scott would be the likely option in the slot. That’s a young group with upside, but it’s also a group that hasn’t proven much yet.
McCollum is coming off a down 2025 season, so Tampa Bay is banking on a major rebound from its top corner. Morrison missed seven games as a rookie because of injury and has already dealt with nagging issues this offseason.
Parrish was the team’s best corner in the slot last year, but playing full-time on the outside is a different challenge entirely. Scott, meanwhile, was a dynamic college player at Miami, but rookie growing pains are part of the deal, and the Bucs can’t count on him to solve everything right away.
Even the age profile tells the story. McCollum is the oldest starter in the room at 27, which is why Tampa Bay could use someone who brings both experience and stability.
Two names stand out as fits: Rasul Douglas and Tre’Davious White.
Douglas spent last season with the Miami Dolphins, appearing in 15 games and starting 13. He finished with two interceptions and 13 passes defended, which tied for the second-most of his nine-year career.
He also carries a reputation as a strong locker-room presence, something backed up by his Stand-Up Guy Award with the Green Bay Packers in 2022. That kind of personality would fit neatly into a young cornerback room that needs guidance.
White is a different kind of option, but the appeal is similar. He’s far removed from the Pro Bowl and All-Pro level he reached in 2019 and 2020, yet his 12 years of NFL experience would still matter.
Last season, he played in 16 games and had five passes broken up and an interception. At this stage, he could serve as something close to a player-coach, much like Richard “Coach Sherm” Sherman did during his time in Tampa Bay, helping bring along the younger defensive backs while adding depth to the roster.
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