Ayden Garnes didn’t arrive in Tampa Bay talking about role, depth-chart order or long-term projections. His mission was simpler than that: make the team.
So far, the Buccaneers rookie cornerback has done just about everything he can to make that happen.
Garnes has been one of the biggest surprises of training camp, going from an undrafted longshot to a player who now looks awfully hard to keep off the 53-man roster. Day after day, he kept flashing.
At first it was a surprise. Then it started to feel normal.
That momentum carried into Friday’s preseason game against the New York Jets, when Garnes delivered the biggest play of the night: a 47-yard pick-six off Bailey Zappe that tied the game at 10 and helped Tampa Bay pull out the win.
The opportunities have been there, too. With potential starting cornerback Benjamin Morrison missing most of OTAs, minicamp and the first couple of weeks of training camp, Garnes got extra chances to show what he can do. He has made the most of every one of them.
For Garnes, though, none of that changes the mindset. He said earlier this week that earning a roster spot is his only focus, and he doesn’t care where he lands once he gets there.
“It would be, obviously something I dream of, but something I wouldn't be shocked about. I came here to win a job.
I [don't] care if I [am] the last person on a depth chart or the first person on a depth chart. I came here to win a job and nobody is going to get in my way for that.
I told my family, '[You all] can talk to me in September when all of this is over.' I just want to have a clear mind and that's what I have.
I have a clear mind and one goal. Two goals actually; continue to get closer with this organization and make this team.”
That kind of focus has served him well as Tampa Bay’s secondary continues to sort itself out. The Bucs have had questions all offseason about a young cornerback group that is talented, but still unproven.
Morrison’s availability remains a concern. Jacob Parrish is making a move from slot corner to outside corner after a strong rookie season last year.
Zyon McCollum is trying to bounce back after a very disappointing 2025 season.
Against that backdrop, Garnes has turned into more than just a nice camp story. He has become real insurance for the Bucs, especially if Morrison misses more time during the season. He also gives Tampa Bay another player who has consistently shown up when the ball is in the air.
The rookie made his point early: he came to win a job, and he wasn’t going to let anything distract him from that. Now he’s close to getting exactly what he came for.
He’s also become a fan favorite along the way. His playmaking has been impossible to miss, and the story of him donating his bone marrow while in college - saving a young woman’s life - has only added to the buzz around him. He’s looking like a difference-maker on the field and a standout off it, too.
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