The Buccaneers spent much of their offseason trying to shore up a defense that struggled to stop the pass, and one of their later draft picks is starting to draw a little more attention than the usual fourth-rounder.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently pointed to Tampa Bay cornerback Keionte Scott as one of the more overlooked rookies from the 2026 NFL Draft, suggesting the former Miami defensive back could end up making a bigger early impact than plenty of people expect.
That kind of buzz makes sense when you look at where the spotlight has been. First-round edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. has understandably gotten most of the attention as the Buccaneers work to improve a pass defense that finished 27th overall and ranked 26th in net yards allowed per pass attempt last season. But Scott brings a different kind of appeal: speed, toughness and enough versatility to give Todd Bowles options right away.
Scott timed a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and has experience lining up both outside and in the nickel. Knox also leaned on pre-draft scouting from Bleacher Report’s Daniel Harms, who was especially high on Scott’s ability to create problems around the ball.
"He's an electric presence at the nickel and provides an energy that can't be coached. His havoc-creating nature is one NFL teams will prioritize."
Scott’s final season in college backed up that reputation. He posted 110 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions, a stat line that shows both his downhill urgency and his ability to make plays in coverage.
There’s also a straightforward path for him to get on the field. Jacob Parrish is projected to begin the season as Tampa Bay’s starting nickel corner, with Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison on the outside. Scott is listed as Parrish’s top backup at nickel, and his ability to slide outside gives the Buccaneers another flexible piece in sub-packages.
He may not be walking into camp as a starter, but Scott’s blend of relentlessness and positional flexibility gives him a real chance to work his way into a meaningful role quickly. For a Tampa Bay defense looking for more playmakers in the secondary, that kind of versatility could matter a lot in 2026.
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