The Buccaneers’ defense has been under the microscope for a while, and Jacob Parrish is starting to look like one of the reasons that could finally change.
Tampa Bay’s offense has drawn plenty of attention around the NFL, especially with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and Mike Evans now gone to the San Francisco 49ers. But for people who watched the Bucs last season, the real issue was always on the other side of the ball. Todd Bowles’s defense was a mess in 2025, and it played a major part in what should have been a comfortable NFC South playoff spot slipping away.
There’s still optimism around the group. The rookie class, led by edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., along with veterans Alex Anzalone and A'Shawn Robinson, are supposed to help turn things around. Even so, plenty of Bucs fans are still waiting to see it before buying in.
The secondary took another hit when Jamel Dean left for the Pittsburgh Steelers on a new contract. That departure matters, and maybe more than the exits of Lavonte David or Mike Evans in terms of what it means for this unit right now. Tampa Bay is left leaning on a young cornerback group that hasn’t proven much yet, even if the upside is obvious.
That’s where Parrish enters the picture.
CBS Sports NFL writer Zachary Pereles recently named Parrish one of the 50 underrated players who could help shape the 2026 NFL season, and the praise was strong. Pereles wrote of Parrish, "It's hard not to like what Parrish showed in 2025.
The third-rounder played in the slot, outside and even at linebacker despite measuring just 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds. He is unafraid -- and quite good -- against the run, and he allowed just a 33.8 passer rating as the primary defender in man coverage.
Jamel Dean is gone, so Parrish will be counted on heavily."
Parrish is battling for a starting outside corner job, and he looks like exactly the kind of player Todd Bowles tends to trust. If he and rookie Keionte Scott can make noise on the outside, the Buccaneers could get real juice from a secondary that already has elite safety play from Tykee Smith and Antoine Winfield Jr.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Are Bringing Back One Of Their Most Beloved Looks
The Buccaneers are reaching back into their past for one of the franchises most recognizable looks, bringing back the white creamsicle uniform for the 2026 season. It is a nod to the old-school identity that still resonates in Tampa Bay, where the team now works with four uniform combinations and two helmets while keeping a careful balance between tradition and the modern look it has built in recent years.
The return is already tied to a specific spot on the schedule, with the throwback set for Week 13 against the Chargers. What the Bucs have not yet confirmed is whether the orange creamsicle version or the all-pewter alternate will be part of the mix next season, leaving a little more uniform intrigue to go with a training camp report date of July 28. [Read more 🡒]
Why Baker Had Extra Fire For That Jets Game
The Netflix series Quarterback has given Buccaneers fans a closer look at Baker Mayfields edge, and one of the clearest examples came in Tampa Bays Week 3 trip to face the Jets. The episode showed how much that matchup meant to Mayfield, who carried an extra layer of motivation into the game after his time in Carolina ended in a way he clearly did not forget.
Tampa Bay left with a 29-27 win, a result that fit the tone of a statement game early in the season and helped push the Bucs to 3-0. Mayfield did his part in a tense finish, and the documentary made it clear this was more than just another regular-season test, even if the full backstory behind that fire is still part of the larger picture. [Read more 🡒]