Zyon McCollum didn’t walk away with a win Sunday, but he did walk away looking like one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ clearest answers in the secondary.
That matters for a team that spent the offseason reinforcing the defensive front seven and largely betting on the corners already in house to take care of the rest. Tampa Bay didn’t make a big splash at cornerback after losing Jamel Dean in free agency.
The biggest addition was fourth-round pick Keionte Scott. Beyond that, the Bucs were counting on internal growth, and McCollum was at the center of it.
Without Dean, McCollum is now the veteran presence in a room that also includes second-year players Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes, Scott and 23-year-old Kevin Knowles. That puts plenty on McCollum’s shoulders, especially after a rough 2025 season following his three-year, $48 million contract extension right before the start of that year.
He had flashed like a player on the rise early in his career, the kind of corner who looked ready to grow into a true CB1. Tampa Bay needs that version back.
Sunday’s 33-27 loss had no shortage of problems. Baker Mayfield lost three of the Buccaneers’ four fumbles, the revamped defensive line struggled to affect Joe Burrow, and star rookie Rueben Bain Jr. was held to just one tackle. But McCollum was not part of the issue.
He was a major bright spot against the Bengals’ elite receiver tandem of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. McCollum lined up against both and came out on top more often than not, helping hold the pair to five catches for 71 yards and no touchdowns.
Chase, in particular, was kept under wraps. McCollum’s tight coverage limited him to four targets, and Chase finished with just two receptions for 12 yards.
Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison also followed McCollum’s lead and held up well against a dangerous passing attack, even after Parrish left the game with a back injury. For a secondary that came into the season with plenty of questions, that kind of showing stands out.
The result still stung, but Week 1 offered Tampa Bay something to build on in the defensive backfield. If McCollum can hold his own against Chase and Higgins, there aren’t many receiver duos he’ll see this season that should scare him more.
That makes Week 2 another chance for him to keep rolling. The Buccaneers will face the Cleveland Browns, who were beaten 34-10 by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In Other News...
Tristan Wirfs Rare Bucs Feat Looks Even More Remarkable Now
When the Detroit Lions shifted All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell to the left side this season, it brought fresh attention to a move the Buccaneers already know can be tricky. Tristan Wirfs made the same switch in 2023, and he did it while still looking like one of the leagues best linemen, which only adds to how unusual that transition really is.
Sewell has had a tougher opening to the change, and the early contrast underscores how rare it is for a tackle to flip sides without a noticeable dip. For Tampa Bay, Wirfs first year on the left now looks even more impressive, a reminder that what seemed like a smooth adjustment was actually a remarkable feat. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Had A Revealing Reaction To Buccaneers' Defensive Showing
JaMarr Chases quiet opener was notable not just for the numbers, but for the way he framed them afterward. After catching only two passes in Cincinnatis season-opening win, the receiver said an earlier version of himself might have let that kind of outing get to him, but hes now more focused on staying mentally locked in and ready for whatever the game script brings. He also made it clear he did not ask Joe Burrow for more targets, a small but telling sign of where his head is as the Bengals move on.
Chases comments land with added weight for the Buccaneers, who know how quickly a receiver of his caliber can change a game once hes fully engaged. He also gave Houstons defense its due ahead of the next matchup, which only adds to the sense that opposing coordinators are still trying to figure out how to keep him from taking over. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder that even when a star has a quiet day, the threat level never really goes away. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Need A Fast Bounce Back From These Key Players
The Buccaneers Week 1 loss to the Bengals left enough to unpack, but the bigger concern was how a few of the teams most important pieces looked in the opener. Baker Mayfield, Alex Anzalone and Yaya Diaby were all flagged in the analysis as players who did not deliver at the level Tampa Bay needs, and that matters even more with Cleveland up next.
A fast rebound from that group could go a long way toward settling things down for a team that came up short in a 33-27 defeat. The schedule does not leave much room for lingering disappointment, and the Browns present another chance for Tampa Bay to show that the opener was a blip rather than a sign of deeper problems. [Read more 🡒]