The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked out of Week 7 with more than a lopsided 43-13 win over the Carolina Panthers. They may also have a cornerback making his case as one of the best in the league right now.
Ryan Clark said the quiet part out loud after watching Tampa Bay roll in Carolina, calling Zyon McCollum the “All Pro Corner” for the first part of the season.
For those who know ball y’all get this! 1st quarter of the season All Pro Corner… Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Zyon McCollum
McCollum has absolutely stacked up a strong start. He’s been difficult to find in coverage, and when quarterbacks do look his way, they have not had much success. Through this stretch, he has eight passes defended, one interception and 23 solo tackles.
He also added a memorable moment on Sunday. McCollum scooped up a blocked kick against the Panthers and returned it for a touchdown, piling on to Tampa Bay’s dominant day.
The Buccaneers’ defense was busy across the board. It forced a scoop and score, picked off Bryce Young twice and got to him five times in the backfield.
McCollum has been effective alongside Jacob Parrish, but the All-Pro conversation is crowded. Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has been turning in a huge season and added another interception against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, while Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie has also been performing at a high level.
Not everyone is sold on McCollum, either. His PFF grade sits at 60.8, which ranks 54th among NFL cornerbacks.
If McCollum is going to stay in that All-Pro discussion, Tampa Bay will need to keep stacking wins. The first step came in Carolina, and the next chance arrives next Sunday when the Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.
In Other News...
Bucs May Have Found The Identity Todd Bowles Has Been Chasing
Todd Bowles has spent much of the season talking about the kind of team he wants the Buccaneers to be, and Sunday in the 43-13 win over Carolina offered another clear example of the blueprint. Tampa Bay leaned into its running game, stayed physical and handled the Panthers with the sort of discipline Bowles has pushed for since camp, turning a lopsided division win into another sign that the offense can impose its will when the ground game is humming.
Bucky Irving has become a big reason why. The second-year back has climbed to eighth in the NFL in rushing yards and is on pace for a career-best season after last years injuries slowed him down, giving the Bucs a runner who can keep drives moving and help control games. With the backfield producing and the offense looking more balanced, the bigger question now is whether this version of Tampa Bay can keep that edge when the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Decision Fans Didn't Expect
At 2-5, the Buccaneers are in a spot where every week can reshape the conversation around the trade deadline. A team that still sees a path in the NFC South has to balance the urge to stay patient with the need to patch obvious holes, and inside linebacker has emerged as one of the areas worth watching if Tampa Bay keeps itself in the race after Week 8.
One possible name being tossed into that conversation is Philadelphias Zack Baun, a player whose recent rise has made him a natural fit for teams looking to upgrade the middle of the defense. The question for Tampa Bay is whether the cost of making that kind of move matches the urgency of its season, since any pursuit would have to line up with both the salary and the draft capital such a deal would demand. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Win Didn't Silence One Big Baker Mayfield Debate
The Buccaneers win over Carolina gave them a needed lift and nudged the record to 2-5, but it did not erase the larger conversation around how this roster is built around Baker Mayfield. The offense has had enough moments to stay competitive, yet the long view still points toward the same question Tampa Bay has been wrestling with: how much help can the quarterback realistically expect from the players around him?
One recent evaluation of the roster frames the next stretch of team building around the skill positions, where the Bucs need more impact and consistency to take pressure off Mayfield. There are still contract questions, current production to weigh, and younger pieces trying to establish themselves, but the bigger concern is whether Tampa Bay can keep asking the passing game to carry so much of the load without adding more difference-makers on the outside and at tight end. [Read more 🡒]