This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 1h ago
Bucs' CB Among Second-Year Players Under the Most Pressure in 2026
For their defense to be as good as it can be in 2026, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need their young cornerbacks to step up.
After losing their best CB, Jamel Dean, in free agency, the Bucs will be relying on a group of cornerbacks who are both talented and unproven to fill the void. Zyon McCollum, at only 27, is the grizzled veteran of the room, and is looking to bounce back after an extremely disappointing 2025 season.
Joining him as Tampa's top corners are rookie fourth-round pick Keionte Scott, who will be taking over as the slot corner, and a pair of second-year players in Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison. Parrish excelled as a rookie as the Bucs' nickelback. However, he is moving to the outside this year to accommodate Scott.
Morrison, meanwhile, had his rookie season slowed due to multiple injuries. The inability to stay healthy has plagued Morrison since high school and is threatening to derail his NFL career before it ever gets a chance to take off.
Especially with Parrish moving outside, Morrison, a 2025 second-round pick, has an incredible amount of pressure to prove that he can stay on the field and be one of Tampa's best cornerbacks.
PFF named Morrison as one of its 10 second-year players under the most pressure to perform in 2026.
Morrison Was Thought To Be A Steal
PFF notes that when the Bucs got Morrison in the second round, he was thought of as a steal. Only his injuries at Notre Dame prevented him from being drafted much higher. If healthy, he was a first-round talent.
"Countless pundits around the football landscape believed the Buccaneers landed a steal with Morrison in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but his first year as a pro was trying for several reasons.
"The Notre Dame product endured multiple leg injuries as a rookie, appearing on only 360 snaps while rotating behind Tampa Bay’s starters. When Morrison did see the field, he was susceptible in coverage with a 50.0 PFF coverage grade and 110.8 passer rating when targeted — the 17th-highest among 100 qualified corners. The ground game didn’t prove far superior for Morrison either, earning a 35.5 PFF run-defense grade and missing 21.2% of his tackle attempts.
"With Jamel Dean heading to Pittsburgh, Morrison now has a clear runway to be one of Tampa Bay’s primary cornerbacks. The quality of his play in 2026 could decide whether the Buccaneers reclaim the NFC South throne or fail to meet expectations for a second straight campaign."
Unfortunately, the injury bug has followed Morrison to Tampa. He now has the opportunity to be one of the key players for the Bucs' defense, but must compete with Parrish and McCollum for playing time.
The only way Morrison will be able to solidify a starting job is by staying on the field. Both Parrish and McCollum have had more success in their NFL careers, so it may be difficult for Morrison to overtake either one.
If he is unable to prove himself in 2026, people will begin to wonder if he will ever become the player he was thought to be coming into the league.
Final Thoughts
Even though he is only entering his season season, the pressure is already heavy for Morrison to perform. He is an incredibly gifted corner but has had his development hindered due to injury.
Morrison was thought to be a slam dunk prospect when the Bucs drafted him. However, he is already at risk of being buried on the depth chart behind Tampa's other young DBs.
Tampa didn't make any high-profile additions to replace Dean at one of its outside cornerback spots, showing the team's faith in Morrison to win and lock down the job. If Morrison spends another season missing significant time, or is thoroughly outplayed by Parrish and McCollum, the Bucs may decide it is time to move on, or at least add another CB who is more dependable.
Morrison has more than enough talent to be a top CB for the Bucs, but he must show it this season. Tampa will need him to be the player he can be for the team to accomplish its goals in 2026.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members . Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
AfterBenjamin MorrisonTampa Bay’sTampa Bay BuccaneersJamel DeanBucsZyon McCollumJoiningTampaKeionte ScottJacob ParrishParrish
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
