The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will enter the 2026 season with a much younger look at cornerback, and the success of that group could play a major role in determining how much Todd Bowles' defense improves. Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish sit atop the depth chart, with Benjamin Morrison, Keionte Scott, Ayden Garnes, and recently claimed Kevin Knowles providing the depth behind them. Tampa Bay also brought former Buc Sean Murphy-Bunting back on the practice squad, giving the team an experienced option if needed.
The biggest change is Parrish's move into a starting role on the outside. After primarily playing nickel as a rookie, Parrish spent training camp working as a first-team boundary corner opposite McCollum. Bowles has also continued preparing
him to move back inside depending on the personnel package. That versatility makes Parrish the starter to watch. As a rookie, Parrish recorded 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, two interceptions and two sacks. He played 615 snaps in the box or slot compared to 127 on the outside, but Tampa Bay clearly believes he can handle a larger boundary role in Year 2. Bowles has even described Parrish as one of the team's best cover players when alongside McCollum. The Bucs could use him similarly to how they once deployed Hall of Famer Rondé Barber, keeping Parrish outside in base packages before sliding him into the slot when Tampa Bay brings another corner onto the field. That would allow Bowles to maximize one of the most versatile players in his secondary
. Behind the starters, Ayden Garnes is the rising player worth watching. The undrafted rookie out of Arizona did enough throughout the summer to earn a spot on Tampa Bay's initial 53man roster despite entering camp in a crowded cornerback competition. He also received opportunities with the first-team defense during camp, including replacing Parrish outside when Parrish shifted into the slot. Garnes currently sits behind McCollum and Morrison on the depth chart, so an immediate starting role isn't expected. But simply making the roster as an undrafted rookie shows how quickly he earned the coaching staff's attention. There are still questions about Tampa Bay's overall depth at corner, especially with such a young group. But the room also has considerably more upside than it has in recent years. Parrish has a chance to establish himself as one of the defense's long-term building blocks, while Garnes has already gone from undrafted free agent to a player worth keeping an eye on. If both continue their upward trajectory, Tampa Bay's youth movement at corner could become one of the more interesting developments on Bowles' defense this season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers preview: Cornerbacks
