When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look back on the 2026 offseason, they'll likely remember it as the time general manager Jason Licht went to work. With free agency and the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, Licht made smart, aggressive moves to patch up the roster's most glaring weaknesses. If those decisions pay off quickly, the Bucs could easily reclaim their throne atop the NFC South.
But here's the thing about building a championship team—no roster is ever truly perfect. ESPN's NFL analyst Aaron Schatz recently pointed out what he sees as Tampa Bay's biggest remaining hole: depth at outside cornerback. And while his concern is fair, the reality might not be as dire as it sounds.
Schatz broke it down like this: "The Buccaneers have plenty of options in the slot. Tykee Smith was a nickel a couple of seasons ago, Jacob Parrish was a nickel in 2025, and fourth-round rookie Keionte Scott is a great nickel/safety hybrid addition. But what happens if there's an injury to one of the starting outside cornerbacks, either Zyon McCollum or Benjamin Morrison? The third outside corner is Josh Hayes, who didn't play a single defensive snap last season. The fourth outside corner is Damarion Williams, who hasn't played any regular season snaps since 2023. Veterans such as Trevon Diggs and L'Jarius Sneed make sense here if they can be signed."
On the surface, that logic holds up. But the Bucs have a few tricks up their sleeve that Schatz may have overlooked. Jacob Parrish, who primarily played nickel as a rookie, is more versatile than his early role suggests. He's capable of lining up on the boundary, and the team has plans to give him more opportunities there this season. In fact, he already logged 127 snaps on the outside last year. And with Keionte Scott and Tykee Smith both capable of handling nickel duties, the Bucs have some flexibility to shift personnel around.
Still, there's no denying that adding a veteran cornerback would give the secondary a nice safety net. After all, the injury bug has a way of finding teams in the NFL, and the Bucs know that better than most. A reliable, high-end backup would provide peace of mind and keep the defense humming if McCollum or Morrison miss time. But for now, the cupboard isn't as bare as some might think.