The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already lost cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Kindle Vildor in free agency this offseason, putting added urgency on finding capable replacements in the secondary.
“We definitely need another cornerback. Whether it’s a veteran or whether it’s a draftable pick remains to be seen and we’ll kind of go from there. But we like to add one or two to the mix.”
While Kindle Vildor primarily provided depth on defense and contributed on special teams, the departure of Jamel Dean carries far more weight, as he held a starting role for much of his seven-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay still has Zyon McCollum in place as a foundational piece in the secondary after he secured a deal worth roughly $16 million per year last offseason.
The Buccaneers also used second- and third-round picks in last year’s draft on Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. The pair combined for eight starts as rookies, and their roles are expected to grow heading into 2026 and beyond. Even so, bolstering the position with additional depth through the later waves of free agency or the draft remains a sensible objective.
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Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith are expected to hold down the starting safety spots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the secondary as a whole still needs to take a step forward. After finishing 27th against the pass in 2025, improvement on the back end is clearly needed. How Tampa Bay addresses the cornerback position—whether through free agency or the draft—will be a key storyline as the offseason unfolds.
The Buccaneers currently have roughly $14 million in cap space, leaving the door open for a modest addition via free agency or trade. Tampa Bay also holds a full slate of picks in next month’s draft, including the No. 15 overall selection, giving Todd Bowles and company multiple avenues to reinforce the roster in the weeks ahead.