Buccaneers: Why can’t they find good cornerbacks?
In my third article on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team needs and why they have struggled so much to fill them in recent years, we will focus on the struggles of finding and keeping corner back.
In the third part of my series on Buccaneers team needs (Running backs and Defensive Ends earlier) I will focus on the corner back position and the issues the Buccaneers have had with finding … and keeping good corners. Obviously the best corner in Buccaneers team history is Ronde Barber who was a rock in the secondary from 1997 thru the 2012 season playing in an NFL record 224 straight games (including playoffs) as a corner back/safety with 209 (including playoffs) of those games as a corner back. Barber came in as a third round draft pick played his entire career with the Buccaneers and finished with 1231 tackles, and is the only corner in NFL history with at least 40 interceptions (47) and 20 sacks (28) and had eight touchdowns. Now onto the yearly struggles of trying to find another quality corner in draft and free agency to play alongside of Barber or to replace him when he hung them up.
Through the draft the Buccaneers have managed to find a few quality corners but not many top corners … that they kept anyway (more on that later). One example was in 1998 they selected Brian Kelly in the second round (45), and he was instrumental in the Buccaneers Super Bowl defense playing alongside Barber through 2007. Kelly played in 130 (141 career) games starting in 79 (89 career) with 387 tackles, 22 interceptions, 3.5 sacks, one touchdown, and of course a Super Bowl Championship.
With Ronde at one corner for so long no real impactful corner back was drafted by the Buccaneers until 2008 when Aqib Talib was selected in the first round. Playing in 58 (135 career) games with 45 (121 career) starts from 2008-2012 with 179 tackles and 18 interceptions for the Buccaneers.
Then after a four game PED suspension in 2012 he was traded to the New England Patriots, and … then proceeded to go to five straight Pro Bowls (2013-2017) with New England and Denver and winning a Super Bowl as a key shutdown corner with Denver in 2015. After the Buccaneers traded him he has amassing 251 tackles, sixteen interceptions, and seven touchdowns and became one of the best shutdown corners in the league and a main cog in the Broncos Super Bowl secondary … and trading him away because he was a headache for the Buccaneers was a good idea right?
In 2013, the Buccaneers went for a cornerback again early in the draft selecting Johnathan Banks in the second round (43). Banks looked promising early on before falling apart in the “Lovie Smith system” and was traded away in 2016 to the Lions. As a Buccaneer he ended up playing in a total of 50 (57 career) games starting 37 (40 career), with 130 tackles and seven interceptions from 2013 to 2016. Another swing and a miss at cornerback for the Buccaneers early in the draft.
Must Read: Jerick McKinnon FA Spotlight
In 2016 the Buccaneers drafted a corner in the first round for the first time since 2008 selecting Vernon Hargreaves who has played in 25 career games starting 23, but has struggled mightily in coverage with 118 tackles and just one interception. During the 2017 season he was moved to slot corner which so far appears to be the best spot for him. Another early draft pick whiff … so far anyway.
With corner being such a big need the Buccaneers went to the well again in their fourth round pick selecting Ryan Smith. Who has played mainly as a special teamer while playing in 29 games while starting ten, and has 61 tackles and zero interceptions. Not what they were hoping for from two cornerbacks drafted early in the 2016 … so far anyway.
The Buccaneers have failed miserable in the draft at finding a corner drafting just three in the first of the draft since 2008, and traded away their best selection in Talib. Unable to add little help at corner through the draft lets see how they have done in free agency at finding a corner back.
Since 2013 when Ronde Barber retired the Buccaneers have not been successful at drafting his replacement, or any corner for that matter, so let move on to the free agent acquisitions and see if they are any better. The first acquisition in 2012 was Eric Wright whom the Buccaneers thought would solidify the position, but instead he was another failed attempted as he was traded to the 49ers after ten games with 31 tackles and one interception. In 2013 Darrel Revis was acquired via trade after an ACL tear and he played in all sixteen games with 50 tackles and two interceptions before being released by Lovie Smith as part of his team makeover and to save money. In 2014 Michael Jenkins was brought in but missed the season. Playing in 2015 he played in 15 games with five starts and had 15 tackles and zero interceptions. 2014 also brought Alterraun Verner who was also quickly hit by the “Lovie Smith system” and fell out of favor playing in 46 games mainly on special team and in the slot while starting 23 with 140 tackles and four interceptions before being released. In 2015 Sterling Moore came in and played in all sixteen games while starting nine with 45 tackles and two interceptions and was not resigned. In 2016 prized corner Brent Grimes was signed after attempts were made to sign him in 2013. Through two seasons with the Buccaneers he has played in 29 games with 104 tackles and seven interceptions and has been the team’s best corner the last two seasons but now is a free agent.
Going through this list of free agents since Ronde retired and you see that pretty much all of them have been failures except Brent Grimes in 2016.
If you look at all the cornerbacks brought in since way back in 2008 via the draft, trades, and free agency you see that the Buccaneers have struggled mightily in finding that corner, and it has shown greatly in their passing defensive stats. Especially if you look at just the last five seasons the Buccaneers have allowed an average of 66.8% completions to opposing quarterbacks, for 3982 yards/season (10th most), 248.9 yards/game, 27 touchdowns, and only fifteen interceptions.
Another area that these defensive stats have had the most effect on is in the win/loss record as during this five year span the Buccaneers have a record of 26 wins and 54 losses (.325), and just 9 wins and 21 losses (.300) in the division which is why they have finished last in four of the five seasons.
Now imagine if you will that the Buccaneers had not traded away Aqib Talib or released Darrel Revis and those two were the Buccaneers corners from 2013 until last season, how would our defensive have played? (Sigh, wishful thinking). Instead sadly with just Hargreaves and Smith on the active roster the Buccaneers will be in search of corners again this offseason.
Luckily for them this off season there are plenty of options in free agency such as 28-year-old Trumaine Johnson who in six seasons with the Rams has played in 85 games while starting 62 with 327 tackles, 67 passes defensed, and eighteen interceptions. Although coming off a season where he was the franchise tagged by the Rams he will not come cheap.
More from The Pewter Plank
- Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
- ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
- Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
- Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
- The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
Another option could be former first round pick Kyle Fuller who in three seasons with the Bears played in 48 games while starting 46 with 186 tackles, 41 passes defensed, and eight interceptions. He could come a little cheaper as he missed most of the 2016 season with a knee injury.
2014 Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler is another option in free agency in his four seasons he has played in 59 games while starting 48 with 209 tackles, 50 passes defensed, and eight interceptions but with his playoff and Super Bowl performances (minus last Super Bowl) he will also not come cheap for the Buccaneers.
Which one would look best in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform at the start of next season?
In my opinion the Buccaneers will sign one or two corners in free agency (probably one starter and a depth player) and will also most likely draft a corner, and if Brent Grimes chooses not to return to the team then they will sign two and draft two. Either way as you can see corner has been a concern for the team basically since Ronde Barber retired. For some reason when the Buccaneers have had good talented corners (Talib and Revis) they have gotten rid of them almost like they don’t want a good secondary and it has cost them.
Next: With Need at Corner was Avoiding Marcus Peters Right Move?
So why have the Buccaneers continued to struggle at finding good cornerbacks and how do they go about fixing the issue and will they finally be able to fix the issue during this offseason?
Now it’s your turn to tell me what you think that the Buccaneers need to do this off season to finally fix the corner back position or if they will be able to? Feel free to tell me in the comment section or tweet me directly @ND1Bucsfan who do you think they should or will sign in free agency or draft to finally solve the corner problem. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy.
Once a Buccaneers fan always a Buccaneers fan through the Best of time … and the worst of time, and free agency’s is quickly approaching (woohoo!!) and as always … FIRE THEM CANNONS!!!