Buccaneers steal athletic monster on Day Three of 2022 NFL Draft

Buccaneers fans may not like that the team had to give up a 2023 pick to bring him in, but they are going to love the upside of Zyon McCollum.

When the news came out that the Buccaneers gave up a 2023 fourth-round pick to get back into the fifth round, a sense of panic ran through the mind of some fans.

This class is understandably not excellent. Teams have shown little willingness to give up anything from next year with so many better options on the horizon. Most teams are trying to make the most of what they can get from this year with current picks, and the Bucs dipping into next year to move up this year makes them relatively unique.

However, once the pick was announced, Bucs fans should be able to breathe a sigh of relief. As raw as he may be, the Buccaneers taking one of the most athletic corners in NFL history in the fifth round is hard to hate.

Zyon McCollum may have spent his college career at a small school, but that did little to hinder his athletic development. McCollum is currently one of a few players in this draft to have a perfect 10.0 RAS, something no team should take lightly.

The combination of perfect size and blazing speed makes players like McCollum an excellent pick for a team that Todd Bowles will lead for the next few years.

McCollum may be a little rough around the edges, but he has one of the best coaches in the NFL to develop him into a contributing corner.

Buccaneers fans may not see him on the field much in 2022, but Zyon McCollum is a perfect combination of forward-thinking and current insurance by the Buccaneer front office.

We’ll be looking forward to watching this kid play during the preseason.

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