The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t had the start to the season they envisioned, but that hasn’t stopped some individual players from standing out.
Despite sitting at 3-5, the Bucs have several players performing at an elite level and establishing themselves among the best at their respective positions.
While the team’s early struggles, including an 0-4 start, have overshadowed some of their individual performances, these 4 players deserve some serious consideration for All-Pro honors.
4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making strong cases for All-Pro honors
CB Jacob Parrish
Jacob Parrish has been one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks this season. Through eight weeks, his 13 passes defended lead the NFL, and he also has two interceptions to his name.
Pro Football Focus has given Parrish the fourth-highest coverage grade among all cornerbacks through eight weeks.
If he continues to lock down opposing wide receivers, lead the league in passes broken up, and create turnovers, it’ll be impossible to ignore his All-Pro candidacy.
CB Zyon McCollum
Zyon McCollum is another Buccaneers cornerback playing at an All-Pro level.
His nine passes defended rank fourth among all cornerbacks, and like Parrish, he also has two interceptions on the season. His 46.2 passer rating allowed when targeted ranks 10th among all cornerbacks.
McCollum’s magnum opus came in Week 5 when he held Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb without a single catch in their head-to-head matchups.
He’s playing the best football of his career, and is undoubtedly one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks this season.
RB Bucky Irving
After a slow start to the season, averaging just 60 yards per game through the first four weeks, Irving has averaged 122 yards per game since.
His 728 rushing yards currently rank fourth in the NFL, and his 5.0 yards per carry average is tied for fifth among running backs with at least 100 carries.
He’s scored five times on the ground, and has also added to his resume in the passing game with 18 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.
If he can continue his current pace of rushing for 100-plus yards per game while putting the Buccaneers offense on his back, he’ll certainly he in consideration for All-Pro honors.
K Chase McLaughlin
As good as the other players on this list have been, no Buccaneer is more worthy of an All-Pro nod so far than Chase McLaughlin.
McLaughlin is one of only two kickers this season to have made every field goal and extra point attempt through eight weeks, going 19-for-19 on field goal tries with a long of 59 yards and 17-for-17 on extra points.
He’s not only extremely accurate, but also has one of the strongest legs and deepest ranges in the NFL, which is a huge asset for Tampa Bay.
McLaughlin has somehow never earned All-Pro or even Pro Bowl honors during his career, but if he continues to kick at this level, the league will have no choice but to recognize him among the NFL’s elite.
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