The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Jacob Parrish with their third-round pick of last year’s NFL Draft, and he proved to be a bright spot on an otherwise lousy defense.
Parrish won the starting nickel cornerback job last offseason and did an admirable job filling the role as a rookie. Heading into his second season, he’s a logical candidate to break out and become a true star in Tampa Bay.
Jacob Parrish is Buccaneers’ top breakout candidate in 2026
The organization is extremely high on Parrish, and as a result, he’s expected to take on an even bigger role for the defense in 2026.
Todd Bowles has said this offseason that Parrish will have a chance to compete for the outside cornerback spot, rather than being pencilled into the nickel spot.
With longtime starter Jamel Dean leaving in free agency, and several backups leaning as well, the Bucs will need somebody to step up at outside cornerback. Parrish has all of the tools to step into the role.
His versatility to play both inside and outside is rare, and will make Parrish one of the team’s most valuable defensive pieces.
Last season, Parrish ranked 32nd out of 114 cornerbacks via PFF. He notched two interceptions and seven passes defended. He also ranked 11th as a run defender, recording 76 total tackles and two sacks.
Parrish has already proven to be an effective defender against both the pass and the run. Taking on an even bigger role in his second season could make him more of a household name and elevate him into superstar status going forward if he can build off of his impressive rookie campaign.
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