The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense has been the major talking point for most in the NFL media since Baker Mayfield is the quarterback and the future Hall of Famer Mike Evans just left the team for another NFC playoff contender in the storied San Francisco 49ers franchise, but everyone who followed the Bucs last season knows that the unit with the most fine of a microscope on them is the defense.
Todd Bowles's defense was an embarrassment to the city of Tampa in 2025, playing the critical role in blowing what should have been a sure fire playoff spot in the NFC South. And though there is optimism that the rookie class, led by edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., and veterans like Alex Anzalone and A'Shawn Robinson can change this defense for the better, Bucs fans are skeptical.
And they did quietly lose a key part of their unit in a bigger loss than the departure of either legend Lavonte David or Mike Evans. Because their No. 1 cornerback Jamel Dean left, cashing in his chips with a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buccaneers CB Jacob Parrish is quietly getting buzz
So the Buccaneers are hoping that their young, talented, but totally unproven group of corners can stand tall and even play better than last season with an improved front seven, led by the likes of Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter through the NFL Draft.
Well, CBS Sports NFL writer Zachary Pereles just gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faithful something to cheer about in the defensive backfield, as he called Jacob Parrish, the Bucs starting cornerback, one of the 50 underrated players who could help define the 2026 NFL season.
It is lavish praise indeed. Pereles wrote of Parrish, "It's hard not to like what Parrish showed in 2025. The third-rounder played in the slot, outside and even at linebacker despite measuring just 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds. He is unafraid -- and quite good -- against the run, and he allowed just a 33.8 passer rating as the primary defender in man coverage. Jamel Dean is gone, so Parrish will be counted on heavily."
Jacob Parrish is competing for a starting outside cornerback job in Tampa Bay, and he fits that nasty profile of player that Todd Bowles likes. And he and rookie Keionte Scott could be real tone setters for this Buccaneers secondary at the cornerback positions, supporting the elite safety due of Tykee Smith and Antoine Winfield Jr.
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