One of the unexpected dramas fans have followed as we head toward training camp was teams getting second round picks signed. It was a slow burn, but once the floodgates opened it was a financial free-for-all when it came to handing out guaranteed money fo Day 2 guys.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison was among that group. The Bucs used the No. 53 pick on the Notre Dame star, a player some thought might end up being taken before the first round was over.
Going back a year, the Bucs were mocked to take Morrison with the No. 19 pick, but he slid out of the first round and dropped right into Tampa Bay’s lap in the second round. He was the first of two cornerbacks the team took on Day 2 — the other being Kansas State ‘slot demon’ Jacob Parrish — but Morrison comes to camp with higher expectations.
He also comes with a fat new deal, one that finally got done on Sunday afternoon.
Buccaneers finally sign Benjamin Morrison and could be getting an insane bargain
The #Buccaneers agreed to terms with CB Benjamin Morrison. The 53rd pick gets 96% guaranteed in the third year of the deal. Deal negotiated by Ryan Tollner and Rick DuPont of @excelfootball with Peighton Roth of the Bucs. pic.twitter.com/ZTd9qCqUZX
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 20, 2025
That’s huge, because if all goes well the Buccaneers have a potential CB1 under contract on a rookie scale for the next three seasons. The structure of the deal gives Tampa Bay some flexibility over the first two years of Morrison’s contract and by the time his third year kicks in — which is when he’ll be expected to have fully developed into a starting corner — he’ll be a bargain with potentially other key pieces around him.
Specifically this gives the Bucs room to get a deal done with Zyon McCollum, who is in the final year of his contract and is set for a healthy extension next offseason. Getting Morrison under contract the way Tampa Bay did means it might be easier to pay McCollum and not have to worry about it eating into being able to pay for cornerback depth.
All of this hinges on Morrison’s ability to develop, which seems likely given what we’ve seen so far. He was a star at Notre Dame and had he not dealt with injuries during his last season he probably would have been a first-round picj.
That’s the type of talent the Bucs landed on Day 2, and Morrison’s lockdown ability just got even more exciting knowing the bargain Tampa Bay got in getting him under contract.
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