The Tampa Bay Buccaneers invested heavily in the cornerback position last offseason. They drafted Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft and later signed Zyon McCollum to a three-year contract extension.
They also re-signed Bryce Hall and added Kindle Vildor in free agency in an attempt to bolster their depth at the position.
But despite this flurry of moves, it's hard to feel comfortable about the team's cornerback situation heading into 2026.
Tampa Bay's best cornerback in 2025 was Jamel Dean, but he'll be entering free agency after a career year and is unlikely to be re-signed. McCollum regressed after earning his three-year extension and also missed four games due to injury. Morrison, the team's second-round rookie, had an injury-riddled rookie season in which he missed seven games with injuries.
Parrish looks to be a home-run draft pick and a cornerstone for the future, but he's likely to continue serving as the nickel cornerback, leaving questions about the team's depth on the outside. With McCollum regressing and Morrison yet to prove he can be counted on as a full-time starter, the team would be wise to look into proven options at outside cornerback. The Seattle Seahawks have an impending free agent that could be the solution to the problem.
Buccaneers should target Tariq Woolen in free agency
Tariq Woolen had a down year in 2025, ranking a mediocre 61st out of 114 cornerbacks per Pro Football Focus, but that could help the Buccaneers land him at a value in free agency.
Bowles tends to covet lengthy, speedy outside cornerbacks when scouting prospects during the draft process. Two players he drafted, Dean and McCollum, are both over 6-feet-tall and ran a 4.3 40-yard dash.
Woolen fits the prototype of a typical Bowles cornerback. He is a massive 6-foot-4 and ran a blazing 4.26 40-yard dash.
Woolen only caught one interception in 2025, but he caught multiple in every other season of his career. He had six interceptions as a rookie, two in 2023, and three in 2024. He possesses the ballhawk traits that Bowles has emphasized over the last few years.
Woolen isn't a perfect player -- he's prone to some blown coverages and infamously committed a boneheaded taunting penalty that almost cost the Seahawks during the NFC Championship Game. He needs to clean up some of the weaker aspects of his game, but at just 26 years old, there is still plenty of time for him to develop.
🚨HISTORICALLY DUMB PLAY🚨
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 26, 2026
TARIQ WOOLEN WAS TAUNTING THE #RAMS BENCH AFTER A THIRD AND 12 STOP.
THE REFS CALLED A 15 YARD PENALTY AND AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN.
THE VERY NEXT PLAY RIQ GOT COOKED FOR A TOUCHDOWN.
COULD COST HIS TEAM A TRIP TO THE SUPER BOWL.pic.twitter.com/Sy9Av7jPcb
The Seahawks will have some tough decisions to make this offseason. Devon Witherspoon, the team's No. 1 cornerback is nearing the end of his rookie contract and will soon be due for a massive extension. Cornerback Josh Jobe and safety Coby Bryant are also important players that are entering free agency this offseason. If Woolen slips through the cracks and hits the open market, Tampa Bay should take a chance on him to help replace Dean and reinforce the cornerback depth.