The Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster has taken a significant hit this offseason. Mike Evans leaving in free agency and Lavonte David retiring have been the departures that capture all the headlines, but the Bucs’ depth chart has taken some under the radar hits as well.
Cornerback Jamel Dean, coming off the best season of his career, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Kindle Vildor, a depth piece signed last offseason, signed with the New England Patriots. Lastly, Christian Izien, a backup safety who could also step in as a nickel cornerback, left for the Detroit Lions. Even Bryce Hall, a veteran practice squad cornerback, wasn’t retained.
This flurry of departures has suddenly left the Buccaneers dangerously thin at the cornerback position. Behind the current starting trio of Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, and Jacob Parrish, the team doesn’t have any proven depth.
When asked by Pewter Report about the wave of cornerback losses, head coach Todd Bowles made it clear he’s looking to add to the room.
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles recognizes that they need to add another CB.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 31, 2026
“We definitely need another cornerback. Whether it’s a veteran or whether it’s a draft pick remains to be seen, and we’ll kind of go from there. We’d like to add one or two to the mix and kind of go forward from… pic.twitter.com/lJPE8RhjBy
“We definitely need another cornerback. Whether it’s a veteran or whether it’s a draft pick remains to be seen, and we’ll kind of go from there. We’d like to add one or two to the mix and kind of go forward from there.
"There are some good cornerbacks coming out in this draft, and there’s still a good few veteran cornerbacks out on the street, so we’ll play it by ear and see what we come up with.”
Taking Bowles’ comments into consideration, who are some of the remaining free agents and draft prospects the Buccaneers could be targeting to improve their cornerback room?
3 best remaining free agent cornerbacks the Buccaneers could target
Trevon Diggs
Diggs hasn’t recently performed up to the level he did early in his career, but he’s still a more-than-serviceable depth option in a thin cornerback room.
He’s appeared in 67 games during his NFL career, starting 64 of them. He’s recorded an impressive 20 interceptions throughout his career, and has caught multiple interceptions in four of his six NFL seasons.
He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 68th-ranked cornerback out of 114 qualifying players but earned a solid 65.9 coverage grade which ranked 45th.
At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, he fits the prototype of a Bowles cornerback. Tampa Bay should take a gamble on the veteran with the hopes their coaching staff can help him play to the potential that he displayed at the beginning of his career.
Tre’Davious White
It’s been awhile since White played at an elite level, but the nine-year veteran would still be a solid addition for Tampa Bay at the right price.
Last season, he graded as PFF’s 52nd-best cornerback, and was ranked 44th in coverage, placing him firmly in the top half of players at his position. He broke up five passes and caught an interception in 2025.
The Bucs shouldn’t expect top-tier play out of White, but it’s hard to turn down the chance to add a depth piece who is a seasoned veteran and a former Pro Bowler and All-Pro.
Marshon Lattimore
This would cause quite the uproar! Lattimore has been public enemy No. 1 in Tampa Bay for years stemming from his beef with Mike Evans.
But despite the rivalry, the two sides might just need each other this offseason. The Bucs badly need depth, and after an incredibly disappointing stint in Washington, Lattimore needs an opportunity.
He’s a nine-year vet with four Pro Bowl nods and an AP Second-Team All-Pro selection. Even though he’s far from his prime, he could provide a crucial veteran presence that could help mentor the team’s young starting trio and step into a starting role in a pinch.
3 cornerback prospects Buccaneers could target in 2026 NFL Draft
Tacario Davis
Tacario Davis out of the University of Washington can continue the pipeline from the Washington Huskies to the Buccaneers.
Davis measures in at 6-foot-4 with a long wingspan and 4.41 speed, boasting the physical traits that Todd Bowles values in a corner. He also brings proven production with three interceptions and 26 pass breakups in his college career, and would provide an immediate boost to a thin CB room.
Daylen Everette
Everette measures in at 6-foot-1, and ran a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash. His impressive combination of size and speed will make him an intriguing prospect for the Buccaneers.
Everette will enter the NFL with a lot of valuable experience, having appeared in 55 college games and making 41 starts. He totaled five interceptions and 17 passes defensed during his college career, so his physical traits paired with his production make him a player with legitimate starting potential in the NFL, and he could be an investment that pays dividends for Tampa Bay.
Thaddeus Dixon
Continuing the size trend on this list, Dixon is a lengthy cornerback at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds.
He’s a competitive, physical player who is strong in press coverage and a willing tackler against the run. He recorded two interceptions and 22 passes broken up during his college career.
Another part of what makes him so intriguing is that he was coached by Bill Belichick at the University of North Carolina, who is one of the best defensive coaches in the history of the sport. On top of being mentored by Belichick, he was also named a team captain, demonstrating his proven leadership.
He would be a developmental player, and the Bucs might be looking for a more immediate impact player based on their current needs, but Dixon has the potential to quickly develop into a solid backup and rotational player.