The Bucs secondary was set to have higher expectations given the pieces they brought in during the 2025 offseason. The highlight of it all was the draft picks of Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish as they looked to bring some youthful energy and playmaking to the team. While Morrison proved to be hit and miss at times, Parrish was among one of the best nickel corners in the entire NFL.
Now, as we get into the thick of it for the 2026 offseason, folks are making projections for the next year. PFF Dalton Wasserman wrote up one breakout candidate for each team next year. For the Bucs, he projects it to be Parrish.
Wasserman writes, "Parrish filled a variety of roles for the Buccaneers this season. His 69.3 PFF overall grade ranked second among qualified rookie cornerbacks. He intercepted two passes while breaking up three others en route to a respectable 66.6 PFF coverage grade. More impressively, he owned a 78.5 PFF run-defense grade — a top-15 mark at his position. Parrish should be a mainstay in Tampa Bay’s secondary heading into 2026."
Parrish could be the starting nickel once again in 2026, or he could be moved to outside if the team moves on from Jamel Dean. Regardless, he is poised for a major role change in 2026, with more on his plate as the team looks to bounce back overall, especially in the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs' 2025 draft pick projected for breakout season in 2026
