Looking At Corner?
January 15th, 2025
Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison.
Joe really tries to wait to jump into the draft pool until after free agency. That doesn’t mean Joe won’t monitor the draft — shoot, Joe will be at the combine in six weeks.
Draft coverage really fries Joe’s brain so Joe doesn’t dive in until after free agency in March. Often, by the time the draft rolls around, the burnout is so bad Joe can barely make it through the day.
But, how bout a little draft talk while it seems most of Bucs fandom is sour at Todd Bowles.
Joe thinks the Bucs, picking at No. 19, need an inside linebacker in the worst way. Don’t ask Joe which one. There is a very real chance both Lavonte David and K.J. Britt are not here in a few weeks.
So the Bucs have a hole bigger there than what Tristan Wirfs can create.
Over at the PFF tribe, they seem to think cornerback is the way to go. Jordan Plocher and Josh Liskiewitz of the PFF tribe think Notre Dame corner Benjamin Morrison is a savvy pick.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Jamel Dean has been consistently good in coverage but will be heading into his seventh season in 2025. The freakishly athletic Zyon McCollum showed improvement in his third season, but you can never have enough talented cornerbacks.
Benjamin Morrison played both out wide and in the slot at Notre Dame. Morrison was primarily in a man coverage role in college and that man coverage experience will help him as he transitions to the NFL. The Buccaneers won’t ask Morrison to play man coverage as much as he did at Notre Dame, as the Buccaneers used man coverage on 18.8% of snaps in the 2024 regular season. After man coverage, Morrison played the deep-third more than he did any other coverage role at Notre Dame, and the Buccaneers ran Cover 3 on 43.5% of pass plays in 2024. Morrison’s proven ability to play the deep-third in Cover 3 as well as sticky man coverage makes him a great match for the Buccaneers schematically and adds to their secondary depth.
While Joe knows the Bucs need to load up on inside linebackers — don’t get Joe started about outside linebackers — a good corner isn’t a dumb call.
Joe is at the end of his rope with Jamel Dean. Dean isn’t a bad player, but man, this guy is beyond brittle. Dean could be Deion Sanders but if he can’t stay on the field, he is of no use.
The last two playoff games Dean had game-ending injuries. In the 2022 season playoff game, Dean rode the bench injured and Sean Murphy-Bunting started in his place. This season, he missed the most games of his career with various ailments. Dean may be a decent to good corner, but he can’t be trusted any longer to answer the bell.
The Bucs must have a quality corner ready to go when Dean gets hurt — and he will get hurt.
Joe would have loved to see what Morrison would have done against Ohio State’s monsters at receiver, but alas he’s out with a hip injury and reportedly needs surgery. So maybe that pushes him out of the first round?
Regardless, corner is a position the Bucs need to focus on (along with inside linebacker) for the aforementioned reasons.
January 15th, 2025 at 10:13 am
I think he’s out for the season with a hip injury.
January 15th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Amen!
January 15th, 2025 at 10:27 am
One of two All Americans Notre Dame is missing on Defense and was a projected top 15 pick before the season. He locked up Jeremiah Smith last yr in the bowl game. Also missing 3 other starters on defense, but swamp people SEC fans that cheer for conferences instead of teams want to make excuses for sorry Carson Beck being out as if they were missing Joe Burrow. If ND werent missing half their defense and offensive line then Ohio State is favored by maybe a point, point and a half
January 15th, 2025 at 10:30 am
We need a HC first before we start talking about adding personnel
January 15th, 2025 at 10:36 am
Morrison will probably gone anyway.
SHAVON REVEL (East Carolina)
DORIAN STRONG (Virginia Tech)
QUINCY RILEY (Louisville)
JABAAR MUHAMMAD (Oregon)
AYDAN WHITE (North Carolina St)
DK KAUFMAN (North Carolina St)
ALIJAH HUZZIE (North Carolina)
TERRON MALLORY (Norfolk St)
CAM OLIVER (UNLV) (just needs a couple of lbs. on him though)
I’m sure some will have something to say because Johnson & Hunter will be gone by then. Morrison might, too!
January 15th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Dean could be Deion??? LMAO
Deion made more plays in his first two seasons than Dean has made in his six.
He’s a porcelain doll and he makes no impact plays.
#bye
January 15th, 2025 at 10:44 am
So is Hurtvocea Dennis the Jamel Dean of the ILB’s?
January 15th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Thanks Wisco.
January 15th, 2025 at 10:50 am
A backup linebacker who is available two or three games a year is an endangered species.
Let’s not get crazy about Dean here. At least he can play a dozen games a year.
January 15th, 2025 at 11:00 am
While Joe knows the Bucs need to load up on inside linebackers — don’t get Joe started about outside linebackers — a good corner isn’t a dumb call.
—-
I agree with you on all counts. Desperate need for both inside as well as outside LB. Generally I loath the idea of drafting CB in the first round but this time around it would be hard to argue the need to get that addressed.
January 15th, 2025 at 11:00 am
I still think it doesn’t matter what CB or DE we draft the Bucs need to replace or move around the DL and CB coaches and change the D scheme /Philosophy a bit. Over the pass 2 years, I’ve seen multiple CBs and DEs that showed big time potential and then just fade off into the sunset Bowles please replace at least the DL coach. Just take a look at what happened this year The OL coach who was known as one of the better OL coaches in the NFL left and the OL made a hell of a improvement under the new OL coach
January 15th, 2025 at 11:14 am
I love LVD, but I think he will retire. Britt will not be re-signed. Russel will be re-signed, but he and SVD would be only temporary starters. They’ve made a couple splash plays but their overall play isn’t good. I don’t know if there are any good FA ILB’s out there, but it’s a position that I’d rather have an experience player rather than draft a rookie.
At CB, I’d go with a first round pick like Shavon Revel Jr. , a 6’3″ guy from East Carolina.
If Bowles is coming back, I have no faith in his staff to develop a rookie edge, so Licht should go find one in FA after JTS is let go and Nellie re-signed.
January 15th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Dean is the “fastest guy” that’s always out of position . Zyon is a keeper
January 15th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Trey
“We need a HC first before we start talking about adding personnel”
Perhaps you missed the memo. We already HAVE an HC. I doubt that the Glazers or Todd Licht are going to be influenced by your opinion.
Perhaps because they are PROFESSIONALS whose livelihoods and respect depend on their decisions. We keyboard warriors get to come here and shoot our mouths off with ZERO repercussions for our mistakes. No judgement to come on us if they followed OUR advice.
I hope all of you can forgive me if I have a pecking order of respect that is baked in for actual people working in the job, or on the next level the joes because of their incredible work ethic.
I respect some posters here as well but not as much as actual NFL coaches and GM’s or the jjjoes.
January 15th, 2025 at 11:36 am
i’d bet CB in Round 1. 4-5 good ones at 19.
I’d bet MLB in Round 2. 2-3 good ones should be available.
We draft M1k3’s replacement in R1 of 2026. Baker’s replacement in R1 of 2027.
January 15th, 2025 at 11:43 am
I gotchu and I love where your head is at with a CB for the pick!
January 15th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
I’m not smart enough to know if we should draft a CB in round 1.
Or an ILB, edge, or DL.
I do know we need help at all of those positions. And a lot will depend on what happens in free agency or retirements. (Don’t like thinking about LVD retiring, but it’s a very real possibility).
Jamel plays good when he’s not injured. He’s not elite, but he’s sound and fairly solid.
But, he’s injured way to much.
I would vote to let him go if it will cost us less than it would to keep him.
January 15th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Darien Porter – Height: 6’4″ | Weight: 200 lbs | 40 Time: 4.38 seconds
Trey Amos – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 186 lbs | 40 Time: 4.42 seconds
Dorian Strong – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 185 lbs | 40 Time: 4.42 seconds
Cobee Bryant – Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 175 lbs | 40 Time: 4.45 seconds
Maxwell Hairston – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 186 lbs | 40 Time: 4.48 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
test
January 15th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Darien Porter – Height: 6’4″ | Weight: 200 lbs | 40 Time: 4.38 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Trey Amos – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 186 lbs | 40 Time: 4.42 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Dorian Strong – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 185 lbs | 40 Time: 4.42 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Cobee Bryant – Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 175 lbs | 40 Time: 4.45 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Maxwell Hairston – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 186 lbs | 40 Time: 4.48 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
M. Hairston – Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 186 lbs | 40 Time: 4.48 seconds
January 15th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Corner linebacker and another safety Winfield missed half the season its not a surprise he missed a lot of time in college also.
January 15th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
As long as we don’t start a rookie corner, I don’t want to hear anything in week one about Communication issues
January 15th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
I would love to see Licht bring in another experienced, versatile defensive back—someone who can seamlessly transition between safety and strong safety, much like Budda Baker.
January 15th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Draft
CB – Darien Porter
NB/S – Sabastian Castro
Free Agent
Budda Baker
Re-Sign
Bryce Hall
CB Jamel Dean | Bryce Hall | Tyrek Funderburk
CB Zyron McCollum | Darien Porter
NB Tykee Smith | Sabastian Castro | Christian Izien
S Antoine Winefield Jr | Kaevon Merriweather
SS. Budda Baker | Jordan Whitehead
January 15th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
Budda Baker has earned the following awards throughout his career:
All-Pro Selections: 4x
2017: First-team All-Pro (special teams)
2020: First-team All-Pro (safety)
2021: Second-team All-Pro (safety)
2024: Second-team All-Pro (safety)
Pro Bowl Selections: 7x
2017: Pro Bowl (special teams)
2019-2024: Pro Bowl (safety)
Budda Baker’s veteran savvy and all-around playmaking ability make him a standout safety. His experience, high football IQ, and leadership elevate any defense, especially in coverage and tackling in the middle of the field. For a team that has struggled with these aspects, adding a player of Baker’s caliber would be a game-changer, significantly improving their ability to defend in critical areas.
January 15th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Joe is always stressing for the need for an outside pass rush and all of a sudden he switches tracks to a CB. Insane.
January 15th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Honestly there is no point looking at Cornerbacks if they will be coached to sit 10 yds off the receivers 90% of the snaps.
January 15th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
There are holes all over the Bucs defense. Prob most critical is LB. David is the most productive, but he’s a FA and it’s not clear he wants to return or retire. If Dennis recovers from his injury, at best he’s still LB by committee… none of whom are a reliable starter. Diaby regressed from his promising rookie season, and he and Nelson (the second most productive Edge) combined for 9.5 sacks, which is about half the necessary production needed from the combined OLB starters. The whole defense is a train wreck, it has gotten worse each year, and Bowles seems clueless about how to fix it. The guy in charge saying “We just got to play better” gets frustrating to hear when the play is getting worse.
January 15th, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Bucs head coach does not seem to be able to make defensive players better. Seems crazy to keep the same coaching staff.
January 15th, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Yep … this the guy I keep taking in simulated drafts
January 15th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Morrison’s potential and fixture at CB could do for our Oline what the pick of Barton did for our Oline this year. Would all but solidify our Secondary and could then zero in on ILB, and Defensive depth. If we can sign or trade for an Edge, nail CB1 and ILB off top in draft … we are essentially just defensive upgrades/depth away from a SuperBowl by Pick 3
January 15th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
I mean do for our Defensive backfired. Really like either this pick or a Beast Edge that might fall
January 15th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
BPA at Edge, ILB and CB. Should be that way for the first 4-5 rounds unless a OL or WR slides that they can’t pass up.
Real question is… how much are we willing to give up if Garrett or Crosby or Watt (last year of deal) were available? I wouldn’t hesitate with this years first and obviously it would cost more than that but we aren’t gonna get the impact guy at 19. Vikings got Turner at 19 and he was a backup for them.
January 15th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
If we can add a can’t miss Corner it would change our Secondary to a Great one
January 15th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
There were a lot of people bragging about the secondary before the season started and no one was talking trade dean at the beginning of the season when we were 3-1 and Zyon went down with a concussion. Bucs got picked on at ILB middle of the field was wide open so hopefully they find veteran CB and ILB to cover up for Bowles bad scheme
January 15th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Does it really matter what personnel we have on the field if we run zone almost always and everybody covers grass leaving guys running free in the middle and uncontested 8 yard out routes?
January 15th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
As stated above, our problems in pass D more sceme than personel, but thet should draft another DB high
January 15th, 2025 at 4:12 pm
Our offense is solid……QB, RB, WR, TE, OLine
We need to load up on LBs & DBs in this draft……..
And if we have some money…..bring in a proven FA Edge…..or 2….
January 15th, 2025 at 4:34 pm
Available Free Agents…. Team does not have time on hit or miss draft pick, need players now, this team is so close.
Edge
Dayo Odeyingbo – 12 sacks in ’23. 11% pressures in ’24. Big EDGE.
Dante Fowler – 12% pressure led to 10.5 sacks. 31yo still some.
Josh Sweat – 28yo with 12% pressure rate in 16 games with PHI.
Joey Bosa
Trey Hendrickson
Linebackers
Tyrel Dodson – 27yo coverage LB. Career-high 107 tackles.
Jamien Sherwood – 109 tackles, plus coverage in 1st starting year.
Nick Bolton
Cornerbacks
D.J. Reed – 28yo feisty outside CB opposite Sauce Gardner. Consistent.
Asante Samuel Jr. – 82% zone CB in 180-lb frame
SCB Jourdan Lewis – 30yo had career-high 71 tackles
SCB Noah Igbinoghene – 41% press in blitz-heavy DEF. Ex-1st-rounder.
My preference is trade & sign Trey Hendrickson for our 19th pick, quit screwing around with unproven talent. Wonder if Bowles not wanting to make trades for proven defensive talent is because bringing in proven talent may expose him? Just a thought.
January 15th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Joe’s being realistic. You really think the Bucs would draft an edge rusher in the first round? Or sign one who doesn’t struggle putting the bong down? Or who is already retired?
January 15th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
If the Chiefs are dumb enough to leave Bolton dangling in free agency, Joe couldn’t sign the guy quick enough. LOVED the guy coming out of Missouri. Would have been cool to draft him but alas the Bucs set with Devin White. 🤦♂️
January 15th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
LUVMYBUCS Says:
January 15th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Free Agent
Budda Baker………………….
Not Available
Budda Baker signed a three year, $54 million contract extension with the Cardinals on December 18, 2024. $29.36 million is guaranteed of which $27 million is a new guarantee. Baker received a $12.245 million signing bonus.
January 15th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Truth is we need 2 inside linebackers, 1 outside linebacker, and at 1 cornerback.
And probably a safety or two too…
January 15th, 2025 at 8:22 pm
Dean absolutely needs to go. Hopefully to the Saints or some other team we need to beat. Dean doesn’t play hard and with knees of glass, why would we keep him?
January 15th, 2025 at 8:32 pm
If Britt is still a starting LB next year, then it’s easily Licht’s biggest failing as a GM, and could even get him fired. That guy should not even be on the roster, and starting is out of the question.
Speed, speed, speed – that’s what the Bucs defense needs badly – everywhere. No slow players, no guys who were ‘leaders’ who can’t run, get speed, everywhere on defense.
January 15th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
We do need 2 ILBs, but generally, corners and OLBs make more of an impact. I was thrilled with DW25 simply because I thought he would have an enormous impact simply based on very rare size and speed and instinct. Corners are a safer bet than linebackers in general. Let’s face it: we pick #19. Kancey was a #19 pick and he has been excellent, but he seems like they like to hold him out till mid October. Is that just a coincidence or will they do that every year? He’s not the biggest guy. Mind you ME13 is gonna be 31 and VV50 turns 30 in December. Godwin will be 29 and has had injury issues. Maybe this year we have clear and dire needs, but Father Time is crawling up out rear ends faster than we realize, I think.