Buccaneers Rookie Corner Labeled Possible Surprise

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Buccaneers Rookie Corner Labeled Possible Surprise originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' draft class this season was impressive.
General manager Jason Licht had a clear focus on the defensive side of the ball after returning all 11 starters from a stacked offense from a season ago.
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The Bucs' defense struggled in pass coverage, with turnovers and pressuring the quarterback last season, and Licht was able to address those needs in both free agency and the draft.
Tampa Bay drafted two cornerbacks in Rounds 1 and 2.
Licht selected Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison in the second round and Kansas State's Jacob Parrish in the third.
It was Parrish that USA Today's Bucs Wire tabbed as a possible surprise in 2025.
"While everyone will know the name Benjamin Morrison, who they drafted in the second round, it is the cornerback they selected after him who could make the more immediate impact," Andrew Harbaugh wrote. "While Morrison continues to be brought along from a hip injury he suffered last year, Parrish has been able to practice and is now in the conversation to have the starting nickel role in 2025.
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"He plays in a physical way, he provides run support, and is everything Todd Bowles looks for in his cornerbacks so look for him to play early and often."
At the NFL Scouting Combine this year, coach Todd Bowles said he wanted "ballhawks" for his defense after the team tallied just seven interceptions last season.
That's exactly what he's getting in Parrish, who had nine interceptions in two seasons, adding 19 pass breakups.
He also didn't allow a touchdown in 159 coverage snaps in 2024, while the Bucs allowed 27 - 19th in the league.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.