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USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does the Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB group rank in the NFC South in 2025?
We are continuing a Summer series here on Bucs Wire, ranking the position groups across the division. The major pit stops of the offseason have come and gone, which means rosters are set for the most part. Now, could someone pull off a major trade or sign a veteran free agent down the line? Of course, and they likely will based on our luck to throw things off. Regardless, we wanted to do this exercise just to give you, the reader, a state of the division. At the end of each article, we will also provide a recap of the scorecards so that we can keep a running tally for you to keep track of and see who has the best roster in the division. Next up are the cornerbacks in the NFC South. 4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Starting Group: Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, and Christian Izien The Bucs' pass defense in 2024 was atrocious on so many levels. So much so, they added two cornerbacks in the NFL Draft, one of which is competing for the starting nickel spot in training camp with Christian Izien. Jamel Dean is a cut candidate due to his contract, and Zyon McCollum, the team is waiting for him to put it together. They have a lot of potential but are nowhere close to realizing it yet. 3) New Orleans Saints Starting Group: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Isaac Yiadom, and Alontae Taylor The Saints' cornerback group has its own issues, but the group showed more moments of brilliance than the Bucs did in 2024. Kool-Aid McKinstry had a decent rookie year and is ready to step into a larger role as a sophomore with the departure of Paulson Adebo. More responsibility will fall on him, so it will make or break this group, but for now, I have faith in him to be something for this team. 2) Atlanta Falcons Starting Group: A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, and Dee Alford This group has a lot of issues as well, really every team in this division does, in the cornerback room. Unlike the others we have talked about, the Falcons have a bona fide CB1 in A.J. Terrell. The former Clemson Tiger has become one of the best at his position, and despite being a trade candidate last year, he remains a centerpiece to the Falcons' defense. With some extra pass rush help in 2025, he will have some more opportunities to make plays and help this group improve overall. 1) Carolina Panthers Starting Group: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, and Chau Smith-Wade Jaycee Horn is in the top tier of cornerbacks in the NFL and is clearly the best in the NFC South. Horn was rewarded with a massive extension for his play and is set to be the face of the franchise on defense for the foreseeable future. He thrives in man coverage to the point that he can take away one half of the field and while the rest of the group is lacking, his talent tips the scales in their favor enough to win this position.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers have unique placement in Madden 26 beta team ratings
Every year, gamers and actual football players alike get excited about the release of the annual Madden football game. Like every video game, a beta version is always released to work out the bugs within it, as well as to see what works and what doesn't in terms of ideas. Within that, it also allows for previews of the game itself to happen, and one of those things includes the overall ratings of the teams within the game. Advertisement While we do not yet see the ratings of players, we do see the team overalls, and they are something to behold. The Bucs' overall rating is 84, which ranks them 13th, tied with their division rival, the Atlanta Falcons. Other NFC South team ratings include the Panthers' 79, which ranks them 29th, and the Saints' 83, which is good enough for 17th. There are some questionable teams ranked ahead of the Bucs, such as the Browns, Jets, Steelers, and Dolphins. Bucs fans will have to wait for revenge for when the full game releases later this year. This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs have unique placement in initial Madden 26 beta team ratings
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Bucs make big splash in projected trade
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Bucs make big splash in projected trade We are now just 10 days away from the 2025 NFL Draft. Compared to most years, we have no idea what could happen for teams. While that brings excitement for fans, it makes the jobs of analysts a bit tougher, as well as tougher for teams having to make their selections. In our final mock draft Monday on Bucs Wire, we wanted to make a splash. Whether the Bucs could actually do it remains to be seen. We decided, though, that if the team didn't want to make a splash, we would make one for them. The Cincinnati Bengals have their All-Pro edge rusher Trewy Hendrickson unhappy at the moment. While they remain steadfast in not trading him, perhaps the Bucs could make an offer they would find hard to pass up. We did our best attempt at that and made selections with the remaining picks. Bucs trade for Bengals All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson Trade: Bucs send the 19th and 121st overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Bengals for Trey Hendrickson, as well as the 49th and 81st overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft The Bucs need to solve their pass-rushing issue now, not later. The best way to do that is to take a chance out of the equation, have no more draft picks, no more projects, and acquire a bonafide All-Pro in Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals insist he is not going to be traded, but he remains steadfast in his request. If Jason Licht could feel compelled to make a splash, this move could make the Bucs Super Bowl contenders immediately. Round 2, Pick 49: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame Morrison has no business being here for the Bucs, but he very well could be, even at pick 53. The hip injury is going to scare a lot of teams, but the Bucs can afford to roll the dice with Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean on the roster. If Morrison is healthy following his injury, this becomes one of the steals of the draft. Morrison has bona fide man covergae skills and could be a long-term solution opposite McCollum. Round 2, Pick 53: Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State Another player coming off an injury but with great potential is Kevin Winston Jr. If he hadn't hurt his knee in 2024, he would have been a top-15 pick in the NFL Draft. He has great run support skills; he never missed a tackle in college. Pair that with his instincts and ball skills, and the Bucs could have quite the duo at safety with him and Antoine Winfield Jr. Round 3, Pick 81: Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia Cody Mauch is still on his rookie deal, and the team just re-signed Ben Bredeson, but they need insurance. Ratledge could be a plug-and-play option in case of injury or if the team decides they want to move on from either one of them next year. The interior offensive line is so close to being solidified that Jason Licht should leave no stone unturned in the process to complete that. Round 3, Pick 84: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon Cade Otton is entering the final year of his contract, and he finally showed some promise in 2024 as a receiving option. The team has drafted several tight ends in recent years, but most of them are looking like they are the blocking type. The only thing missing for Baker Mayfield in this offense is a strong receiving option at the tight end position, and Ferguson could be that. Round 5, Pick 157: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas Kyle Trask was brought back in free agency on a one-year deal. The Bucs don't have a need for another quarterback, but I like the idea of them stashing a big-arm quarterback as an emergency option on the practice squad. Quinn Ewers and Baker Mayfield seem like a match made in heaven. Ewers needs some time to develop, and I like his potential to be a fun backup for the team in the long term as he can win games incase Mayfield were to go down with an injury. Round 7, Pick 235 Konata Mumpfield, WR, Pittsburgh Last season, the Bucs used Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving on special teams a lot, that won't be the case in 2024. I like Mumpfield as a late day-three option for them to come in as a returns specialist, as well as being a change-of-pace receiver out of the slot or outside.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Average RAS score of Bucs draft picks by position
While it may not make sense to every NFL fan, the Scouting Combine provides some extra excitement while football is away from all of us. The on-field testing gives us a glimpse of what these players who are attempting to enter the league are capable of. One of the best things that come out of the NFL Scouting Combine is the RAS scores, as they help paint a better picture of the type of athlete players are. A RAS score is defined as a metric that compares a football player's athleticism to other players at the same position. What we did with these numbers is we looked over every pick that Jason Licht has made as general manager of the Bucs since 2016. We tallied all of the scores and found the average of those positions so you can follow who could fit into what the team looks for. Kent Lee Platte posts each score as testing is completed on his socials. For now, here is some of his work averaged together to find what players the Bucs will target come April's draft. Score: 5.9 Highest RAS: Kyle Trask 5.9 Lowest RAS: Kyle Trask 5.9 Score: 6.65 Highest RAS: Rachaad White 9.87 Lowest RAS: Bucky Irving 2.22 Score: 8.17 Highest RAS: Chris Godwin 9.66 Lowest RAS: Trey Palmer 6.18 Score: 7.03 Highest RAS: O.J. Howard 9.77 Lowest RAS: Ko Kieft 3.64 Score: 7.76 Highest RAS: Cody Mauch 9.85 Lowest RAS: Alex Cappa 4.11 Score: 7.26 Highest RAS: Khalil Davis 9.81 Lowest RAS: Stevie Tu'ikolovatu 0.84 Score: 8.32 Highest RAS: Yaya Diaby 9.87 Lowest RAS: Andre Anthony 5.91 Score: 6.7 Highest RAS: Devin White 9.32 Lowest RAS: K.J. Britt 4.69 Score: 8.01 Highest RAS: Jamel Dean 9.93 Lowest RAS: Josh Hayes 4.82 Score: 6.89 Highest RAS: Antoine Winfield Jr. 7.81 Lowest RAS: Jordan Whitehead 5.15 Score: N/A Highest RAS: N/A Lowest RAS: N/A This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Average RAS score of Bucs draft picks by position
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Two-Rounds of picks before the Scouting Combine
The NFL Draft order is set, the Philadelphia Eagles are champions of the world, and the NFL Scouting Combine is next week. With all of those things in place, we wanted to drop our latest mock draft before all the testing affects things. Right now, the film is speaking for many players, but the combine will affect stocks for better or worse, so this can be an organic exercise for now. The Eagles showed everyone what an effective defense can do to a lethal offense. Several teams at the top who need quarterbacks may not get them, while others simply don't like this class. Never has doing a mock draft been harder but that is the fun in it. We will do our best in our latest mock draft on Bucs Wire.
