Insider Reveals Tampa Bay Buccaneers Top Remaining Offseason Priority
Insider Reveals Tampa Bay Buccaneers Top Remaining Offseason Priority originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will return all 11 starters from one of the top-ranked offenses in the NFL next season, while adding depth to the unit at the same time.
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But it's the defense that was a focus for general manager Jason Licht this offseason, including the draft, where he selected corners Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish in the second and third rounds, respectively.
With a crowded secondary, NFL.com's Kevin Petra believes figuring out the pecking order is Tampa Bay's offseason priority.
"The Bucs have suggested they will move Tykee Smith -- who played well as a rookie nickel last season -- to safety opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. to help ensure Smith stays on the field in base sets," Petra wrote. "Todd Bowles reiterated this week that Smith is a safety who will, on occasion, play nickel. Moving Smith around will give Bowles a chess piece to work with. Rookie Jacob Parrish is an option to take over Smith's nickel spot, and Bowles suggested Zyon McCollum could also move inside. Tampa used its second- and third-round picks in this year's draft on corners Benjamin Morrison and Parrish, respectively, to upgrade a unit that both struggled at times in 2024 and dealt with injuries.
"If Morrison and Parrish are ready to play right away, Smith's transition to safety will be easier. If the nickel crew struggles, Bowles might have to adjust on the fly, potentially adding another veteran safety to the mix."
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The Bucs' defense finished near the bottom of the NFL last season in most defensive statistical categories. That's disappointing when your head coach is also your defensive coordinator.
Related: Buccaneers Offensive Star Ranked Near Top of NFL
Related: Bucs Star Defender Reveals Hardest Offensive Coaches to Game Plan Against
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
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