Tampa Bay Buccaneers' cornerbook Jacob Parrish may have a new home in 2026.

After a promising rookie season as the Bucs' nickel corner, Parrish may find himself switching to outside CB in his sophomore season. After losing terrific CB Jamel Dean in free agency to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bucs didn't add an outside corner either in free agency or the draft.

Tampa did, however, draft slot cornerback Keionte Scott in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Scott being selected at pick 116 was considered one of the biggest steals of the entire draft.

With the rookie ready to take over the nickel spot, Parrish may be moved outside, where he can compete with Zyon McCollum and fellow 2025 draft pick Benjamin Morrison for a starting job.

According to Bucs' general manager Jason Licht, he has already had conversations with head coach Todd Bowles about moving Parrish outside. In an interview with Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan, Licht spoke candidly about the possibility.

"Todd has talked to me a lot about that. We’ll see how things shake out in camp, but that’s in play," the GM said. "It’s a great problem to have. We’re very happy with his rookie season."

Who wouldn't be happy with Parrish's rookie season? The third-round pick, serving as Tampa's slot corner, was excellent. He racked up 76 total tackles (50 solo), seven pass breakups, snared two interceptions, and chipped in two sacks for good measure. Parrish looked like one of the best players on Tampa's defense, and joined Bucs' wide receiver Emeka Egbuka on the NFL's All-Rookie Team.

Parrish had an outstanding first season in Tampa, grading out as PFF's 32nd-ranked CB in the NFL (out of 114 qualified). So, why mess with a good thing?

For starters, Tampa was extremely fortunate to be able to draft a talent like Scott in the fourth round. Scott is NFL-ready and will be impossible to keep off the field, even as a rookie. Parrish is better-suited to move outside than Scott, and his switch could pay big dividends for the Bucs.

Both McCollum and Morrison struggled in 2025, with the latter only playing in 10 games due to injury. McCollum, who looked like a cornerstone piece of the Bucs' defense, was given a big-money extension before last season, only to have his play drop off a cliff before ending the season on IR.

While there is certainly hope that both McCollum and Morrison rebound in 2026, Parrish could unseat either of them for a starting role. At the very least, the competition should bring out the best in all three.

No matter where he lines up, Parrish will be one of the Bucs' most important defenders in 2026. Whether inside or outside, the second-year CB will be a mainstay on the field. Parrish is one of the young pillars of Tampa's defense, which looks much-improved this season.

His situation is reminiscent of Detroit Lions' star Brian Branch. After a stellar rookie season in 2023 as the Lions' nickel corner, Branch was moved to safety. The switch has worked out tremendously for him and the team, and Branch has become one of the best safeties in the NFL.

Parrish has the talent to excel wherever his team wants him to play. If Bowles and Licht decide the team needs him more on the outside, expect the switch to be seamless and beneficial for the entire defense.

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