With Jamel Dean gone, the $48 million cornerback must anchor an unproven secondary. Can the veteran mentor his young teammates and rediscover the elite form that secured his extension?
Not many players on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have more pressure on them in 2026 than cornerback Zyon McCollum.
Tampa lost its best corner, Jamel Dean, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Without Dean, McCollum has become the de facto leader of the Bucs' cornerback room. The 27-year-old, entering his fifth season, is now the established veteran of the group.
Along with McCollum, the top cornerbacks on the Bucs' roster are second-year players Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison, as well as rookie Keionte Scott. The youngsters are expected to lean on McCollum's experience to help their own development.
Unfortunately, McCollum had a very disappointing season in 2025, looking nothing like the player he was at the start of his career. His fast start earned him a three-year, $48 million extension before the beginning of last season.
To be the leader and mentor the Bucs need him to be, McCollum must return to form and become a true CB1. If he continues to struggle, he may be at risk of losing his starting job.
All eyes will be on McCollum to see if he can rebound from his poor 2025 campaign.
Will McCollum Live Up To His Contract?
One of the burning questions for Tampa this season is whether McCollum can have a bounce-back season and live up to his contract. The Bucs invested heavily in their defensive front seven this offseason. However, aside from drafting Scott in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they made no other notable additions to the secondary.
The secondary holds the key to whether the entire defense can perform up to its potential. If McCollum steps up, the cornerback group can be a strength for the team. If not, the Bucs will certainly regret paying McCollum big money, as explained by Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports.
Pressure Is On McCollum
Being paid like a top CB puts plenty of pressure on McCollum to perform.
The Bucs' corners have plenty of questions heading into the season. Will Scott find early success? Or will he struggle as a rookie? Can Benjamin Morrison stay healthy? He missed seven games as a rookie and has already suffered another injury this offseason. Will Jacob Parrish play as well as an outside corner after a terrific rookie in the slot?
McCollum must provide stability and solid play for a very talented, but unproven, unit if the Bucs are to become true contenders this year.
He has shown he can be a terrific CB, as recently as the 2024 season.
For his part, McCollum is confident he can be that player again and believes his versatility can help the team as it deals with all the changes to the secondary.
Final Thoughts
The Bucs are betting that McCollum will again be the corner he was in 2024. They didn't replace Dean after he left in free agency, showing their confidence that McCollum can become their CB1 in 2026.
If he can, the Bucs' defense has a chance to be one of the best in the NFL. If he can't, all the high-profile additions to the front seven may not matter.
Tampa's cornerbacks are young, but they must find a way to handle heavy pressure this season. McCollum is the key. How he plays in 2026 will affect the entire secondary.
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