The Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ secondary was expected to be a strength heading into the 2025 season. But few anticipated just how quickly two rookies, Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, would start making their presence felt. Now, just a couple of weeks into training camp, both are splitting first-team reps and pushing for starting roles in Todd Bowles’ defense.
A second-round pick out of Notre Dame, Morrison entered the draft with injury concerns after battling a hip issue during his final college season. But since being fully cleared for camp, he’s wasted no time showing why Tampa Bay used premium draft capital to bring him in. During early padded practices, Morrison has been sharp in coverage and unafraid to mix it up physically. In one standout sequence during 11-on-11 drills, he was beaten deep by veteran Mike Evans, only to bounce back on the next play and intercept Baker Mayfield in a zone read. Coaches have praised not just his athleticism, but his ability to recover mentally and learn on the fly.
Third-rounder Jacob Parrish, meanwhile, has drawn just as much attention. Known for his elite speed, Parrish has impressed with his versatility. He’s been repping both inside at nickel and outside on the boundary, showing off his ball skills and ability to tackle in space.
Bowles has echoed that sentiment, noting Parrish’s ability to contribute in multiple packages: “He can start outside in this league, but the fact that he can play inside gives us flexibility. He’s not just a slot guy.”
With Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum penciled in as the presumed starters, the Buccaneers are taking a long look at how Morrison and Parrish fit into the mix. Both rookies have been splitting time with the first-team defense, often rotating in with different personnel groupings to test their communication, recognition, and reaction speed.What’s become clear is that the coaching staff sees both players as potential contributors from Day 1. If Morrison continues trending upward, he could find himself as the team’s third outside corner, or even challenging Dean for a starting role if camp battles tilt his way.
Parrish’s hybrid ability all but guarantees he’ll have a spot and is also the believed front runner for the starting job at nickel.