The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have spent much of the offseason emphasizing youth in their secondary, but recent developments may have strengthened the argument for adding another veteran cornerback before training camp begins. The latest concern revolves around Benjamin Morrison, who is already dealing with a leg injury during OTA practices after struggling with an injury-plagued rookie season. While the extent of the injury remains unclear, it serves as a reminder of just how thin the Buccaneers’ cornerback depth could become if even a single injury strikes during the regular season.
On paper, the Buccaneers have several intriguing young options. Zyon McCollum remains the main outside corner and is now deemed “veteran” of the group after the departure of Jamel Dean in free agency. Morrison is expected to play a significant role when healthy, while Jacob Parrish immediately flourished and will look to build off a hot start, and the team added Keionte Scott during the draft. But the problem is experience.
While Scott brings versatility to the group that allows for different alignments, he still has not taken a single NFL snap. If Morrison were forced to miss significant time or another starter went down, the Buccaneers could find themselves relying heavily on players with little meaningful NFL experience. The Buccaneers don’t need to sign a player to start 17 games, but they would benefit from adding a proven veteran who has logged real defensive snaps and can provide reliable depth if called upon. Having a player who understands concepts and can communicate adjustments could not only patch a hole left by injury but also help develop the young group.
Veteran free agents are often available at reduced prices during the summer after the initial waves of free agency, allowing teams to address weaknesses without making a major financial commitment. The Buccaneers may still believe Morrison’s injury is minor and that their current group has enough talent to withstand adversity. However, given Morrison’s recent injury history and the lack of a proven veteran backup behind the starters, adding another experienced cornerback would be a logical move.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should the Buccaneers add another cornerback before training camp?
