After adding an outside cornerback with their first pick on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bucs stuck with the cornerback position in the third round — only they kicked inside to the nickel spot. With the No. 84 overall pick, Tampa Bay selected Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish.
The 5-foot-10, 191-pound K-State product has plenty of experience at nickel, often moving inside on the Wildcats’ third-down packages. The Olathe, Kansas native played 470 snaps at outside cornerback last year, but did see 91 snaps in the slot and 44 more in the box, according to Pro Football Focus. He had 202 career snaps at nickel cornerback in his three years in Manhattan.
He is still only three years into playing the cornerback position after playing running back and safety in high school, and that inexperience may show up at times on tape. But despite that, his 4.35 speed (which was the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash time among cornerbacks at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine), twitchiness and ability to change directions all stand out as positives.
Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: USA Today
Not only that, but Parrish has the ballhawking tendencies Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is looking to add to his defense. Over three seasons at Kansas State, Parrish totaled five interceptions and 23 passes defensed. He had a career-high four interceptions during his sophomore season in 2023, which was also when he posted a career-high 13 passes defensed. He then finished his college career with eight passes defensed and an interception in 2024.
As much as Parrish looks the part of being Tampa Bay’s next nickel cornerback in terms of his abilities in coverage, he can also bring it in run support. He drives downhill in the run game and is a strong open-field tackler, something Bowles and his defensive coaching staff will love.
The Bucs’ interest in Parrish seemingly picked up after the Combine. He told Pewter Report in Indianapolis that he hadn’t met with Tampa Bay personnel, but he would ultimately come to town on a 30 visit just about a month later as one of the team’s earlier prospect visits.
After Adding Jacob Parrish, Bucs’ Secondary May Be Complete
Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: USA Today
The addition of Jacob Parrish may very well complete the Bucs secondary for the most part. Assuming he takes hold of the starting nickel cornerback spot, that would allow Tampa Bay to move 2024 third-round Tykee Smith to safety, something that has been discussed this offseason.
Smith would be joining Antoine Winfield Jr. as the two starters on the back end of the defense, with the trio of Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum and second-round pick Benjamin Morrison all in the mix at outside cornerback. With Parrish in the slot, that gives Tampa Bay a strong starting group in the secondary.
The Bucs have to feel good about that group, as well as the depth they have both at corner and in the safety room. On the outside, they have Bryce Hall back in the mix, as well as new addition Kindle Vildor. At safety, Kaevon Merriweather is now more experienced as a depth piece. And then there’s the ultimate depth chess piece in Christian Izien, who can fill in at nickel as well as safety. Not to mention, he has shown he can fill in on the outside in a pinch as well.
There’s a lot of versatility in Tampa Bay’s secondary, which head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles will love. And while Winfield and Smith are playmakers and McCollum is trying to develop into a ballhawk himself, the Bucs now have more ballhawking ability within the group with the additions of Morrison and Parrish, who combined for 14 interceptions and 50 passes defensed between their collective six seasons in college.
Welcome to Tampa Bay, Jacob Parrish!
