Could Buccaneers Tykee Smith Be Changing Positions?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for the NFL Draft following their fantastic free agency period. While the players on the Bucs Big Board are unknown, we do know who’s on the current roster.

But will the current players on the roster have the same roles as last year? That doesn’t seem likely. Enter second-year defensive back Tykee Smith.

The 2025 NFL Owner’s Meeting recently concluded in Palm Beach, marking another milestone in the ongoing offseason. With the draft looming, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are focused on making strategic decisions to position themselves for a fifth consecutive NFC South title.

The Buccaneers are not only assessing external talent but also re-evaluating their current roster. Notably, the team is considering a position switch on defense, with general manager Jason Licht revealing that they’re exploring the possibility of transitioning second-year defender Tykee Smith from nickel cornerback to safety.

This potential position change was first discussed by head coach Todd Bowles at the NFL Combine.

Via Sports Illustrated,

“Definitely something Todd’s talked about and you don’t want to load up a rookie with too much. And I think Tykee, having a year under his belt can handle a lot more and it just kind of depends on how the structure of the roster continues after the draft but it’s a possibility.”

The Buccaneers drafted Smith in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he quickly became a key contributor in the secondary. In his rookie season, Smith played in 13 games (six starts), accumulating 54 tackles, four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, seven pass deflections, and two interceptions.

Smith showcased promising ball-hawking skills and, although comfortable at cornerback, he also boasts extensive experience at safety, dating back to his collegiate career.

Via Sports Illustrated,

“Yeah, it’s definitely something we talked about, and going into the spring is something we’re going to look at as well,” Bowles said in February. “Tykee wants to play safety, so we’re definitely going to be looking at it. So it’s an option for us.”

The BR Rub

Smith has been a ball hawk for the Bucs since being drafted. This potential move makes sense for his play, as well as clearing up a need for the Buccaneers in the draft. At least in the early rounds.