Zyon McCollum Is Ascending As The Bucs’ CB1

He is being targeted 33% less. He’s holding quarterbacks to just a 52.6% completion rate and 68.8 passer rating when he is targeted. Offenses have gone from netting positive EPA when targeting him to negative. Importantly, his yards per coverage rep has fallen considerably to 0.59.

Perhaps most telling is how opposing offenses have failed to establish some of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Ja’Marr Chase, Jerry Jeudy, Justin Jefferson*, Christian Watson and CeeDee Lamb have combined for just nine catches, 100 yards and no touchdowns this year. McCollum has been a huge part of that. He has not allowed any of those receivers catch a pass with him as the primary coverage defender.

Todd Bowles Praises Zyon McCollum

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was asked about the play of Zyon McCollum as well as Jacob Parrish against the Cowboys and had a glowing evaluation of both, going as far as to say McCollum was worthy of the sport’s highest award for his position.

“I thought they played a heck of a ballgame,” Bowles said. “I think they’ve been like that the last couple weeks. Parrish has some great deflections there and Zyon is playing like an All-Pro corner right now. And it’s hard to go at both of those guys and play outside consistently. I know they had the one drive Parrish got a little tired. We had to take him out for a play or two, but at the same time, those guys have been great all year, and I thought they did a heck of a job last night on two very good receivers.

The difference this year appears to be confidence and processing.

McCollum is driving on passes faster while allowing less separation. And if you think it’s because he is playing closer to the line of scrimmage this year, you’re wrong. This year he is averaging 4.1 yards off the line on snaps where he is targeted while playing on the line (one yard off or less) 26% of the time. Last year he was averaging 3.5 yards off the line with 38% of his targeted snaps on the line.

There appears to be a slight shift in how the Bucs are deploying McCollum. They are setting him further back, putting him in zone more and letting him use zone eyes to break down on routes more. And to his credit, McCollum is rewarding that usage with better play. His forced incompletion rate is up 50%, and quarterbacks are looking away from him more.

The Bucs may be looking to 2027 soon, despite the Week 5 win over the Cowboys. And while Zyon McCollum may have been a player they were looking to transition away from after last year, his improved play this year could have them bringing him back into the fold.