Zyon McCollum has developed into a mainstay in the Buccaneers’ secondary while playing out the first three years of his rookie pact. The pending 2026 free agent is eligible for an extension, and that is his target. 
McCollum is seeking a second Tampa Bay contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. He adds agent Drew Rosenhaus is at the team’s facility today to discuss an extension. The Bucs are no stranger to retaining in-house players under general manager Jason Licht, and it will be interesting to see if McCollum becomes the latest player to stay in place via a raise.
Joining the team as a fifth-round pick, McCollum primarily played on special teams as a rookie but he also handled a rotational role on defense. His workload increased dramatically the following season when he earned nine starts. In 2024, McCollum was on the field for over 1,000 defensive snaps and that is in line to continue this season and (provided a new pact can be worked out) beyond.
The 26-year-old notched the first two interceptions of his career last season, and his 17 pass deflections put him in a tie for third in the NFL in that department. McCollum was charged with four touchdowns surrendered in coverage by Pro Football Reference, but his completion percentage (57.4%) and passer rating (86.9) marked career bests. Further improvement would make a long-term pact a worthwhile investment from the Buccaneers’ perspective.
Tampa Bay has relied on Jamel Dean as a perimeter corner throughout his career, but the seventh-year veteran is in danger of losing his starting spot. Tykee Smith has seen time in the slot, but a transition to safety could allow for third-round rookie Jacob Parrish to handle starting duties on the inside. Dean being demoted to a backup would see Benjamin Morrison – taken in the second round of this year’s draft – work opposite of McCollum on the perimeter. Time in the slot has been floated as a possibility in McCollum’s case, but he has worked almost exclusively on the boundary during his career.
Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner have taken the cornerback market to (and slightly beyond) $30MM per year with their respective extensions. McCollum does not have the same track record as those two, and any pact signed before the start of the 2025 season will no doubt fall short of that AAV figure. Still, a multi-year accord would make him the latest Bucs cover man to receive a second contract with the team if his desire to work out a deal is reciprocated.