The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to grab Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison on Friday night, marking the first time they had used a first or second-day pick on that position since 2019. But they were far from finished reworking their secondary.
Later in the same evening, the Buccaneers doubled down by using their next pick, number 84 overall in the third round, on Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish, who boasts positional versatility similar to that of Morrison as well as top notch speed and an aggressive approach.
"The first thing you start with is, he's feisty as heck," said Buccaneers Vice President of Player Personnel Mike Biehl of the 5-10, 191-pound Parrish. "He's a tough little sucker, and he's fast. He was the 100 [and] 200 meter state champ in Kansas. He played basketball, I believe, as well, and also…he wrestled when he was young."
Parrish started all 24 games he played in the past two seasons for the Wildcats and recorded 94 tackles, five interceptions and 23 passes defensed. With him and Morrison now in the mix, the Buccaneers took a position that was severely tested by injuries last season and obviously lacking in depth and fleshed it out with two players who they can mix and match in the lineup and hopefully generate more big plays than in 2024.
"With both of these guys, I think they have the versatility to play a lot of different positions and different coverages," said Biehl. "They're both going to be assets from a football intelligence standpoint, which enables you to move them around and do a lot of good things with them.
"We talk about that all the time here, taking the ball away more and getting those interceptions and forced fumbles, and we think these two can really help us with that."
Parrish is a few inches shorter than Morrison and might have been gone before the third round if he was closer to six feet tall. But he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine and boasts very quick feet and a physical approach to the game.
"I just think [we value] his football IQ, his speed, the quickness, he's twitchy, he's tough as heck," said Biehl of Parrish." He can support the run and he's able to get the ball back. Those are all things that Todd values in a DB and we're excited to have him."
View pictures of Jacob Parrish, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 84th overall pick in the 3rd round of the 2025 NFL Draft
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish, center, hits Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, right, who prepares to release the ball in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Ryan Flournoy (1) is tackled by Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) breaks up a pass intended for TCU wide receiver Jaylon Robinson (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish (DB24) poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) tackles Iowa State running back Abu Sama III during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas State defensive back Jacob Parrish runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) celebrates with safety Marques Sigle (21) after intercepting a pass intended for Oklahoma State wide receiver Talyn Shettron (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
TCU running back Trent Battle (17) catches a pass for a first down while defended by Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) in the second half of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) waves good bye to the Tulane stands after Kansas State safety VJ Payne (19) grabbed an interception against Tulane in the last minute of the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) brass up the pass intended for Baylor wide receiver Tripp Mitchell in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass intended for Oklahoma State wide receiver Talyn Shettron (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
