VICE PRESIDENT OF PLAYER PERSONNEL MIKE BIEHL

(On Tampa Bay's recent success drafting cerebral players with high football IQ and high character)

"We have a lot of experience upstairs in our personnel staff. With experience, you take a lot of lumps and you learn from your mistakes and things like that. I just think that we've gotten to the point now where we all understand what we're looking for in a player. I think there's a lot of people out there that can evaluate talent, but it takes a little bit more to evaluate the person and the character. I think we've gotten to a good point as a staff where we can kind of determine what kind of guys we want in this building. Our scouts have done an unbelievable job and we've coached them up and they've [gone] out and ran with it. I think you can see the fruits of those labors on the field and in our locker room."

(On potentially drafting a cornerback with injury concerns in Benjamin Morrison)

"I think that's a fair question. I will say that every player is a case-by-case basis. We did the full medical just like we do on every one of these players and our doctors and athletic trainers came away feeling comfortable with it. That's all we need to hear. He missed the time this year, [but] before that, I think he missed one game maybe last year for a quad contusion or something like that. At the end of the day, we were comfortable with it and we got a really good player, we feel. We're just going to see what happens."

(On CB Benjamin Morrison having 'ballhawk' qualities)

"Yep, and Jacob [Parrish] is like that, too. We talk about it all the time around here – taking the ball away more and getting those interceptions and forced fumbles. We think those two can really help with that."

(On if CB Jacob Parrish would have been drafted earlier if he was taller)

"Yeah, probably. Unfortunately, that's kind of the way it works out sometimes. When you get a guy like that where we got him, that's our benefit. Some teams put a height requirement on the corners and their DB's. I just think you eliminate a lot of good players when you do that…Again, we benefit from not doing that and we're going to end up, I think, with two really good players we got today."

(On if Parrish will likely play in the nickel cornerback position)

"That stuff, Todd [Bowles] will figure out. I will say, though, with both of these guys, I think they have the versatility to play a lot of different positions and a lot of different coverages. They're both going to be assets from a football intelligence standpoint, too, which enables you to move them around and do a lot of different things with them. Todd [Bowles] and our defensive staff will figure all of that stuff out. I'm excited to see what happens."

(On if Tampa Bay wasn't able to get their ideal pass rushing prospects based on the way the draft went)

"I don't know if I would say that. There were guys there that were in consideration in the first round when we took Emeka [Egbuka] and there were some guys today that were in the conversation, too. At the end of the day, we just follow the board. There [are] still some really good pass rushers left and we're hoping we can pick some of those up tomorrow."

(On if good coverage will help produce more sacks)

"100%. And I think Jason [Licht] mentioned it yesterday, too – we feel pretty good about our outside [linebacker] depth and we've got some young guys we're expecting to take steps forward. Again, it's not to say we're not going to do something tomorrow to try to add to that, too."

(On how cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish might contribute on special teams)

"Of course, when we go through this process, we give these guys to our special teams coaches and get their evaluations on them and they came back very positive. Naturally, when you look at corners, you're looking at gunners and vices on the outside. They've both covered kicks in their career at different times…I think Jacob did more so than Benjamin. If they're in that room, we're going to expect them probably to do something. It just depends how big of a role they have on defense, but certainly both of them are capable with the speed and the toughness they both have, and the tackling ability. They should be contributors on [special] teams, for sure."

(On cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish both starting as freshman at their universities)

"The big thing it says to you is that he can handle things, mentally. If you come in as a freshman in college, you're thrown into the fire and it's going to be the same thing when they come in here. A lot of times, rookies, their heads are spinning. They've both shown the capability by starting as freshmen to be able to handle whatever was thrown at them. That does make you feel a little bit comfortable with them playing early, but all of that will be determined by Todd [Bowles] and the defensive staff when they get here."

(On what Biehl likes about WR Emeka Egbuka)

"I saw everything they said and I would just echo it. It's just hard to find guys that you feel really good about the talent and the person. It was unanimous in the building, too. When you get guys like that, it's just hard to pass up on them. We felt comfortable taking him there. Again, there were a lot of defensive guys that were in the mix, but at the end of the day, we think we got a really good one."

(On if there was any consideration to trading up or down at all)

"That happens every round and it's both ways. We're always fielding calls and you consider them all. We're just trying to do the best we can to help the Bucs get better. We definitely fielded calls both ways, but at the end of the day, when you start getting close to your pick and the guys are there that you feel really strongly about, we just decided to stay put and make the selection."

(On if the selection of WR Emeka Egbuka was a true example of taking the best player available)

"You're 100% right – every team says the same thing over and over. I do think that people are crazy if they don't admit that need factors into it a little bit. If a quarterback was there and he was the best player on the board, I don't think we would have taken him yesterday. I do think that when you have the best player available and it kind of matches up with the need, that's kind of when you hit home runs. We've been very fortunate and successful around here recently doing stuff like that. To your point, yeah, Emeka was just a guy that we felt so strongly about that it really didn't matter what position – he just was a really good football player."

(On why the Buccaneers and General Manager Jason Licht have been more successful drafting over the last five years compared to his first five years)

"I would just say it goes back to what I've said earlier about the experience that we've kind of gotten as a staff. I think we've kind of grown together. Again, you guys have pointed out our misses a lot, and we know it too – it's not like it's any surprise. You just do the best you can. We're talking about human beings here. You're taking the best players that you think can help your organization win. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. We're trying to mitigate the risk, I guess you would say, by doing the stuff that we do with the character. I think we've done a really good job, to your point, the last five years, of bringing in the right kind of guys and really, really good football players, too."

(On his earlier comment that the team may look to add an edge rusher on Day 3 and if that means the team feels good about its depth at inside linebacker)

"First of all, I would add a pass rusher every year. It doesn't matter where we're drafting and in what round – pass rushers are invaluable in this league, so that would be the first thing I would say. I think that inside [line]backer is something that… we're excited about 'Voss' (SirVocea Dennis) with him coming off the injury, but that's something that we will certainly look at tomorrow, I'm assuming, at some point just to see if we can upgrade our depth. I mean, again, somebody asked about special teams earlier, like, those guys are invaluable and that's where some of your better special teams players come from, so we factor that in when we'll be looking at guys tomorrow."

(On if it's an advantage to be able to draft and develop your own wide receivers and cornerbacks due to the money they are earning in free agency)

"It doesn't really matter the position – you're always going to benefit from having really good players on rookie contracts. I mean, it's just the way the league is built [with] the Collective Bargaining Agreement and all of that stuff. That's why we have [Vice President of Football Research] Jackie Davidson and [Assistant General Manager] Mike [Greenberg] to kind of help us out with all of that stuff. To your point though, if you draft well and you develop good players, it just helps you be able to sign your own later on so that you can afford to pay them and still not lose a lot because you've got some younger guys that are playing really well, too. But yes, I would say cornerback and wide receiver are two positions that are making a lot of money, so it does matter."

(On what has enabled the Buccaneers to find contributors on Day 3 of the NFL Draft in recent years)

"I will say it over and over, but it's the scouts. I mean, that's what they do. We all started out the same way – we all came up as area scouts and we all did it. As an area scout you take so much pride in those later round picks because, sometimes, you're the only one who has seen them, or there might have been one cross-check. We would never see those guys unless they bring them to us, and they have [passion] about them. That's where it starts. Then when they have [passion] about them, then that allows us to go and look at them and that's kind of where it comes in and we're able to pick them later on. But the scouts – I can't say enough about our staff. We wouldn't be doing what we're doing without all of them."

(On how Las Vegas Raiders General Manager John Spytek is doing in his first draft following his tenure in Tampa Bay)

"Good – he made some good picks today. I was texting with him. I was kind of cussing him a little bit for taking some guys that we really liked too [laughs]."

(On if Spytek is off to a good start in his time in Las Vegas)

"Yeah, he's going to kill it. I mean, he's such a good dude. Not only is he a good person in a great family, but he was a great evaluator and kind of invaluable to our staff. We're going to miss him, but I think we've got a lot of good guys upstairs that are ready to step up and fill different roles. We will see how it all works out."

(On his overall assessment of the talent on the Buccaneers roster at this stage in the offseason)

"I mean, I'm biased, of course, but I think we're pretty good. I mean, we've kind of proven it with the division titles and the playoff runs we've had the last five years here. But, by no means have we arrived – we're still going to churn the roster. We've got all day tomorrow. We've got undrafted free agency, and we hope to add some guys through that, and we will continue to add. I do think that we have a good core nucleus here. We have a quarterback, which as everybody knows, it's hard to win without those guys. We're excited about Baker [Mayfield] and the pieces we've put around him. Defensively we will just continue to add too."

(On the shift from being an older team to a younger team)

"Very quickly – that's what signing the best quarterback ever and winning the Super Bowl will do to you sometimes, but again, it's a testament to the work the scouts have done and the way that Jason [Licht] has drafted. It's hard to do in this league and we've found a way to do it. And also, you've got to find a quarterback and Baker [Mayfield] has been great so far."

(On if there have been any surprises in the way the draft has played out so far)

"I mean, there are always things here and there that kind of shock you, but it has kind of fell the way that we thought. If you look at our board it has come off pretty clean."

(On if the team has been sold on WR Emeka Egbuka for a while now)

"Yeah, again, I think that every draft you go into, there are always a handful of players that you don't even have to spend a whole lot of time on them. Because [of] all of the information we gathered from Ohio State, the amount of film that we've watched on the guy… honestly, we thought he would come out last year. I mean, he was good enough to, which is another testament to him, choosing to go back and solidifying his legacy in the [wide] receiver room they had there, and win a national championship. It's kind of rare these days. I know NIL has changed it a little bit and there are more guys going back because of that but it's just another testament to him. I think with all of the information we had – it made it easy. So, to your point, yes, he's been a guy that has been pretty high on our board for a long time."

(On his takeaways on third round CB Jacob Parrish)

"The first thing you start with is he is feisty as heck. I mean, 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 he also told us when he came in here [that] he wrestled when he was young. His brother was actually a wrestler at Nebraska, I believe, and his dad was a wrestler, so he had a lot of challenges on the mat with his brother, which I think lends to the toughness that I was talking about earlier. I just think that his football IQ, the speed, the quickness, he's twitchy, he's tough as heck, he can support the run and then he's able to get the ball back. Those are all things that Todd [Bowles] values in a DB, and we were excited to grab him."

(On what he likes the most about second round CB Benjamin Morrison's game)

"A lot of similarities as far as the athletic ability and the football IQ. Morrison is a little taller and longer. I think he had six picks last year – he didn't have any this year with the injury, but nine in two years."

(On if he expects Morrison to practice in the spring)

"We will see. I'm not going to get into that. I will let the doctors figure all of that stuff out. But he is moving around. Like, he had a workout last week, which just to clarify, we did have somebody there. Andy Speyer, who is one of our national scouts – one of our better guys – he was at his workout. So, he is moving around. My guess is he probably isn't in great shape and hasn't been doing a lot just coming back from the injury, so I'm assuming we will take it slow with him. But, as soon as he is ready, we can't wait to get him out there on the grass and see what he can do."

CORNERBACK BENJAMIN MORRISON

(On his thoughts on being drafted by Tampa Bay, and what level of contact he had with the Buccaneers throughout the draft process)

"I had a formal interview with them at the combine. It was kind of a unique relationship [because] my dad played with [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles, so that was pretty awesome. I didn't know that until I got into the room. That was kind of the only conversation I had with him and the front office. That's about it."

(On if Head Coach Todd Bowles has told him any stories about his father when they were teammates)

"No, not yet. Hopefully I'm there for a long time and we can catch up on those."

(On where his level of health is at)

"I just had a showcase about four days ago. I showcased that I'm healthy and ready to go. Obviously, there's some protocol we still have to follow – get with the Buccaneers medical team for them to do their examinations on me. I feel great, better than ever – I showcased that four days ago. I'm just so excited to get to work."

(On what he brings to the table from a performance standpoint)

"I think [I'm] a versatile corner. I think I can play inside and outside. I think for me, a lot of it is intellectual, from the neck up. I also rely on my athletic abilities and understanding in the league, things happen faster [and] guys are bigger, but being able to adapt to that. I think at every level, I've been able to do a good job of adapting to the playstyle – not just adapting but also acclimating and taking it to the next level."

(On where his ability to be a 'ballhawk' comes from)

"For me, I feel as if the ball is mine as much as it is the receiver's. I think when the ball is in the air, it's mine. I think that's the way I've always [seen] it. This past year was tough – I wasn't targeted as much so I couldn't showcase that. At the end of the day, I think it's in my DNA. It's what I do."

(On not allowing a touchdown in coverage this season)

"It's a lot of the process before the game even begins – putting myself in the right position. I like to play the game before I get to the game in my head. On Friday, I'll walk through how I think the game is going to go. Sometimes it doesn't go the way I anticipate it to, but I think just having that in the back of my head allows me to go out there in the game and play free, knowing I'm prepared for it. I say my preparation is my separation. I think that I'm one of the most prepared guys there is going to be in this organization."

(On what he knows about Todd Bowles' defensive scheme)

"I know he likes to play a lot of man coverage. We did that a lot at Notre Dame. At the end of the day, I've got to get acclimated. I don't know the nuance of the defense, but at the end of the day, it's football. Football is football. It's the same game I've been playing since I was eight years old. I'm ready to get to it."

(On his favorite coverage to play, and if he thinks he does well in zone coverage)

"I do well in zone. I think just with the circumstances I was in, just being at Notre Dame, we were heavily a predominantly a man [coverage] team. That just shows that I have such a high ceiling. I've done such small amounts of zone [coverage] and I've done so much man [coverage]. Imagine when both of them are at the same level…It's going to get scary. It's going to be [really] good."

(On if the Buccaneers were in attendance at his private workout)

"They weren't. No sir."

(On how he feels about when he was drafted)

"At the end of the day, this is where God has me. I can't get in the way of God's will of my life, or his plan for my life. Obviously, every kid's dream is to go first round, but look, that wasn't my story. Look, my story is a second-round pick – [No.] 53. I'm proud to say that. I'm very proud to say that. It's a blessing that I'm in the one percentile of guys who play football in the whole world. At the end of the day, it's a blessing. A draft pick doesn't really matter at all, because at the end of the day, it's an opportunity and I've got to go and seize that."

(On if the hip injury he had in high school is the same type of hip injury he is currently recovering from)

"Yes, it was bilateral. I knew I had to get both of them done eventually. We held off until the right time, waited for my growth plates to close but it was bilateral and we've got them both fixed."

(On who he is celebrating with tonight)

"Yeah, family and friends. Just how I like it. Everyone who has played a big role in my life was here."

(On if he is in Phoenix)

"Yes, sir."

(On what receiving the draft phone call from the Buccaneers was like)

"It was surreal. I think the emotions came out. I got emotional. I cried like a baby, but it was great."

(On what it was like for him to have to battle a hip injury while preparing for a big moment like the NFL Draft)

"Some days are harder than others. I can't get up here and say I was a perfect guy through the process. Even yesterday, I was frustrated, but at the end of the day, you have to understand that I can't allow my desires to get in the way of what God's will is for my life. I feel like I went through a lot this past year and it made me grow up as a young man. It made me become the man that I am, so I think, just this whole year has allowed me to step into this and this opportunity to play for a great organization, a great front office, a great coaching staff, a great team. I'm just excited. I'm really excited."

(On what he would think of the Buccaneers also drafting his former teammate S Xavier Watts)

"If they get 'X', that would be… I couldn't even explain to you how happy I would be. I'd tell him, 'We'll be roommates for our whole careers [laughs]. I'm joking. We'll have a house right next to each other. That's like my best friend, so if I could have any say for him to come play with me, that would be awesome btu regardless he's going to be a great player, a great pro, wherever he's at."

(On his former teammate S Xavier Watts being a ballhawk)

"No doubt, he is."

(On if he is familiar with any Buccaneers players or first-round pick WR Emeka Egbuka)

"Yeah, you have to understand that Mike Evans is one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game. I don't know him, but I mean, growing up as young kids, I think he was like a No. 7 pick overall. I don't know how many seasons he's had 1,000+ yards but that's just the consistency and greatness so I respect guys like that. I have admired Emeka's game. He's a talented receiver. I was happy when he got picked. I saw a good fit for that pick. I'm happy to be his teammate and excited to get to work."

(On what he knows about Head Coach Todd Bowles' defense and what excites him about having him as his head coach)

"Honestly, I don't know much about the defense. I mean, with the short interactions you have throughout the combine, it's a whirlwind. You go do so many different things. I'm just honestly excited to know that I'm going to be a Tampa Bay Buc. I'm going to have a playbook and I can get to know it and fall in love with it because at the end of the day, this is my job now. I have to really understand the ins and outs of this."

(On what Head Coach Todd Bowles' message to him was tonight on the phone)

"Just to calm down, I was crying too much [laughs]."

(On if he knows if Head Coach Todd Bowles is friends with his father)

"Yeah, they were."

(On if Head Coach Todd Bowles and his father's friendship is ongoing)

"Yeah, I assume so. They obviously respect each other's work and I think he's close with my uncle, Uncle Gill."

(On if he prefers to be called Ben or Benjamin)

"Benjamin, please."

(On if he has a message to Buccaneers fans watching)

"I think the biggest thing is that they're just going to get a player who loves football, who loves this organization. I'm going to come into work and put my head down. I said this at my party, I was just like, 'The goal wasn't just to get drafted. The goal is to play through the NFL, have a long career.' I think a lot of people can feel as they've accomplished something which we did, but the next accomplishments are the years to come on, the accomplishments throughout the NFL. I'm excited for that to come, I'm excited."

(On if the doctors said that his hip injuries would be an issue moving forward)

"We got it taken care of. At the same time, I think of guys like Ed Reed, Brett Favre, some of the best to ever play the game had this injury and no one was talking about that when they get their gold jacket, so at the end of the day I think I'll be able to have a good, long career with this injury. I'm excited. This is the plan that God has for me."

CORNERBACK JACOB PARRISH

(On what it was like receiving the draft phone call from the Buccaneers and who he is celebrating with tonight)

"I'm in Kansas City right now. I have an Airbnb with some family and close friends. That phone call, it's just a blessing. [I] was waiting on it. Once I saw that phone number, [my] stomach dropped. I'm just very blessed to land at Tampa. I'm just ready to get to work."

(On how his top 30 visit went with Tampa Bay and what he learned while he was here)

"It was a really good visit. I met with all the coaching staffs and it kind of reminded me of Kansas State – just how everybody's connected, especially on their coaching staff. I've been learning a lot from them, to be honest, when I went down there, so I know they have a great culture and I'm just ready to get down there and to work."

(On his comfort level playing both inside and outside and if he knows where the Buccaneers are planning on using him)

"I really don't know, to be honest with you. I'm comfortable playing inside and outside – just whichever one they need me to do. I'm willing to do anything. It's whatever, to be honest."

(On how excited he is to join a talented defensive secondary)

"It's a blessing to be honest, getting to work with those guys. I'm going to learn a few things from the guys. Iron sharpens iron, so I'm excited to work with those guys."

(On what his greatest attribute is as a defensive back)

"I would say I'm a physical guy. I used to wrestle when I was younger, and I take pride in being physical. I like to hit [and] all those types of things, so I'm going to go with my physicality."

(On if there are any players on the Buccaneers that he knows already from playing with them previously)

"I played with Josh Hayes. When I was a freshman, I played with him at Kansas State. He was actually my locker buddy my freshman year. That's my dude."

(On how much communication he had with the Buccaneers and if he had a sense that they were interested in him)

"I always knew they were pretty interested in me. On my top 30 visit, they said it went [well] and everything. I just always had a feeling it was going to be Tampa. I actually told my agent – we did questions – he asked me where I thought I would end up at, and I told him Tampa and I ended up going there. Like I said, I'm just blessed to be here."

(On what attributes make him stand out at the nickel position)

"In the slot, I would say my man-coverage ability. I'm confident in myself when it comes to playing man coverage. I work on it every day so I feel like that's going to allow me to be successful in the NFL. I would say that."

(On what attributes make him stand out on the perimeter)

"I would say being physical, getting hands on the receivers, being a run fit or playing man or playing zone. I'm just very confident in what I'm capable of doing, so I would say that."

(On how excited he is to be coming in with another recently drafted cornerback and learning together)

"It's a blessing, really. Like I said, iron sharpens iron. I'm going to learn a few things from him. He's going to learn a few things from me, but I'm ready to compete with that guy."

(On how excited he is to go up against guys like WR's Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in practice every day)

"I'm very excited, especially about Mike Evans. He's one of the best receivers in the league and I know getting reps against him is going to make me a better cornerback so I'm looking forward to that."

(On if he knows Buccaneers draft picks WR Emeka Egbuka or CB Benjamin Morrison)

"No, I haven't talked to them. I've heard of them. I know they're pretty good players and I'm just excited to be on the same team as them."

(On if he's ever been to Florida or Tampa)

"My top 30 [visit] – that was my first time in Florida, in Tampa too. It's a really cool place. They say it's a good place to raise a family so it's like a chill vibe. That's my type of vibe so I'm excited to get down there."

(On what he knows about the Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay defense)

"The defense, they do a bunch of different things. You have to be pretty smart there to play on that backend, so you know, I'm going to get in that playbook, try to master that scheme so I can be on the field."

(On how his experience at Kansas State has made him NFL ready)

"I would say they taught me these four core values of discipline, commitment, toughness and be selfless, and I just live by those four core values each and every day. Those four core values allow me to have success on that field so I'm going to keep doing those things to have success on Sunday's."

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