Just two days after completing the signing of right tackle Luke Goedeke to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have locked in another one of the stars from their 2022 draft class. On Friday, fourth-year cornerback Zyon McCollum inked his own three-year extension that will run through the 2028 campaign. Goedeke was a second-round pick in 2022 while McCollum was selected in the fifth round after the team traded a 2023 fourth-round selection to get that pick. Both players were previously heading into the final year of their initial rookie contracts.
McCollum has developed into one of the better young cornerbacks in the NFL. In his first full season as a starter in 2024, he tied for third in the league with 17 passes defensed while picking off two passes, recovering a fumble and recording 82 tackles. Among NFL cornerbacks who were the closest defender on at least 80 targets last year, McCollum allowed the fifth-lowest completion percentage (58.4%) and ninth-lowest passer rating (85.7).
The Sam Houston State product started three games as a rookie, then filled in for a variety of injured players in 2023, eventually logging the most defensive snaps of any cornerback on the Buccaneers. McCollum's strong play gave the Buccaneers the confidence to trade veteran corner Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions last offseason for a third-round draft pick that was used to select wide receiver Jalen McMillan.
Overall, McCollum has played in 47 games with 29 starts and has contributed 174 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, 27 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In four postseason games, including one start, he has added 13 tackles and a pass defensed.
McCollum is slated to start at right cornerback again as the 2025 season begins, but he has also cross-trained in the slot in order to give the Buccaneers and Head Coach Todd Bowles more versatility in their secondary personnel packages. The 6-2, 200-pound McCollum is a good match for bigger wideouts on opposing teams and he has the flexibility to follow them into the slot if the Bucs choose to employ that strategy.
