Donovan Cotton enters his 13th season with the Buccaneers and his third as assistant director of pro scouting, while also serving as a national cross-checker for the college scouting department.
In Cotton's role, he assists in the advance scouting of upcoming opponents, evaluates players from all professional leagues, organizes player workouts and evaluates free agents. In addition to his pro scouting responsibilities, Cotton contributes to the evaluation of college prospects nationally to assist in draft preparations.
Previously, he spent nine seasons as an area scout after beginning his career in Tampa Bay as a scouting assistant in 2014.
From 2015-23 seasons, Cotton was responsible for scouting colleges in the Southwest portion of the country. As a scouting assistant, Cotton assisted in player evaluations, organizing and executing free agent workouts and helping in draft preparations.
Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Cotton worked as a player personnel scouting intern for the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, tracking depth charts, completing player reports and monitoring the waiver wire, among other duties. He got his start in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers in 2011, working as a training camp scouting intern.
Cotton played football collegiately at Norfolk State and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Entrepreneurship in 2011. Donovan and his wife Frankie reside in Tampa, along with their daughter Sienna and son Quincy.
