It could be argued the biggest downfall of the Buccaneers’ 2024 season came at the hands of secondary injuries – particularly at cornerback.
The Bucs lost primary outside backup Bryce Hall to a broken ankle in the first game of the season, and it cascaded from there with additional injuries to Zyon McCollum, which derailed a promising breakout campaign, and Jamel Dean, which everyone expects by now.
Forced to play practice squad members and special teamers like Tyrek Funderburk and Josh Hayes, the Bucs defense got consistently exploited through the air. While the first three depth chart players are all back, the Bucs need to both improve depth and seek for someone more promising given Dean’s and McCollum’s cloudy long-term futures.