The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Tykee Smith in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, valuing his versatility after successful stints at West Virginia and Georgia. Although initially a safety by designation, Smith spent much of his rookie year playing in the slot, where he performed strongly. With the 2025 season approaching, Smith is now set to claim the starting safety position alongside All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr., highlighting his transition into a more defined safety role.
Smith’s Rookie Season Highlights
During his first NFL campaign, Smith appeared in 13 games, compiling 54 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed. His defense-making ability was further emphasized through three forced fumbles, four tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits, which led to some consideration in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Despite proving effective in the slot, the Buccaneers planned to shift Smith into the starting safety role following the departure of Jordan Whitehead from that position.
Establishing Himself as a Defensive Leader
Smith excelled in his new role, matching the team’s second-highest tackle count with 100 and adding two sacks and five quarterback hits. He also secured an interception, recovered two fumbles, and led the Buccaneers with 13 passes defensed. His ability to influence both run support and pass defense cemented the coaching staff’s confidence in his long-term fit at safety. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Head Coach Todd Bowles affirmed Smith’s future with the team, saying,
“It’s definitely a position for him long-term,”
Bowles stated.
“We thought he was our best player probably up until he hurt his shoulder, probably three-quarters of the way through the season. He was our best tackler, he was our tone-setter and I thought he was on his way to a heck of a season. But he’s definitely a safety.”
Looking Ahead: Defensive Backfield Developments
Beyond Smith, the Buccaneers have other promising defensive backs whose roles will be further defined during the offseason. Tampa Bay invested in cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame and Jacob Parrish from Kansas State with their second- and third-round picks in last year’s draft. Morrison and Parrish gained significant playing time due to injuries to starters Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean, filling crucial outside cornerback roles by season’s end.
Progress of Other Young Defensive Backs
Jacob Parrish played primarily as a slot defender while also contributing outside when needed, sometimes adopting a hybrid role reminiscent of Rondé Barber by shifting between outside and nickel defensive packages. He finished the season with 68 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed. Morrison’s rookie year was curtailed by injuries, but his performances late in the season showed potential, with 26 tackles and four passes defensed. Their development could shape the Buccaneers’ defensive backfield strategy moving forward.
Implications for Tampa Bay’s Defensive Future
Tykee Smith’s confirmation as a long-term safety alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. addresses a key position for Tampa Bay’s defense, bringing stability and aggressive playmaking to the secondary. With Smith entering the 2025 offseason without a position change, he can continue refining his role, increasing his impact on both run and pass defense. Meanwhile, defining the roles of Morrison and Parrish at cornerback remains essential, offering the Buccaneers a youthful and dynamic secondary core. These developments will be critical as Tampa Bay aims to improve its defensive unit in the coming years.
