The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the last remaining teams to get their second-round draft pick, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, under contract after the guaranteed money shift that occurred around the NFL, but the long-awaited news came in just ahead of training camp on the evening of July 20.
“The Buccaneers agreed to terms with CB Benjamin Morrison,” NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday. Adding: “The 53rd pick gets 96% guaranteed in the third year of the deal. Deal negotiated by Ryan Tollner and Rick DuPont of @excelfootball with Peighton Roth of the Bucs.”
Garafolo also shared Morrison’s initial draft phone call video from April.
Buccaneers CB Benjamin Morrison Is Expected to Make Just Under $8.216 Million After Contract News
This Buccaneers news couldn’t come soon enough, and the hold-up involved a leaguewide guaranteed money adjustment that progressed this offseason.
“After years of no second-round picks receiving fully-guaranteed contracts, the 2025 NFL Draft class is breaking new ground,” NFL insider Ari Meirov noted on July 18. Labeling this a “major shift” for rookie contracts.
The first two teams to start this trend were the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans, who picked at Nos. 33 and 34 overall this April. The players were linebacker Carson Schwesinger and wide receiver Jayden Higgins.
After that precedent was set, outside of running back Quinshon Judkins — who is currently involved in an off-the-field situation — every player selected from Higgins through quarterback Tyler Shough (40th overall) has received a fully guaranteed deal.
Morrison was not picked within that range, so his rookie contract followed a more staggered trend that began after Shough. In the end, he got 96% guaranteed.
Spotrac projects that the total value of Morrison’s contract will come out to just under $8.216 million, with an average annual salary of around $2.054 million.
Buccaneers Training Camp Is Set to Begin This Week as Starting Cornerback Battle Takes Center Stage
Tomorrow, on July 21, Buccaneers rookies will report to training camp. So, this Morrison news came at the perfect time.
Tampa Bay veterans then report on Tuesday, July 22, with the franchise’s first preseason outing scheduled for Saturday, August 9. That exhibition game will be at home against the Tennessee Titans.
The starting cornerback battle, in particular, should be one of the more crucial training camp competitions this summer.
Morrison will be looking to steal a role within the starting 11 over the next month of action. The presumptive incumbents on the boundary will be veterans Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum, although fellow drafted rookie Jacob Parrish could also be in the mix on the outside or in the slot.
Whoever wins each job, the Bucs need this position to improve in 2025.
Tampa Bay allowed the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL last season, and they were only four yards away from ranking second-worst in this area. On top of that, the team’s 7 total interceptions were tied for fourth-worst as well, and their 27 passing touchdowns allowed were tied for 10th-worst in the NFL.
Each of those areas needs to improve if the Buccaneers are going to turn into serious Super Bowl contenders his year, and it all starts at training camp.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles will be hoping that a couple of cornerbacks rise to the occasion this summer, and Morrison is the prime candidate to do so. If the second-round talent can keep himself healthy, he’s got a good shot at climbing the depth chart before Week 1.
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