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Cornerback Keionte Scott could make an immediate impact for the Buccaneers in 2026

There’s no hiding the fact that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost some talented players this offseason. Through free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, though, the Bucs have done a good job at finding a way to reinforce their roster, with the hope being that these new faces can help the team return to the playoffs next season.

For the most part, Tampa Bay has received high marks for its work in the 2026 draft, as the team’s selection of Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round has been viewed as one of the best value picks across the league. While Bain will be a contributor from the get-go for the Buccaneers, Field Yates of ESPN believes that his former Miami Hurricanes teammate, cornerback Keionte Scott, could also star for his new team as a rookie.

Keionte Scott Earns High Praise Ahead of 2026 Campaign

Bain fell to the Bucs at the No. 15 pick, but Scott also fell to them later in the draft. Initially viewed as a potential late second-round/early third-round pick, Scott didn’t come off the board until midway through the fourth round at the No. 116 overall pick. Right off the bat, that’s good value for Tampa Bay.

A sticky nickel corner during his time in college, Scott enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025 with Miami after spending the first three years of his collegiate career with the Auburn Tigers. In 14 games, Scott racked up 64 tackles (13 of which went for a loss), five sacks, two interceptions (both of which were returned for touchdowns), five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

Scott can do a little bit of everything, as he’s great in coverage, but he has also shown an ability to make plays in the run game and get to the quarterback when used as a blitzer. While Jacob Parrish is currently the Buccaneers’ top nickelback, Scott could earn snaps all over the field after the team lost Jamel Dean in free agency, which has Yates believing a big season is in store for him.

“The former Miami star should get immediate snaps at nickel, as he is explosive and instinctive,” Yates wrote. “He brings a potent package of vision, ball skills and tackling intensity that translates to the NFL. I loved how Scott showed up during the biggest moments of Miami’s run to the CFP National Championship game, which furthers my confidence that he’s NFL-ready.”

Buccaneers Have High Hopes for Keionte Scott

GettyFormer Miami defensive back Keionte Scott.

Day 3 picks don’t always contribute right out of the gate, but Scott has found himself in a unique situation with the Buccaneers. Simply put, this team needs players to step up at the cornerback position alongside Zyon McCollum. That means that Scott, who didn’t play much on the boundary in college, could be used in a variety of different roles as a rookie.

Making the jump to the pros is going to take some time for Scott to get used to, but he has a wealth of experience from his time in college with Miami and Auburn. Expectations should certainly be tempered for the talented rookie, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him turn into a contributor right out of the gate for Tampa Bay in 2026.