The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2024 NFL Draft class has yielded a promising foundation for the team’s future. Offensively, the Buccaneers secured three talented players who have already established themselves as starters. Defensively, one standout rookie has emerged, demonstrating immense potential and positioning themselves for a breakout season in 2025.
Tykee Smith, the rookie cornerback, experienced his fair share of challenges in 2024, but those growing pains may have been a valuable learning experience. As a result, Smith is now poised for a potentially breakout season in 2025, with his rookie-year struggles likely to give way to increased confidence and improved performance.
Pro Football Focus has identified its top breakout candidates for the 2025 season, and Tykee Smith has been singled out as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ most promising prospect. This designation comes as no surprise, as it’s common for cornerbacks to experience significant growth and improvement in their second season. With a year of experience under his belt, Smith is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and deliver a standout performance in 2025.
“General manager Jason Licht’s 2024 draft class already has a proven star in Bucky Irving, and Smith is another candidate to flourish. In his first NFL regular season, Smith collected an 88.1 PFF run-defense grade, the seventh-best mark among cornerbacks with 100 or more run-defense snaps. His 21 stops tied for the 13th most among rookies.”
Despite showing flashes of promise in 2024, Tykee Smith’s development was impeded by the Buccaneers’ secondary being plagued by injuries. However, with a full offseason ahead, Smith is poised to benefit from working alongside seasoned teammates like Antoine Winfield Jr. and Zyon McCollum. Additionally, the team may opt to bring in complementary talent to foster competition and push Smith to reach his full potential.
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