Buccaneers NFL Draft Target: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State

Will the Buccaneers go cornerback early in the draft?

The 2024 rendition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a group that was peppered with injuries. While the ailments didn’t isolate themselves to any singular position group or side of the ball, the Buccaneers’ defensive backs were hit pretty hard. Every single member of the Bucs’ starting secondary failed to play in all 17 games, save for Zyon McCollum. The corner spot opposite him was manned by Jamel Dean, at times Tyrek Funderburk, occasionally Josh Hayes, for a limited time Bryce Hall even saw the field. All different names and faces but the constant theme was the depth or lack of depth was hurting Tampa’s defense.

Jamel Dean was a predicted cap casualty by some heading into this offseason but by all accounts, has secured himself at least one more year in Tampa Bay. With Dean remaining in the fold, the two starting cornerback spots projected to be locked up. The issue in Tampa is, for how long?

Jamel Dean has yet to play a full season’s worth of games in his NFL career— His personal best is 15, though he tends to linger around 13 per season. The Buccaneers chose to move off Carlton Davis last offseason, in a move that was somewhat controversial at the time. That decision may not have been the incorrect one on paper, however, it did expose the lack of depth the Bucs were able to field at the position. Davis, like Dean, has never played a full slate of games and he himself also missed a significant amount of time last season with the Detroit Lions.

Through the first phase of the offseason the Buccaneers have made an effort to address the need for depth at cornerback position— Re-signing Bryce Hall and bringing in free agent corner Kindle Vildor. Still, Todd Bowles, when asked about the group, admitted his pines for more depth.

The Buccaneers, through most projections figure to take a defense-heavy approach to this draft. Returning all 11 starters on the offensive side of the ball from a season ago, where the team’s offense (ranked top-5 in most major categories) was the bell cow for the team’s overall success, does lean into that thought process. The question becomes with holes at all three levels of the Todd Bowles’ defense, which portion(s) of the unit will he prioritize addressing? If cornerback ranks high on Tampa’s list Darien Porter may be a difficult prospect to ignore.

College Career

Porter is a sixth-year senior— despite that, he does not have extensive time spent on task. Porter spent his first five years playing a limited role, mostly seeing reps on special teams exclusively. It wasn’t until last season that he flashed a sample of what he could do, Porter was Honorable Mention All-Big 12. In a display of athletic versatility, Porter played in 12 games, starting 7. He amassed 18 tackles and grabbed 3 INTs, while also finding his way to two blocked kicks— Something Porter has shown a propensity of doing as he has accounted for at least one blocked kick in every season since 2021.

NFL Draft Pre-game

NFL Scouting Combine measurements and test results:

Height: 6’ 3’’

Weight: 195 lbs

Arms: 33 1/8’’

Hands: 9’’

40-yard dash: 4.3

Vert: 36.5”

Broad: 10’11”

At 6’3” tall nearly, Porter’s ability to a 4.3 40-yard dash will grab a lot of attention from potential suitors. The athleticism is obvious, Porter began his college career as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback and has spent enough time of special teams to show the traits of an NFL player— All of which were on display in Indianapolis.

Athleticism doesn’t necessarily guarantee production but, it does entice coaches and teams to take chances on guys— Some more than others.

Darien Porter, as a fit for the Buccaneers

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

History doesn’t always repeat itself but in NFL programs it often does. Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a past pattern of interest in this type of prospect. Porter is 6’3” and runs a 4.3, but has the drawbacks of being raw at the position.

Jamel Dean, a familiar modern-day face to Bucs’ fans, once measured in at 6’1’’ and ran a 4.3 40-yard dash, with a nearly identical board jump to Porter. How quickly does coincidence become a pattern?

Zyon McCollum is a 6’2” corner who ran a 4.33 40-yard dash— Sean Murphy-Bunting, to a slightly lesser extent, also fits this build. Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly have a ‘type’ and Darien Porter is poured from the mold, The difference between Porter and the Buccaneers’ two starting corners is neither Dean nor McCollum were particularly high-round selections. Dean was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round, while McCollum wasn’t selected until the fifth round (Murphy-Bunting, round two). The subsequent production Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers have gotten out of those two players speaks to the player development that has been occurring at One Buc Place, however, it is much easier to take a developmental player in the mid-later rounds of the draft.

If the Buccaneers were to take a chance Porter, they would be drafting him to start in 2026. For the 2025 season, Porter would likely be the Buccaneers third/fourth option at cornerback. While he’d provide and instant impact on special teams, he would only see the field as a defender due to injury. His ability to immediately play special teams at a high level, in combination with his impressive athletic traits make him a very intriguing prospect for the Bucs. Porter offers them a chance to develop a long-term starting option behind their current duo, while still seeing early dividends on their draft pick.

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