Buccaneers Add Experienced 49ers Defender Ahead of Draft
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have started addressing their need at cornerback by adding depth before the NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay agreed to a one-year deal with former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chase Lucas, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Lucas entered free agency after the 49ers chose not to tender him as a restricted free agent, giving the Buccaneers an opportunity to bring him in for the 2026 season.
Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Lucas spent time bouncing between the active roster and practice squad in Detroit before joining San Francisco. During the 2025 season, he saw the most action of his career, appearing in 15 games, though he did not make any starts. In that span, he allowed a 99.0 passer rating and recorded one pass defended.
Lucas is expected to serve primarily as a depth option, similar to how players like Christian Izien and Kindle Vildor were used before Vildor departed in free agency. While he’s not projected to step into a starting role, his presence helps reinforce a cornerback group that thinned out during the offseason. He could also contribute on special teams, an area where Tampa Bay struggled last year.
Despite the addition, the Buccaneers may not be done at the position. Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison are currently in line to start, but both come with question marks—Morrison dealt with injuries during his rookie year, and McCollum has been inconsistent despite earning an extension.
Because of that, Tampa Bay is still expected to target a cornerback early in the upcoming NFL Draft, where the team holds the No. 15 overall pick in the first round on April 22.
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