The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quietly developed what Evan Winter believes is the BEST secondary in the NFL. Through the first eight weeks of the 2026 season, Tampa Bay is tied with the Minnesota Vikings for the NFL lead in EPA per pass allowed at -0.28. The Bucs have also recorded 12 interceptions and have allowed only one quarterback since Week 5 to throw for more than one touchdown in a game. Evan breaks down the numbers, the individual performances and the depth that have turned Tampa Bay's secondary into one of the biggest strengths on the entire roster. It all starts with Zion McCollum. McCollum has arguably been one of the best corners in football through the first eight weeks. He's allowed zero touchdowns through the air, ranks first in coverage EPA according to NFL Next Gen Stats at -25.4 and has allowed a 44.0 passer rating when targeted. Evan also breaks down McCollum's individual matchups against some of the NFL's best receivers, including Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jerry Jeudy, Justin Jefferson, Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and DK Metcalf. And McCollum isn't doing it alone. Jacob Parrish has emerged as another major piece of Tampa Bay's secondary, with the Buccaneers becoming the only team with two players ranked in the top 10 in opposing passer rating allowed among qualified defensive backs. Then there's Tykee Smith. Smith has shown significantly more range in coverage this season while continuing to provide the physicality Tampa Bay needs closer to the line of scrimmage. His development could eventually give Todd Bowles the perfect complement to Antoine Winfield Jr. Evan also explains why Winfield's return could make this secondary even more dangerous and why Tampa Bay needs to see more splash plays from its star safety. The depth is another major reason for optimism. Tampa Bay has been able to develop young players while still getting contributions from its experienced veterans, giving the Bucs more options than they've had in recent seasons. So are the Buccaneers actually the best secondary in the NFL? Or is Evan getting a little too carried away? Let us know what YOU think in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Bucs for more Tampa Bay Buccaneers news, analysis, reactions and coverage throughout the 2026 NFL season.

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