Recent CBS Sports Mock Draft Has Buccaneers Taking Elite Cornerback Prospect Late in First Round

Could this CB prospect fall to the end of the first round?

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold (DB02) talks to the media / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 NFL Draft is just a week away and teams are doing their final preparations as they look to improve off of their 2023 seasons.

The first round of the draft from Detroit, Michigan is set to begin on Thursday night and the Buccaneers will be picking in the latter third after making the playoffs in 2023. There are several directions that the franchise could go with their 26th overall pick, but the emphasis seems to be that they will target a premier player along the offensive line, a pass rusher, or help solidify their defensive backs with the pick.

In his most recent first-round mock draft, CBS Sports' Will Brinson continued with this trend as he has Tampa Bay taking elite cornerback out of the University of Alabama Terrion Arnold.

"Again, similar to GB, Tampa Bay sees value in nabbing one of the top corners in this draft class late in the first round thanks to a run on offensive linemen."

The Tallahassee, Florida, native was a top performer at the NFL Combine and earned many accolades during his career in Tuscaloosa. After redshirting his freshman year in 2021, Arnold went on to start seven games for the Tide, playing in 11 on his way to earning FWAA Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC honors. Arnold continued to impress into his redshirt sophomore season, becoming an elite corner starting all 14 games and tying him for sixth in the FBS with five interceptions and was fifth in passes defended (17). His elite play earned him even more honors, being named a first-team Associated Press All-American and earning a spot on the All-SEC first-team.

The Bucs traded away Carlton Davis III this offseason with the understanding that backup Zyon McCollum had improved each season in the NFL and would get a chance to become the opposite CB starter from Jamel Dean. The Bucs also bolstered their DB room by adding Tavierre Thomas in FA on a one-year to compete with second-year nickelback Christian Izien. The moves were necessary, but at the end of the day, they still need help at the position, and bringing in talent at the level of Arnold would do wonders for a secondary that struggled at times in 2023.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 offseason.

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