Two days before the start of his fourth NFL season, cornerback Zyon McCollum reached terms on a multi-year extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced on Friday.

The reported three-year, $48 million extension will pay the former fifth-round draft pick a guaranteed $35.4 million. It’s a proactive move from the Bucs, as McCollum was not set to be a free agent until after the 2026 season.

“Zyon has developed into an every-down starter for us and continues to elevate his game each year,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. “His athleticism, paired with his ability to limit opposing receivers, gives us a dependable and dynamic defender in the secondary. We are excited to keep an ascending player like Zyon in Tampa as we continue building around a young, talented core.”

McCollum broke through as a starter in 2024, starting all 18 games (regular season and playoffs) after starting a combined 12 games over his first two seasons in Tampa. His 82 tackles last season were second-most on the team, and he also recorded two interceptions, 17 pass deflections, a fumble recovery and 82 tackles. His 17 pass deflections tied for the third-most in the NFL.

–Field Level Media