The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have learned the hard way that life in the NFL is pretty tough sledding without an elite — or even sort-of elite — cornerback.

Having traded away their team’s best cornerback to a Super Bowl contender in the NFC (never a smart move), the Buccaneers have still found a way to scrap their way to 6-6 and tied for first place in the NFC South. More importantly for their future, they will have an elite offensive nucleus in place for 2025.

What the Buccaneers need is a shutdown corner, and there are moves they could make in 2025 to make sure they get one.

The most significant move would be to try and trade up in the first round to get either of the 2 cornerbacks who could be franchise changers — ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Will Johnson as the top 2 players on his latest 2025 NFL Draft Big Board, which is a ranking of the best players available regardless of team needs.

While trying to get either player would be a costly move, it might also be worth it if it turns the Buccaneers into a legitimate NFC contender — something the franchise can’t say it is right now.