Benjamin Morrison's OTA interception could be an encouraging sign

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still months away from meaningful football, but one of the most encouraging plays from organized team activities may have come from cornerback Benjamin Morrison. During OTA practices, Morrison managed to come away with an interception against quarterback Baker Mayfield. While it’s only a practice rep in June, it represents exactly the type of positive momentum Morrison needs entering a pivotal season.

The former Notre Dame standout entered the league with significant expectations thanks to his ball skills, instincts, and ability to mirror receivers in coverage. However, his rookie campaign never got off the ground the way many expected. Injuries limited Morrison’s ability to establish consistency, and the young cornerback struggled to gain traction throughout a turbulent first season. Instead of building confidence week after week, he found himself battling to stay healthy and remain available, making it difficult to settle into a rhythm at the NFL level.

That’s why plays like his interception of Mayfield matter. For young defensive backs, confidence can be just as important as physical talent.

Making a play can serve as validation that the instincts and playmaking ability that made Morrison such a highly regarded prospect are still very much intact. The Buccaneers are counting on Morrison to become a larger part of their secondary moving forward. While veteran stars continue to lead the defense, Tampa Bay needs its younger defensive backs to take meaningful steps if the unit hopes to reach another level in 2026.

Morrison possesses the type of skill set that could allow him to do exactly that. His ball production at Notre Dame was among the best in college football, and his ability to read quarterbacks and attack the football has always been one of his greatest strengths.

One interception in OTA practices won’t guarantee a breakout season. However, after an injury-riddled and frustrating rookie year, it’s exactly the kind of offseason highlight Morrison needed. If he can stay healthy and continue stacking positive performances throughout training camp, that interception of Mayfield may end up being remembered as an early sign that a bounce-back campaign was on the horizon.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs’ Benjamin Morrison playing well early on in OTAs