Riley Moss
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Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary has a star in safety Antoine Winfield Jr., but beyond that, there’s a lot left to be desired.
Slot cornerback Jacob Parrish seems like he could eventually be a star. At outside cornerback, Zyon McCollum was terrible in his 1st season after signing a 3-year, $48 million contract extension in 2025. The other starter at outside cornerback, Jamel Dean, left for a 3-year, $36.75 million free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s a secondary — especially at cornerback — in need of a steadying force to come through. Fox Sports NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano thinks the Buccaneers could find that by trading their 2026 3rd-round pick (No. 77 overall) in exchange for Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss.
Moss has been playing at an elite level since he became the full-time starter opposite 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II in 2024.
“After adding help up front in free agency, even coach Todd Bowles acknowledged the need for another corner amid Jamel Dean‘s departure,” Vacchiano wrote. “The Broncos are strong at that position and could be willing to deal the 26-year-old Moss ahead of the last year of his contract. He’s been good playing opposite Patrick Surtain, considering the amount of teams that would prefer to throw at him. His low cost could mean the Broncos wouldn’t part with him for less than a second-round pick, unless the Bucs dangled a player in the deal, like perhaps young running back Sean Tucker.”
Riley Moss Would Be Welcome On Most Teams
Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti put Moss at the top of the list of trade candidates for the Broncos this offseason following a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
“Moss started all 17 games in 2025, and has now put together back-to-back strong seasons, especially as it pertains to stopping the running game,” Ginnitti wrote. “However, it stands to reason that 2025 1st-round pick Jahdae Barron will be ready to step into his role going forward, putting Moss — who is entering a contract year in 2026 — on the outside looking in.”
Playing opposite Surtain is a thankless task few would be up for, but Moss has continually shined in. His true value was on display when Surtain missed 3 games during the 2025 season with an injury to his pectoral muscle — a stretch in which Moss was pushed into the CB1 role and the Broncos went 3-0.
Huge Payday From NFL Incentives Program
Moss was one of the NFL’s top earners in the league’s annual performance-based incentives program for the 2025 season — the bonus system the league uses to pay players with low salaries who play high snap counts.
Moss scored a $1.136 million bonus after starting all 17 games in 2025. It ranked Moss No. 12 among all NFL players who received bonuses.
“Some exceptional players on that list — includingRiley Moss toward the top,” Broncos fan Ron Caphill wrote on X. “Hopefully,Broncos Country appreciates and understands this.”
In reality, Moss would be an upgrade over McCollum, who is the team’s de facto shutdown cornerback with Dean gone — a scary proposal for a defense that already struggled mightily in 2025.