Josh Hayes

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		47	—	3	67
2025		17	0	0	15
2024		15	0	3	35
2023		15

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2025		17	15	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2024		15	35	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2023		15	17	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Josh Hayes' Contract Value Index lands at D+, putting the deal in a defined slice of comparable signings. The cornerback earns just $1.0M annually on his four-year rookie scale contract—a salary floor that ordinarily provides roster flexibility—but the performance grade of D paired with minimal production across three seasons reveals why the value proposition has deteriorated. His 2025 season output of 15 tackles across 17 games underscores a depth-piece role that has failed to generate the kind of impact expected even from a sixth-round pick; zero interceptions and three passes defended over his entire career suggest he has not developed into a reliable starting option at the position. As a 27-year-old third-year player, Hayes sits at a critical juncture where either meaningful improvement or departure becomes inevitable—the modest salary carries minimal dead-cap risk, but the Tampa Bay front office's evaluation appears complete, evidenced by recent cornerback additions and his listing among top cut candidates. The media narrative frames Hayes as invisible within the defensive hierarchy, with no positive coverage offsetting his marginal on-field contribution, and unless training camp produces a reversal of trajectory, his tenure with the Buccaneers appears increasingly untenable heading into the league year. At this salary level, his CVI grade reflects the fundamental mismatch: a player occupying valuable roster real estate without delivering the performance to justify continued investment.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Josh's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Josh Hayes produces at a tier that grades a D performance mark for Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old third-year cornerback logged 15 tackles across 17 games in the 2025 season, a volume that underscores his limited defensive impact despite near-full availability. His most significant weakness has been his inability to generate splash plays in coverage—zero interceptions and only three passes defended across his entire three-season tenure represent below-average production for a defensive back, even accounting for the variability in opportunity and scheme. Hayes appeared in enough contests to be a depth piece rather than a bench warmer, but his tackle total and complete absence of turnover generation reveal a player who hasn't established himself as a reliable contributor in Tampa Bay's secondary. The mediaFraming makes his standing clear: he's appeared on the team's cut-candidate list and has generated zero positive headlines while teammates earn recognition for impactful plays, a stark indication of his marginal roster value heading into the new league year. Unless the 2025 training camp produces a marked improvement, his tenure with the Buccaneers appears increasingly precarious, particularly given the team's ongoing roster evaluations during the offseason.

How Josh Compares at the Position

Josh Hayes ranks 222nd of 270 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Josh between Kris Abrams-draine (D) just ahead and Micah Robinson (D) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Josh Hayes faces a challenging public perception entering the 2026 offseason, with his D- sentiment grade reflecting growing skepticism about his future in Tampa Bay. The cornerback has struggled to generate any positive media attention over his three-year tenure, posting underwhelming production with zero interceptions and just three passes defended while failing to establish himself as a reliable contributor in the Buccaneers' defensive backfield. His appearance on the team's list of top cut candidates has only amplified questions about his value proposition, despite carrying a modest $1.0M salary that should theoretically provide roster flexibility. Media coverage has been notably absent of any praise for Hayes' contributions, creating an indifferent-to-skeptical narrative around a player who has failed to carve out a meaningful role. The stark contrast between Hayes' invisibility and the recognition earned by teammates for impactful plays underscores his tenuous standing within the organization's plans. While the sentiment isn't overtly hostile, the trajectory appears decidedly downward as Tampa Bay evaluates roster efficiency heading into the new league year.