Jamel Dean About To Fulfill His 2022 Dream
March 13th, 2023
Lotto ticket is hours away.
Rarely will NFL players will talk publicly about money or even reference their contract status.
Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean is not one of those guys.
Dean is a pending free agent and he’s about to hit the jackpot. Entering his contract season last year, Dean opened up to Buccaneers.com and said he changed his approach to the 2022 season to help himself score a fat bag when the free agency dinner bell rings at noon today.
Dean watched his college buddy, Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis, earn $15 million per season with a new contract last March and that reality “inspired” Dean, he said.
“I’m taking like a new approach into this year knowing that it’s the last year of my contract,” Dean said. “And I feel like, you know, I won’t know if I’m going to get a second contract or not. So I’m trying to do the best I can to try to earn a second one.”
NBC super insider Peter King, in his weekly Monday morning column on ProFootballTalk.com, named Dean as one of seven free agents to watch today, as in these guys will have fat contracts agreed to by Tuesday morning at the latest.
Dean joined defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Dre’Mont Jones, lett tackles Orlando Brown and Mike McGlinchey, safety Jessie Bates and defensive end Frank Clark on King’s list.
With the Bucs having quarterback as their priority, (Hello, Baker Mayfield), will they break the bank for Dean and have the most expensive cornerback duo in NFL history?
Time will tell. And that time is likely today.
March 13th, 2023 at 9:39 am
They’re not going to do it.
March 13th, 2023 at 9:45 am
Good for him. Go get your money and get far away from a front office that might roll the incapable Kyle Trask out as the starter.
March 13th, 2023 at 9:49 am
I know many don’t put much into comp picks…..but at least losing Dean will get us a good one…..Losing LVD another and perhaps even SMB or Edwards.
He’s a very good player…..has a ring…..Good luck Jamel. Your earned it!!!
March 13th, 2023 at 10:06 am
Caution: without a stellar pass rush good DB’s are going to be at a premium..they don’t grow on trees.
March 13th, 2023 at 10:17 am
If the Saints can sign Carr while being $70 million over the cap, there’s no reason the Bucs can’t sign Dean, Mayfield, Frank Clark and Orlando Brown today.
March 13th, 2023 at 10:17 am
An excellent corner!
Better than Davis.
Will hate to seem him go!
March 13th, 2023 at 10:26 am
With as often as Carlton Davis is hurt, My Momma thinks they shouldn’t let Dean leave. Unless they have another corner in free agency in mind, that can be had on the cheap, they could put that money towards a left tackle or pass rusher. Can’t count on Barrett.
March 13th, 2023 at 10:28 am
He’s a decent corner. They could draft a corner just as good or better with in the 1st 3 rounds. I’m torn between Edge, OT or CB in the 1st. Best available is probably the way to go.
This is a deep draft for CB. No need to over pay for Dean. SMB and Edwards they could re-sign much cheaper.
March 13th, 2023 at 10:31 am
Best corner the Bucs had last 2 years and they’ll just let him walk out door says it all
March 13th, 2023 at 10:36 am
Now.
March 13th, 2023 at 10:38 am
Whoever gives him a big fat contract, expect them to draft very early next year. That’s what bad teams do, overpay cornerbacks .
March 13th, 2023 at 10:50 am
I think Bucs will draft a CB in the first 3 rounds. Dean is gone, IDK if Bucs try to sign SMB or David, prob can’t do both. Hall and JT-S are really going to have to step it up, in order to mitigate the hits the Defense is going to take in FAcy. If there is a silver lining, it’s that the 2024 Draft is loaded with good QBs, and the compensatory picks Bucs get for their 2023 FA losses will give them some draft capital to move up a few spots to grab their guy.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:06 am
“I’m taking like a new approach into this year knowing that it’s the last year of my contract,” Dean said. “And I feel like, you know, I won’t know if I’m going to get a second contract or not. So I’m trying to do the best I can to try to earn a second one.”
If you are a professional football player – shouldn’t you always come into the season with this type of attitude?
This is a very odd statement by Dean – “I’m taking a new approach because I want a second contract?”
What? A new approach? Why not just always prepare and play to the best of your abilities on every play every year…
“So I’m trying to do the best I can to try to earn a second one.”
Huh?
I’m glad this dude is leaving. This attitude is why the Bucs played with zero fire or passion…
“I’m just here to get my paycheck.”
Bye Jamel – go get your paycheck dude.
What a joke!
March 13th, 2023 at 11:18 am
Dean is a great man coverage guy, but is horrid in zone defense.
That makes him a liability in too many situations.
I say that he should move on.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Any team reading this should read between the lines. He’s saying he only put forward his best effort when money is on the line. Whoever gives him the fat contract will get a complacent player, who wont give his best until the next contract year rolls around.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:27 am
Marine Buc is right. He’s going to feel like he’s “made it” once he signs a fat contract. There’s a decent chance he’ll backslide a little then get injured.
Too bad they cut Donovan Smith. There’s several corners as good or better than Dean available in the first round and second rounds, IMO. They need two, at least. But they first need to find an at least average tackle who can play right away.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:28 am
Tampbaybucsfan.
Dean will not yield a comp pick if we sign Mayfield. They will off set.
If you pay Dean you have the most expensive backfield in league bit probably not the best backfield. Draft is deeper at corners
March 13th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Sounds like Deen has already made up his mind to move on from the Bucs. And I agree with Marine, I don’t like his attitude. Haul a$$ Deen.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:43 am
Marine Buc has a point. Dean has his fat paycheck. No need to play hard anymore. Just take the biggest guaranteed money and soft quit. They have to pay you if you earn it or not.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:44 am
Too bad they cut Donovan Smith. There’s several corners as good or better than Dean available in the first round and second rounds, IMO.
@llard Please tell us who they are!
March 13th, 2023 at 11:45 am
My Momma says, if the let him walk, it’ll remind her of the Culverhouse days: They’d develop a player and wouldn’t pay him. How in the world did we keep Barber and Brian Kelly together for so long, and get Simeon Rice? How were we able to get both Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks in the same draft? Because we traded quarterback Craig Erickson to the Indianapolis Colts and received a first round pick in the 1996 NFL draft. And who was responsible for this: Rich McKay. My Momma knows it’s a different day and time, but Licht can’t hold a candle to Rich McKay.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Bucs56, I don’t have a ouija board so I can’t predict compensatory picks accurately, but I think it’s based on salary, not draft pedigree. If Baker gets a modest prove-it salary he shouldn’t count much in compensatory picks.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:53 am
Jason Licht, we need you brother.
March 13th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Marine Buc Says:
March 13th, 2023 at 11:06 am
“I’m taking like a new approach into this year knowing that it’s the last year of my contract,” Dean said. “And I feel like, you know, I won’t know if I’m going to get a second contract or not. So I’m trying to do the best I can to try to earn a second one.”
If you are a professional football player – shouldn’t you always come into the season with this type of attitude?
This is a very odd statement by Dean – “I’m taking a new approach because I want a second contract?”
What? A new approach? Why not just always prepare and play to the best of your abilities on every play every year…
“So I’m trying to do the best I can to try to earn a second one.”
^^^^^^^^^^^
Agreed, not someone you want to give a long term deal to.
March 13th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Marine Buc, spot on. We don’t need any more Doug Martins.
March 13th, 2023 at 12:04 pm
@ larrd/Joe in Mich
It’s one thing to have those thoughts in the back of your mind…
But to say something like that publicly just goes to show you Dean’s IQ.
Totally ridiculous.
March 13th, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Marine Buc … Seems like we’ve seen guys play real hard in a contract year then POOF after that. Personally I like the attitude that Derrick Brooks said he came to camp with every year … busting his butt to make the team just as hard as if he were still a rookie.
March 13th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Julius Brents can replace Jamel Dean, and the good thing about that is he won’t have to unlearn face-guarding WRs like Dean had to because of whatever he was able to get away with at Auburn in terms of honing his craft as a CB. My biggest gripe with Dean since he was drafted is that he doesn’t play as well as an SMB does with his eyes/brain, but again the athleticism is off the charts.
March 13th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
@ DR
Exactly… This attitude displayed by Dean within this comment is indicative of how the entire Buc team played in 2022.
“Oh well – we lost – just pay me – who cares?”
If I were Dean’s agent I would ask him to stay silent and ball out on every play – the “BIG PAYDAY” will happen if you play and prepare at a high level.
March 13th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
larrd Says:
March 13th, 2023 at 11:27 am
Marine Buc is right. He’s going to feel like he’s “made it” once he signs a fat contract. There’s a decent chance he’ll backslide a little then get injured.
Too bad they cut Donovan Smith. There’s several corners as good or better than Dean available in the first round and second rounds, IMO. They need two, at least. But they first need to find an at least average tackle who can play right away.
^^^^^^^^^
This is why I think the Bucs should move Wirfs to LT, take a CB and Edge in the 1st and 2nd rounds, a RT in the 3rd. If the Bucs are going to run the ball like they say, they can get by with a rookie/cheap vet free agent at RT.
March 13th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Dean will not be easily replaced!! If the Bucs can’t sign him then the secondary will hurt!!
March 13th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Let him role he can take his Mickey Mouse gloves to another team and get beat.