Jamel Dean Situation Sounds Unsettled
February 28th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Is Jamel Dean on solid footing with the Bucs as free agency looms?
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was not overly enthusiastic about Dean when speaking Tuesday at the combine housed in its beehive inside the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.
Dean is a talented corner Todd Bowles likes but Bowles also looks for takeaways from his corners, which Dean rarely provides.
Joe’s biggest issue with Dean is he cannot stay on the field. He’s about to turn 29. Chronically injured guys that age don’t all of a sudden get healthier.
In the last four Bucs playoff games, Dean either was not available or couldn’t finish three due to injury. In fact, in the last two Bucs playoff games, both one-score games, Dean couldn’t stay on the field in the fourth quarter. Not good.
Given the chance to outright say Dean is secure, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager instead said Dean’s status is uncertain.
(Background: The following response about Dean from Licht came immediately after Light had said the team was evaluating whether to bring back Jordan Whitehead. Roughly 24 hours later, Whitehead was an ex-Bucs player.)
“Another thing we are discussing internally,” Licht said of Dean’s job security. “Love Jamel. He’s done some great things for us. Been with us a long time. He hasn’t been on the field as much as we’d like.
“There are some things we have to review and the whole landscape of the position, what it’s like in the draft. There is no timetable on [Dean] either. We are in no rush to make that decision.”
When Joe asked a follow-up question about adding a potential starting corner given that Dean is bound to miss games with injuries, Licht responded, “That’s one position we need to add depth, if anything, to.”
So Dean’s not exactly on firm ground. Nor should he be.
Look, Joe likes Dean and thinks Dean is a decent player unlike many fans. But dang, he misses games. And when the guy cannot answer the bell in the most important games of the season, playoff games, what’s the point?
February 28th, 2025 at 7:12 am
It’s often said the best ability is availability.
February 28th, 2025 at 7:16 am
I would guess that Licht’s been shopping Dean in a trade this week. On the few times that Dean has played, the Bucs won, and he’s solid. He’s being paid way too much considering his availability so he needs to go.
Draft a CB, or Jihaad Campbell, at 19. Campbell looked like rd1 pick last night at the combine.
February 28th, 2025 at 7:23 am
CB is one of the more grueling positions in the NFL. 29 is getting up there. 29 and injury-prone is a non starter for me.
February 28th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Death, taxes and Jamel Dean getting injured and missing games. Count on it.
February 28th, 2025 at 7:39 am
When he’s on the field, he’s excellent.
I want to trade him for a 3rd and re-sign Carlton Davis.
Therefore, we lose nothing, and we get another 3rd round pick.
It’s genius.
February 28th, 2025 at 7:46 am
Don’t make a scene, it’s just Dean.
February 28th, 2025 at 8:15 am
Ditto with you on your closing Joe. And especially needing a pick and watching him slap the ball down sucks to. Go Bucs!!!
February 28th, 2025 at 9:19 am
We need cap space. Dean literally has one interception in two years and only four in the last three. Unacceptable for the amount of salary he is making. We need to cut him, get some salary back and sign a veteran for a cheaper deal. I bet we can find that many interception on the street
February 28th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Yes ditto to the idea of trading Dean and resigning Davis. I always thought they should have kept Davis and let Dean go. Maybe that happens now.
February 28th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Interesting negotiation tactic. If they cut him now, Dean can go get another deal.
If they keep him until the FA money is spent around the league and then tell them they are going to cut him, he’ll have to renegotiate his contract.
Savvy
February 28th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Ya can’t coach against injuries but you sure can coach tightened cushions instead of drop deep and cover nobody.
February 28th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Dean is made of glass. Move on.
February 28th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
It’s not just that Dean is always injured, it’s the way he gets injured. Burnt by a WR? He goes down. A slightly awkward landing in his shoulder? Injured.
He either seems like a complete pu$$ or just looks for excuses to exit the field
February 28th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
We need to cut Jamel.
I somewhat agree that when he’s on the field, he does good.
But, he gets injured way too often.
Coach Swiss Cheese has his favorites, and Jamel is one of them.
That’ll be our biggest obstacle to letting him go.
I’m not sure I agree with bringing back Carlton Davis. He seemed to get injured fairly often, too.
Landry from the Titans looks like he might be a good fit. We should at least take a look at him.
February 28th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Not a Dean believer. He spent the entire season appearing lost, tackled poorly, and even on the interception against Chargers seemed surprised that the ball landed in his hands. Being around the ball or a receiver are not strengths.
February 28th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Draft Shavon Revel
March 1st, 2025 at 11:08 am
Ballhawks. Bowles said we need ballhawks. If Dean was a ballhawk, and needed to pick off balls to stay alive, he would’ve died of starvation years ago. Ballhawk, Dean is not. He’s as good as gone.