Anthony Nelson Returns
March 11th, 2025
Stays home.
In January when the Bucs lost to the Commandos, Joe didn’t like how Anthony Nelson reacted.
Nelson walked around the locker room after the loss and took time to shake every teammate’s hand. It looked to Joe as if he was saying goodbye.
Turns out that wasn’t the case.
Today Nelson re-signed with the Bucs per Jeremy Fowler of BSPN. Nelson is a quality player off the bench. Sound fundamentals. Sneaky pass rush skills.
In fact, until YaYa Diaby got hot late, it was Nelson who led outside linebackers in sacks for the Bucs for much of the season — off the bench!
And who can forget how Nelson saved the 2024 season with a forced fumble in overtime at Carolina.
Nelson is a solid glue guy. Joe’s glad he’s back.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
I like it! You need guys on the team like him!
March 11th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
One of my favorite players.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Ballhawk
March 11th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
2 years – $10M
Quite the 4th round selection this guy…..
Welcome back Anthony – glad to have ya
March 11th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Hopefully a team friendly deal.
Glad he’s back for depth.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Nice!
A pro’s pro. Will Gholston 2.0 in the most positive way. Shows up to work and gets the job done. Makes plays when he’s on the field. No negative stories from inside or outside the building. Glad he remains with the Bucs.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
One of Bowles guys. Dean is a Bowles guy too surprised he wasn’t released
March 11th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Awesome. If not for Nelson’s strip of Chuba Hubbard, Todd would be coaching life skills at Temple University by now.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Good to have Nellie back, he wasn’t far behind YaYa in production this year.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
I honestly still do not understand the “release J. Dean” mob.
It is utterly ridiculous.
Do you folks realize that mid-tier CBs are now making @ $20M per season?
J. Dean had a higher PFF grade than all of the CBs who have recently been signed for much more money than J. Dean is currently making…
March 11th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
I think things will click for the edge pass rush this year. Reddick will do his thing with 12 sacks. YaYa will turn his pressures into 15 sacks. Braswell will get 8 and 6 for Nellie.
Hopefully, the added dline pressure will lead to more interceptions.
It would be nice to add a speedy running back to the stable like Gainwell.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Any word on the bidding war for the great and powerful Trask?
March 11th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
You can’t help the club from the tub Marine.
Dean is a pretty good CB – when he’s healthy….
But he’s never completed a full season of games – missed 5 games and parts of others last year – has missed 2 out of the last 3 playoff games – and has hands of stone when it comes to turnovers….
Bucs gain $8.6M in cap space this year and save $16M next year by moving on from Jamel Dean.
Trade Dean for a 5th or 6th rd pick – Re-sign Bryce Hall to a low level contract – bring in another decent free agent for $10M or less – draft a CB in the 1st or 2nd round this year and we good…
March 11th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Continue to be 100 percent aligned with Marine Buc.
Certainly Dean not an all pro but way better than lots of the guys around the NFL getting big money. And really has not missed any more games than those guys either.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
I like it
March 11th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Honestly, I would sign Trask before I dumped a ton of money on drama queen Rodgers or Wilson.
At least would keep money to build around him a bit and if he sucks, maybe you get a top pick for next years QB class.
Still remember Baker coming in that one game after taking a shot or whatever happened and immediately throwing a pick. Didn’t realize he came back in and thought Trask threw that trash ball. Could not believe it, think I started laughing and then sobered up real quick when realized Baker did it.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
It’s like 90 percent of the Buc’s fandom think there are corners out there that allow less than 60 percent completion rate and never ever miss a tackle.
Worse yet, they don’t understand corner is the most injured position in the league and think somehow that you need only 3 corners on your team to be good.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
The 2024 Season savior, glad they did not let him go
March 11th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
Tempted to agree with you Pickgrin but don’t see it happening. It’s not even that he’s hurt all the time for me, it’s that he is soft as a grape, avoids contact and has stone hands.
Think we gotta keep him for this go around and hope a top 3 round draft pick can unseat him.
March 11th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Quoting PFF and completion percentage doesn’t pass eye test. Eye test Dean doesn’t pass always hurt and gives a 8 yard cushion
March 11th, 2025 at 4:03 pm
@ Pick
“You can’t help the club from the tub ”
I agree.
But using this logic I guess we should also cut:
– Kancey
– Winfield
– Goedeke
– Vea
Right?
March 11th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
Just watched CG15 presser.
What a class human being.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:11 pm
My eye test said that he was fine. Not great. Fine.
My eye test on Paulson Adebo of the Saints was fine as well – not great.
That guy certainly killed Dean on interceptions but also has twice as many missed tackles (nothing I hate more) and allowed a higher quarterback rating than Dean.
That dude just got 18 million per season. Was he healthier – nope. Has averaged only 13 games per season.
Is Carlton Davis better? Nope. He got 20 million per season.
So what drop him, get a more expensive player who is not an all pro? Take a hit on our cap and we still need further depth. Seems like a bad approach to me.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Glad he’s back. Glue guy for sure. Interestingly enough he was in the top 5 of a certain outfits best remaining free agents at #2. So good job by the Bucs!
March 11th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
Solid!
March 11th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
Nellie often shows up when you least expects him to. God signing. Just don’t..Please don’t resign JTS.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
@ geno
Exactly.
The Bucs are actually getting a steal of a deal with J. Dean…
75.5 PFF grade while having to match up against the best WR in the NFL on a regular basis.
I don’t like the 5 missed games either but you just can’t cut every player who misses a few games due to injury.
What about Chris Godwin?
How many games has he missed the past four season?
March 11th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Glad he is back. Another good move by our GM.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Signing Nellie was a coup-d-etat. We now have Reddick, Diaby, Braswell & Nelson to lean on, with a very good chance that we’ll be using a Top-3 Rnds pick on another Edge. That’s a pretty solid OLB group.
Interesting that we haven’t yet re-signed any DLine (Gaines, Gholston, Brewer, Banks) or CBs (Bruce Hall, Thomas, Hill) or Safeties (Merriweather, Edwards). Gotta stick with the priorities I guess.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
geno711 Says:
March 11th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
It’s like 90 percent of the Buc’s fandom think there are corners out there that allow less than 60 percent completion rate and never ever miss a tackle.
Worse yet, they don’t understand corner is the most injured position in the league and think somehow that you need only 3 corners on your team to be good.
————-
Agreed.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Great News! Nelson is a stand up guy.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Players that make key plays when team absolutely has to have it are hard to come by-Great job Jason Licht.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Leonard Floyd was released.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Glad Anthony is back.
He’s a very solid rotational player and good enough that he could start if needed to.
I was hoping he’d be one of the FAs the team resigned!
March 11th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Iowa guy – never flashy but plays smart with great fundamentals.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Depth is a necessity not a luxury!
March 11th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
For a guy that’s a bit on the ‘svelte’ side of physicality he sure gets involved in many plays. He must be very keen on technique, and got to.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Low IQ fans saying to get rid of Dean because he misses 4-5 games a year but to re-sign Hall despite missing 16 games last year. Dean is a very solid CB… even with him playing only 12 games a season, he still has more high impact games a season than most always healthy CBs do.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
He is definitely a contributor. Hard to have guys get sacks off the bench.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Now time to sign Bryce Hall back.
Hi, Algo. We both know Nelson saved someone’s job in the second Panthers game.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
Agree with Geno and MarineBuc. Dean has his faults but given the price these guys are going for he’s still reasonable. Bigger question is who do we replace him with. Certainly not a rookie, at least not yet. He’s still the best CB on our roster. If there’s a FA still out there likely no better – and would still have to come in, learn our D and guys on the team, communication. No thanks.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
The Bucs missed an opportunity to upgrade at corner, starting to look more and more like the Bucs are willing to throw a mediocre corner as CB1 out there again…
Throw Jamel Dean back out there and expect more of the same results. The Jamel Dean bridage will just blame Bowles whenever Dean gets toasted.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:59 pm
@Brandon Says
What high impact games ? Deans got 1 interception in the past 2 seasons
2024 Season
45 Tackles (tied for 136th)
1FF. (tied for 78th)
1INT. (tied for 88th)
7 PD. (tied for 80th)
We can find more consistency in the Draft get a 4th round pick for him PLEASE!!!
March 11th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
@Front Four
Tell that to the Eagles
Mitchell & DeJean were a reason they won the SB Cmon Man !!!
March 11th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
He made the defensive play of the year! Damn right Bowles signed him back…he saved his job!!
March 11th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
If Jihad Campbell isn’t there @ 19 we need to trade down ,pick up an extra pick and draft CB Shavon Revel Jr. Can be a #1 CB and can contribute on Special Teams guy has a knack for blocking FGs too. Another thing I haven’t seen the Bucs do in ages. It was great to see a blocked punt last season
March 11th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Pewter941 Says:
Ballhawk
^^^^^
OMG! LOL. The mantra of the off season has emerged. You’re a comedic genius.
March 11th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
@ DR
I believe we did re-sign Banks and Merriweather.
March 11th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
A lot better Edge4 than Randy Gregory
March 11th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
@ FrontFour
“Bigger question is who do we replace him with. Certainly not a rookie, at least not yet.”
Spot on. That’s what I’ve been saying for weeks and I still have not heard a rational answer yet.
I would just keep J. Dean and add a rookie CB in rounds 1-3 who can hopefully come in and play NCB while gaining the experience needed to replace Dean the next season.
March 11th, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Nelson has been a good player and made plays at different times, glad to have him return as well.
March 11th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Marine Buc … Spotrac doesn’t reflect us re-signing Merriweather or Banks yet, but they may be behind. Merriweather is an ERFA, so time’s not really an issue I guess.
March 11th, 2025 at 7:52 pm
@ DR
Gotcha.
Merriweather signed like 4-5 days ago per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
I believe I saw a YT video about Eric Banks signing as well…
March 11th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
@ DR
Perhaps the contracts won’t get posted until tomorrow at 4 pm….
March 11th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
Surprised by some of the comments here. Jamel Dean is, I am certain a great guy, but it troubles me that he can’t cover, tackle, break up passes, or intercept passes. Those 4 things are very important to CB play. If he has a higher than average PFF score, it is wrong.
March 11th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
Speaking of Merriweather, bringing him back and having Edward’s.
in fold is why am not really concerned with S depth high in draft.
We need 2 CBs tho, depending on how we do Dean. Hayes needs to be depthed out, also with Tykee at S need Nickle depth behind Izien.
Thinking re-sign B. Hall and trade up in 2nd for new starter once Dean exiled or hurt. Biggest hole left is strengthening CB1, drafting Campbell.
Must focus on CB now. The better our CB the less completions Mahomes or Allen will have in Santa Clara
March 11th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
@ Gipper
OK.
Get rid of J. Dean.
Please tell me – what is your plan? How are you going to replace him?
March 11th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
Dean is under contract and on the team. Unless they need a chunk of his cap occupancy for a better player, he’s a Buc in 2025. With better coaching, hopefully he’s a better Buc. We shall see what is produced in The Lab.
March 11th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
nelly really has turned into a solid player for a 4th rounder…
just what the team needs…
glad he’s back
March 11th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
A smart move by JL, a solid player & a good teammate welcome back Anthony!!!!
March 11th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
What did Joe not like?
Making a point of shaking hands with every teammate seems like a decent thing for a free agent with teammates he knows he may never play beside again.
I don’t know what the vibes Joe was getting from the Bucs coaches and suits, but most “reporting” that I saw suggested that he had likely played his last game for the Bucs. Some reported that the Bucs would bring in an “upgrade”, while others reported that he would be too expensive for the Bucs to bring back. And, surely you are not forgetting the “fire Bowles” chorus – who knows what that would have meant for him.
Surely he had heard those things plus whatever his agent was telling him. So, what was wrong with expressing his respect to his teammates?
March 11th, 2025 at 9:48 pm
Did Joe just mean that he hoped the Bucs would keep Nelson and that Nelson would work with the Bucs?
March 11th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Fun fact!! Max Crosby was picked 1 spot before Anthony Nelson in the 2019 NFL draft
March 11th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Nice fact. And Nelson often nice piece to have if needed.
With this signing, can focus on depth behind our Middle Dline, low in draft or another re-signing
March 11th, 2025 at 10:44 pm
Braswell will get more snaps in rotation so we’ll improve behind starters this year
March 11th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Now for a ballhawk CB that gets INT’s
March 11th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Nelson is great against both against the run and pass, didn’t think we would beable to keep him with our cap situation.
March 11th, 2025 at 11:51 pm
Here’s a thought. Just like considering trading for an Edge, what about trading a pick for a top CB. Pay hum with Dean’s money.
Bucs this this close now, Might as well go all out with Roster like we did w TB12. Let’s Restructure some contracts and call half the league about their Corners and Max this Thing out.
March 12th, 2025 at 2:11 am
Great news! I still think it was criminal that JTS was starting over Nelly!
Bowles somtimes just plain loses his everlovin mind on players! See Diva…
Go Bucs!
March 12th, 2025 at 7:16 am
“”@Brandon Says
What high impact games ? Deans got 1 interception in the past 2 seasons
2024 Season
45 Tackles (tied for 136th)
1FF. (tied for 78th)
1INT. (tied for 88th)
7 PD. (tied for 80th)””
And he says we’re the low IQ fans. That’s funny!
March 12th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Anthony get on the NFL vitamin program that the Ram receivers use and your next contract will be 8 figures . Remember test. is legal up to 1000 .
Remind the Bucs trainers also !!
March 12th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Marine Buc Says:
March 11th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
@ Gipper
OK.
Get rid of J. Dean.
Please tell me – what is your plan? How are you going to replace him?
====================================
Going to draft in second round Benjamin Harrison, NDame or the LSU CB. Either would be a significant improvement over Dean.
March 12th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Morrison ND not Harrison.