ESPN: Jamel Dean Needs A Fresh Start Elsewhere
March 2nd, 2025
Job security with Bucs.
Last March, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported the Bucs were open to trading a starting cornerback as Carlton Davis or Jamel Dean were being shopped.
Sure enough, three days later, the Bucs traded Davis to the Lions.
If the Bucs traded a starting corner a year ago, would they be willing to do it again?
Over at ESPN, each team’s beat writer offered one player that could use a change of scenery, a guy better off with another team this fall. Jenna Laine thinks Dean is that man, mostly because she thinks he may not be fulfilling his end of his contract.
This is less about a change of scenery and more about Dean’s inability to stay healthy with a giant $15.2 million salary cap hit in 2025. Dean has been called a great teammate and a hard worker, and it’s rare to find a player with his length and speed. But he has missed 18 games in six seasons — missing nine in the past two years. Plus, he’s had one interception the past two years, which is an area where the team has been trying to improve. The Bucs’ defense is better when Dean is on the field, but he’s not contributing if he’s sidelined. The team already parted with CB Carlton Davis III last year, and that trade to Detroit served him well.
If Joe had a cold beer every time Bucs coach Todd Bowles last week in Indiana sad, “ballhawk,” Joe would have a helluva Sunday afternoon.
Dean is no ball hawk. Not remotely close.
If Bowles truly believes the way to improve one of the more woeful pass defenses the past two seasons is to get more picks, it sure smells like Dean is an endangered species with the Bucs.
That is, unless he reworks his contract.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:22 am
Way overpaid. Can’t stay healthy. Buh Bye!
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:26 am
And how did that “Hey Carlton” trade work out for Detroit AND the Bucs?
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:31 am
Sad to see him go, but it’s time.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:32 am
The problem is we still owe Dean @ $7M of his signing bonus that will become dead cap money if we move on from him…
So the cap savings will only be @ $8M or so.
Then we will need to find a starting CB.
I would be bit surprised if this happens.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:47 am
Why doesnt Licht ever get any heat from Bucs fans for giving 2 massive contracts to 2 mediocre corners? Oh thats right cause #BlameBowles
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:50 am
What could the Bucs get for Dean? I think a lot of people were surprised that the Bucs got a late 3rd rounder for Carlton Davis last year, I am wondering if the Bucs can get a day 3 draft pick for Dean, let alone a day 2 pick……. Lets see what happens when the FA dinner bell rings not so long from now……..
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:25 am
Tbbucs3 Says:” Why doesnt Licht ever get any heat from Bucs fans for giving 2 massive contracts to 2 mediocre corners? Oh thats right cause #BlameBowles”
Besides the lack of interceptions, both Carton and Dean were above average CBs when they played. No GM can predict injuries.
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:37 am
We hired 2 MAN corners, when Todd plays 74% ZONE
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
Pretty obvious about Jamel Dean. Not sure why we need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. Watched a lot of would be rookies at the combine and almost any one of them would be a better option than Dean. I am sure he is a great guy but here are his weaknesses: 1)Can’t cover; 2) can’t tackle; 3) rarely around the ball leading to few INT’s.
March 2nd, 2025 at 10:29 am
In order to have ballhawks, you need to coach your DBs accordingly. Todd teaches them to be so afraid of something going over their heads, it’s the most risk averse secondary I’ve ever seen. If Todd really wants ballhawks, coach the players like you mean it. Jenius Cripes.
March 2nd, 2025 at 10:45 am
Gipper,
You are on point my brother. How bout we just change his name to JTS, same song different singer. And when was Dean a ballhawk. His hand eye coordination is poor, his field awareness is awful, n let’s be blunt, Dean just can’t catch. Even some of his ints were bobbled n almost dropped. He is a pure garbage can full of unearned cash.
March 2nd, 2025 at 11:10 am
I wouldn’t want him for half his salary.
Draft a new CB, one that fits the scheme.
March 2nd, 2025 at 11:27 am
Tbbucs3, so it’s okay to criticize Licht, but not Bowles?
March 2nd, 2025 at 11:56 am
When a rookie lets a ball go over his head for a score you guys will loose your minds and blame Bowles for not coaching him up!
March 2nd, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Never should’ve resigned him in the first place
March 2nd, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Was it two or three years ago that he got called out by Sherman on national TV?
It was something like “You GOT your money, You GOT PAID! So where’s it at?” And as Sherman turned and walked away, Dean just stood there looking perplexed and utterly befuddled as if he really thought he was going to get a pat on the back. He STILL hasn’t seemed to pick up what Sherman put down and at this point, I seriously doubt he ever will.
Not exact wording but you get the giest…. And you know what? His play has declined since that very night….
March 2nd, 2025 at 2:24 pm
Scotty that Davis trade worked out great for us so far. We got tykee smith from the draft pick from Detroit.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
#1 that’s a big 10-4 on that
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:48 pm
We got McMillan for Davis
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:01 pm
Cornerback has been the Bucs’ achilles since forever it seems. Talib became an excellent cornerback as soon as he left. He was idiotic basket case here. Davis had 3-4 bad games to 1 good game. All the corners seem to break all of the time, and it often happens in waves at the same time. ZMac may just be the one to get to the next level, but we need another and Bird Legs Dean isn’t the guy. His salary could buy 2 lesser CB’s which will probably be an upgrade. This is one area JL can’t miss in the draft. I still think we need a new Head Coach to win a championship. Todd Bowles chokes in the clutch.
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:16 pm
There are more reasons to trade or cut Dean than Joe has advertisements on his webpage. We’ll…….almost.
March 2nd, 2025 at 10:16 pm
CBs do not get INTs by playing off in soft zone. We have had guys who excel in man coverage and can get INTs but we don’t let them play man because we have people blitzing. I get it. Todd you can’t have it both ways. Get a pass rush with four guys and I think INTs will happen.
Dean looked slow with no twitch last year even when healthy. If we can get a draft pick for him? Hell yeah!
Go Bucs!
March 3rd, 2025 at 10:00 pm
Dean is the Temu version of Mike Washington