The Lions And Jamel Dean
February 14th, 2025
One of the great scoops during the dawn of 2024 free agency had to do with the Buccaneers’ defensive backfield.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN seemingly came out of nowhere with word that the Bucs were interested in trading Jamel Dean or Carlton Davis.
And guess what? Three days later, off went Davis to the Lions in exchange for a 2024 third-round draft pick. The Lions also got a 2024 sixth-round pick and 2025 sixth-round draft pick from the Bucs.
The third-rounder sent to Tampa was the No. 92 overall pick, which became eight-touchdown rookie Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan. Well done, Jason Licht!
That Fowler report still intrigues Joe. If true, which it sure seems to have been, the Bucs were willing to part with Dean, who has become a punching bag for Bucs fans.
Many fans — and Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman — are repulsed by Dean’s ball skills and think he’s approaching Jermaine Phillips’ level of brittle. Those aren’t the qualities a team should want in its high-paid cornerback.
So Joe believes Dean’s status for the 2025 Bucs is shaky. If a team was considering dealing you once, then it’s highly likely that option remains on the table.
Dean can play, but he can’t be counted on, and he’s set to earn $12.5 million this season. The Bucs would preserve about $8.5 million in salary cap room if they get rid of him by cut or trade.
Joe’s looking at Detroit as a potential option because if they thought Davis fit their defense, then they probably think Dean does as well. They’re similar players.
Davis played well for Detroit but he stayed injury prone and missed four regular season games plus the playoffs. Now he’s a free agent that will be in demand on a multi-year deal.
Joe can’t see the Lions giving up great draft capital for Dean, but perhaps they’d throw in a young linebacker or interior offensive lineman that excites Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
February 14th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
do it asap
February 14th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Yeah I think I cut bait unless we think that salary is worth keeping some CB depth but 12.5 for a number 3 is steep!
There’s gotta be a CB in FA that could be available more and play just as well as Dean for 8.5 million.
February 14th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Dean and Davis can once again enjoy being on IR together. Tons of talent – little results.
February 14th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
He will be a good piece of a package deal to Cleveland to land Garrett
February 14th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
If a late 4th round pick (or even a 5th) is offered – Licht should jump at the chance to move on from Dean – while gaining $8+M in cap space….
He’s definitely not worth $15+M per year which is the amount of his cap hits in 2025 and 2026….
Jamel is a good CB – but his inability to stay on the field, hands of stone and large cap # make him expendable.
Re-sign Bryce Hall, find another solid FA CB in the $4-6M per range – and then draft a CB in the 1st or 2nd round this year.
February 14th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
I think that Idzien could fill that starting role. He’s been good at every position he’s played.
February 14th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
That’s not happening. The Lions are not going to trade for a year older Dean and even more injuries. I think if anything he gets cut.
February 14th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
I think Davis is just average because of his lack of quick twitch ability – he is long and rangy but at least he plays with some passion
Dean is the most disinterested, lackadaisical body language player I have seen since my dad took me to my first game in 1976
He walks and looks like he good give two spits if he gets beat or misses a tackle
That is specifically why I can’t stand him – he actually has good raw skills and length, speed- but his “want to” is high school level and it drives me insane
Zyon plays like his hair is on fire and has basically the same skill set – the difference is night and day
February 14th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Just curious if anyone knows what Deans contract details are for 2026? Is there any chance he’d restructure for the last couple years?
Would be great to have him if we draft another CB in the first two rounds, he’s just too expensive for how much he plays.
February 14th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
1st Round Pick, Dean, and Yaya for Miles Garrett? Not a bad trade for both teams.
February 14th, 2025 at 1:22 pm
1st Round Pick, Dean, and JTS for Miles Garrett
February 14th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
He isn’t going anywhere. If anything a restructure will happen. Dean is in too well with Bowles. He’s always in the film room with Todd going over coverages. If anything let him coach
February 14th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
The BC Lions of the Canadian football league? That’d make more sense.
February 14th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Well said VOT!!! You hit on all cylinders. Dean’s body language speaks volume. He’s very lackadaisical. I’ve seen enough of him n reach a conclusion that he literally can’t catch. In 2023 he got beat on a long pass for a td by 49ers wr and as a result got injured. His rookie year he was schooled by Seahawks wr n really has been the same type player to me. His pick six int of Packers ARod in 2020 regular season was a fluke n pure luck, IMO. He’s fragile, has poor hands eye coordination, n lacks tackling skills for a player his size. Why was he paid so much as an average player?🤔
February 14th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
He needs to go. We need to focus on getting some guys who can stay healthy. One of the biggest problems with our defense has been corners and safeties being out with injuries. Stability would make a big difference. Get rid of Dean, find a quality corner in free agency, and draft one.
February 14th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
This falls under fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. Lions do you think you’d like another player who can’t stay on the field?
February 14th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
@AtlBucSolar
@SlyPirate
I think there’d be more of a chance they’d throw Braswell in there as part of the trade over Yaya if it happened.
February 14th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Someone please make it make sense how people are crying about depth then turning around and wanting us to get rid of the only experience players we have. Makes no sense. Super Todd gets rid of talent, fan boys cry we have no talent then proceed to give Super Todd pass after pass because “no talent” that he keeps getting rid of. LMAO.
February 14th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
It’s strange the perceptions that fans get of certain players. Jamel Dean is a good example. Many criticize that he can’t cover, that he can’t tackle, and that he’s incredibly fragile.
He’s been a Buc for 6 years now, and has played in 82 games (13.7 games/year average), resulting in a 82% availability (based on 100 regular season games). But look at the rest of his CAREER stats …
o Targets: 375 … Completions: 220 … Completion %: 58.7%
o TDs Allowed: 14 total (in 6 years)
o Missed Tackle %: 4.9% (average over 6 years)
Many seem to feel that Sauce Gardner (NY Jets) is the top cover CB. He’s been in the league for 3 years & played in 48 games (94% availability).
o Targets: 199 … Completions: 110 … Completion %: 55.3%
o TDs Allowed: 3 total (in 3 years)
o Missed Tackle %: 13.0% (average over 3 years)
Many also consider Trent McDuffie (KC Chiefs) to be the 2nd best cover CB. He’s been in the league for 3 years also and has played in 43 games (84% availability).
o Targets: 217 … Completions: 131 … Completion %: 60.4%
o TDs Allowed: 9 total (in 3 years)
o Missed Tackle %: 6.2% (average over 3 years)
Jamel Dean’s career stats stack up against some of the best in the NFL. Personally I think he’s become a punching bag for many fans because he’s being used outside of his optimal skillset (he’s quite good at playing man coverage, when he’s healthy).
I’m convinced that other teams respect him; in his 6 years here he’s been targeted 375 times, allowing 220 completions (58.7%). In his 6 years here, Carlon Davis was targeted 530 times, allowing 305 completions (57.5%). And Carlton only played in 76 games in those 6 years (76% availability), significantly less than Jamel’s 84%. And Davis surrendered 27 TDs in his 6 years here, and sported a Missed Tackle Rate of 12.0%, over twice what Jamel’s had. So I guess the real answer is to keep listening to those who b1tch the loudest.
February 14th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Bowles Develops corners pretty well. lets go get a couple in the draft. myles garrett seems like a pipe dream. licht just doesnt make those trades
February 14th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
I like Trey Hendrickson’s price tag a lot better the Myles Garrett price tag. Package Dean with something…player or a draft pick and go after Hendrickson. He’s an Orlando kid – he’d love it!
February 14th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
The real issue we have is in the middle of the field at the LB level. We need two guys who can cover at that ILB spot. One to play with David and one to be his replacement, when he retires. We also need to not have so many injuries.
February 14th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
Licht make up for your mistake and deal this clown away
February 14th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
I feel like they don’t trade him away unless they’re fairly certain they’ll get a comparable (but healthier) replacement.
February 14th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
Better know the alternative before offloading him. Jason knows.
February 14th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
DR – you have a wealth of football knowledge. I hope you’re on the JBF payroll$!
February 14th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
D.R.
As usual thanks for that perspective. Not sure it tells all the story however.
I could see Dean but not for the money. If the Bucs think he’s worth it great.
As for his availibility it’s EVERY season including his college career and it seems to pop up as Joe points out at the worst times.
My biggest problem are his hands of stone! He’s had ONE int the past two seasons and has averaged 1.3 for his career. IE he’s not a game changer.
I grant you he’s solid and so for me it’s just about the Benjamins.
Was it Rah or Lovie who said, “I will tolerate you until I can replace you.”
And if he can’t play zone then he’s the wrong DB for Todd’s D because he’s probably not going to change his stripes anytime soon.
I think AW45 is the player the D missed the most last year. He is a true playmaking game changer when he really healthy!
February 14th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
The Bucs just need to move on. I liked both players, both players are really good at man to man. The problem is they were forced into a lot of zone due to lack of pressure and their ball skills weren’t great.
You can still get by with that… If they could stay on the field, which neither one can.
FA – edge.
Find another CB somehow and draft one along with ILB.
February 14th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
St Pete … You make some great points, as always. ‘Hands of stone’ is a very real liability (for those of us who love takeaways). And of course salary is always an issue, with every player.
Availability (or lack thereof) is also a huge issue IMO. If we have to keep plugging in backups, our Secondary will never function as a well-oiled machine. Todd will keep making ‘adjustments’ and ‘compromises’ to compensate, and the odds of getting burned obviously increases.
And yet, none of us knows what the future holds. Jamel MIGHT give us 17 games next year, as MIGHT the rest of our starting Secondary. And with an improved pass rush AND better ILB play, our defense MIGHT end up as a Top-5 scoring defense. There are no guarantees one way of the other.
February 14th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
Dean is one of Bowles favorite players and despite having hands of stone our defense is noticeably better with him on the field. Therefore I don’t see him going anywhere
February 14th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
He is a quitter! He is not as fragile as it may seem. He simply quits when he starts getting beat or someone makes a big play on him. Happens way too often in the biggest of games. He can’t handle the heat and pulls up lame. Two minutes after the “injury” he is always shown smiling away sitting on the bench. He has the talent to be a serviceable DB in Bowles system even though he always reminded me of Herman Munster running around back there. Maybe the stiffest looking DB I can remember. The mental weakness is too much IMO. I say tolerate him till you can replace him. Should be looking to find/ draft a Zyon clone. I love the way he plays.
February 14th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
@ St Pete: AW45? ……..don’t you mean AW31?
February 14th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Regardless they still need to draft corners early and get faster overall.
February 14th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
St.Pete still has fond memories of Devin White and i think believes his injuries are physical instead mental. Possible I guess, but I wouldn’t risk it. He’s like a junkie who keeps going to rehab. It’s a shame that so much talent is wasted and for the poor guy personally. I don’t think he was a bad guy, he just lost it somehow. Kudos to St. Pete for being so forgiving. I doubt the Bucs will bring him back though.
February 14th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
I’d do it for a box of Crackerjacks with anything but a whistle for a prize.
February 14th, 2025 at 8:03 pm
Incredible stats about Dean @ D.R. I greet with Pickrin about jumping at a 5th rounder in return to dump the salary. Good player but too expensive for the lack of ability to make game changing plays. 15 mil is too much for meh when we have little cap flexibility and so many needs.
Off topic but Garrett is not coming here. Cleveland can’t afford to trade him and we can’t afford the price in picks or salary.
February 14th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
agree with
February 14th, 2025 at 10:04 pm
Anthony
Thanks for that correction. For some reason I have White on the brain. It’s just a fantasy that he returns to the Bucs and plays like he did the first couple of seasons, especially that SB season!
I realize it’s not gonna happen but…..
February 15th, 2025 at 2:42 am
Re-sign Davis. 2 years.
Draft a CB in the 1st or 2nd.
Keep Dean.
Re-sign Bryce Hall if he rehabbed well in Tampa.
Draft another CB. A 6-3 freak. A project for 2 years.
I feel good with Izien, Winfield, Merriweather, Edwards and Whitehead at safety.
Let Thomas walk. We have enough nickles. Plus Izien is the perfect backup nickle to Tykes Smith
Moreover, Tykes Smith would make a much better emergency outside, starting CB than Hayes.
I don’t want to see Hayes playing outside CB again.
Safety and gunner. Ok. Backup CB? No!
February 15th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Sounds like a lot of fans have forgotten that the Bucs lost every game this season when Dean didn’t play.
He’s brittle for sure, but you want to see Funderbunk or Josh Hayes out there again? Those guys quite literally suck.
February 15th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
@Unbelievable
I’m pretty sure it took Ronde at least a year to adjust to everything when he was coming out. Funderburk has the talent but I was never a big fan of Hayes from the beginning. Even Dean or Carlton.
February 15th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
What I took from this is Davis is a free agent and we can bring home fir a good price I bet.
After playing for the lions im sure he’s ready to come back to Florida.
The tax break and knowledge of the defense.
I’m sure we know his agent well.
I think bringing him back with Dean whitehead Edward’s Winfield jr..brings the grave diggers back..we draft a 3rd cb to compete ..
Got zion killing it now..maybe Dean becomes trade bait to pick up.a younger cb n free up the money to sign Davis.
I like Davis better the Dean and think he’s got more grit
February 18th, 2025 at 10:27 am
1. Dean
2. Godwin
3. Hainsey
4. David
5. Gohlston
6. D. White
7. JTS
8. Nelson
We must replace these 7 players with good players. We celebrate Jason when picks go well, however we have done a horrible job replacing D. White, Davis, JTS, David, Gohlston, Nelson, Dean. Actually, because of Klien and Opeta we should be fine at center and guard.
We must get an Edge with the number one pick then sign an edge superstar.
There will be a starting rookie CB in the draft. Additionally, we will be able to get a starting ILB in the 3rd. They can rotate with Deion Jones, David, and Dennis.
Finally, Whitehead has been a big disappointment. If any of you are noticing a theme here it is we need about 10 draft picks versus 6. We have to trade down, trade players, cut water boys and the chains crew if need be.
We may be forced to trade Otton and roll with Culp, Ko Keift and Durham. If we are going to make a run this coming season, we must add a superstar Edge to play opposite YaYa, Brasswell, and Barrett. We have CB depth, but need a young, fast, man to man cover corner. We need Dennis and David to equal one ILB, D. Jones can be counted on as half a player, but we need to draft a top three ILB. We actually can play Neal as a ILB flex on passing down and move him UP into the box on running downs. We all know you can’t drop him back deep. If we use Neal like Seattle did he would do well.
Izen could start at safety, and we should draft 1 safety with size, and speed. Merriwether is good for depth. Also, McCullum is much better facing the QB than with his back to the QB. He is truly is our best safety. He probably would have 5 to 7 interceptions from safety. He jumps the ball BEFORE the receiver catches it.
Personally, Winfield will never live up to that contract and I would focus on getting two corners, moving Izen and McCullum to safety and we would have a good secondary.
We could get a 3, 4, 5, and 6 for Winfield. Jason likes drafting players. Sure, I agree it is best due to the cap, but you have to better regulate and utilize the players you have.
For instance, you have White and Culp that can fill the slot for Godwin and Otton. There is no reason not to trade Godwin and I personally like him more than Evans. We must get Culp, White, Tucker, Jarrett and Palmer more snaps.
These simple adjustments will balance out the offense, produce a top 5 defense, and give us more speed on the field and depth.