Tough Talk On Jamel Dean, From His Biggest Supporter
April 1st, 2025
Seventh-year Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean.
A year ago, Jamel Dean was the unquestioned No. 1 cornerback of the Buccaneers.
That’s not the case any longer, said Todd Bowles today after a question from Joe.
Joe asked Bowles at the NFC Coaches breakfast if Dean still has the status he held a year ago.
The head coach didn’t shy away from the hard truth surrounding one of his favorite pupils.
“Everybody’s position is up for grabs. I think Zyon [McCollum], probably 1A/1B because Zyon stayed healthier [last season]. Dean’s got to get healthy. You know, he comes in and he plays. You can’t play half a year every couple of years. He understands he’s got to get healthy. He’s doing everything he can to be healthy. But we got to have some depth there just in case. And if somebody comes in and competes with him, he’s going to have to compete.”
Tough talk there on Dean, especially considering Dean and Bowles are very close. Dean said last year on the Buccaneers Radio Network that he and Bowles have the closest player/head coach relationship on the team.
If the Bucs draft an outside cornerback in Round 1 — trust Joe; that’s more likely than the Bucs taking an inside linebacker at that spot — Dean will have the battle of his career on his hands.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:33 am
” Dean will have the battle of his career on his hands.” as it should be
April 1st, 2025 at 9:38 am
Revel in round 1 would certainly slide up that secondary. Maybe even a Darien Porter in round 2 if we go OLB in 1.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:40 am
I agree it will be a cornerback or a safety in round one after a trade down.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:51 am
I think it is more likely a defensive lineman in round 1 than a corner.
A mock draft I did on Draft Buzz when I got to 19, Denver offered Patrick Surtain for the pick. I laughed and could not accept it because it was so ridiculous.
No way that Surtain would be offered for so little.
April 1st, 2025 at 9:57 am
Jamel Dean is not an NFL quality CB. He was atrocious last year. There are a lot of reasons that the pass defense was horrible last year. No matter what his fan club says, Dean was a large part of the disaster the last several years. A strong pass rush can hide a lot of CB flaws but not in Dean’s case. Surprised he hasn’t been traded.
April 1st, 2025 at 10:38 am
dean is a quality CB imo….not a coincidence that when dean went out, we had to play more zone and got torched…
dean’s problem is his technique and eye placement….his eyes have been in the wrong place causing him to panic and use poor technique….
dean has to trust his skills, trust his technique and do his job…
imo, i think competition will bring the best out of dean….when dean, smb & cd were all battling for cb reps on the outside, dean rose to the top….
GO BUCS!!!!
April 1st, 2025 at 10:44 am
Dude is brittle, plain and simple – tolerate until you replace him and hope he sees the writing on the wall
His effort level looks like he is good with his career earnings at this point….
April 1st, 2025 at 11:04 am
I don’t see how that’s tough talk. Seems like Bowles is just stating the obvious.
April 1st, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Sounding like Bowles is trying to get the players motivated and to stay healthy. That is for sure after last season and injuries. Yes, there is always competition. Good words from Bowles.
April 1st, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Well, except for the fact that he cannot catch, Dean is a pretty darn good corner…when he’s not hurt.
April 1st, 2025 at 1:29 pm
If we stand pat with Dean and McCullom just expect more of the same from last year.
If Dean is that close to Bowles I’d be shocked if they cut him loose or make him take a backup role.
I just don’t see any positive changes on defense until Bowles is shown the door.
Swiss Cheese schemes don’t work in the NFL.
April 1st, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Hall needs to be pushed also.
He was a downgrade to Gholston.
We need a new DT/DE to challenge Hall. He’s soft. He never penetrates.
He can run well like JTS. But he’s not excellent. He’s okay. But not excellent
April 1st, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Save the money. Dean has a history of not being able to or not wanting to perform. We can’t afford another year like last year.