After a seven-year run with the Buccaneers, Jamel Dean will be on the move. The veteran cornerback has worked out an agreement with the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is set to add Dean on a three-year deal, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. The pact will be worth $36.75MM. A full-time starting role with the Steelers can be expected with this contract for Dean, who was a first-team presence for most of his Tampa Bay tenure.
Dean had a productive stint in Tampa Bay. The former third-round pick finished his Buccaneers tenure with 11 interceptions, including a pair of pick-sixes. The cornerback was also a Pro Football Focus darling, with the site consistently ranking him inside the top-20 at his position. This included a 2025 campaign where Dean ranked fifth among 112 qualifying cornerbacks.
Dean mostly played on the outside in his 14 appearances in 2025. PFF credited him with allowing 25 catches on 54 targets, leading to 311 receiving yards and only a single touchdown. Dean also made some cameos at slot CB and in the box, showcasing his versatility.
That could come in handy in Pittsburgh, although it’s safe to say Dean will line up opposite Joey Porter Jr. on the outside. At the moment, Cory Trice and Asante Samuel Jr. represent the Steelers depth options among outside CBs, with Brandin Echols and Donte Kent penciled in for slot duties.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers making moves!
Not the splashy ones other teams are making but solid affordable ones.
I guess trading for Pittman isn’t splash for you?
Not when they did it via a pick swap, no.
It’s a great move just like this Dean one imo but neither cost the kind of capital other teams have given up so far.
I am very curious to see what happens to Jalen Ramsey. He fits pretty well at Safety, but that cap number compared to his production is pretty unbalanced.
They have the cap for Ramsey and honestly could play Porter, Dean, 2 safeties AND Ramsey on the field quite a bit still as well.
This is a great pick up. Jaylen Ramsey, will continue to play safety. Dean will fit in nicely
Dean gets hurt every other game, Steelers will still look to get more cbs.
He may not miss some games but he gets dinged up and looked at in tent every other game.
The Nickel Without A Cause.
While I am wary of the roster filling up with older players, this is a fantastic move on paper. The Steelers have whittled down two of their biggest needs in free agency, and hopefully can spend their picks to fill some of the rest. They’ll need good drafts in the next few years to rebuild their base, but this buys them some time and hopefully allows them to turn it around faster.
Losing Pierre makes slot corner a new need, but well if the new scheme will change the options there. Samuel could play there, or outside. Where Porter ends up could dictate how high the Steelers invest a pick in the secondary.