Jamel Dean

Jamel Dean Addresses Buccaneers Pay Cut

September 12th, 2025 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this week, it was learned Jamel Dean and the Buccaneers worked out a restructure. The veteran corner accepted a substantial pay cut for 2025 while the final year of his pact was removed.

Dean’s scheduled compensation for 2026 was not guaranteed, meaning a release could have been highly likely anyway. The 28-year-old is nevertheless a pending free agent, and Tampa Bay’s other cornerback moves strongly point to a parting of ways next spring. Instead of being cut (or at least benched) this year, Dean is now on course to collect $4.25MM in base pay as a result of his pay cut agreement, something he recently spoke about.

“It was just more like I’m comfortable here,” Dean said about remaining in place with the Buccaneers (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “So it’s just really not about the money anymore. I’m not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new team and city and go through all I went through my rookie year. So just to save me a headache.”

The seven-year veteran logged 74 defensive snaps in Week 1, working alongside Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish as a starter in the secondary. Parrish was selected in the third round of this year’s draft, while McCollum recently signed a big-ticket extension. Both of their futures are assured for years to come, and the same is also true of second-round rookie Benjamin Morrison.

Morrison did not play in Week 1, but head coach Todd Bowles said (via Stroud) he is expected to suit up on Monday night. A special teams role will await him, although Bowles added Morrison could also see part-time usage on defense. Dean can be expected to remain a first-team presence for at least the time being, but he could be in danger of being surpassed on the depth chart over time.

The Auburn product has been a mainstay throughout his Tampa Bay tenure, totaling 64 starts to date. Dean has totaled just one interception since the start of the 2023 season, however, and his coverage statistics over recent years have marked a downturn from the beginning of his career. Especially given the recent adjustments to his contract, a trip to free agency after the current campaign would thus come as no surprise. For now, though, Dean is content to remain with the only NFL team he has played for.

Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean Accepts Pay Cut

September 8th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamel Dean‘s Buccaneers future was a talking point this offseason, although the veteran corner remained in place once roster cuts were finished. Dean has worked out a restructure which could make this season his final one in Tampa Bay, though.

Team and player agreed to a pay cut on Monday, as first reported by PewterReport’s Joshua Queipo. The move has since been confirmed by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, who notes Dean’s base pay for this season has been reduced from $12.5MM to $4.25MM. $750K could be earned back through playtime incentives.

Critically, the restructure also removed the final year of Dean’s contract. The former third-rounder was on the books through 2026 (although his scheduled compensation for that year was not guaranteed). Instead, Dean is now on track for free agency next spring. Given today’s news, it could certainly come as no surprise if a departure were to take place on the open market in this case.

Dean emerged as a starter for the Super Bowl winning Buccaneers in 2020, and he’s maintained his starting spot over the past four years. Thanks to his production, the defensive back earned a four-year, $52MM contract ($21.5MM guaranteed) from Tampa Bay ahead of the 2023 campaign. He’s continued to produce under his active contract, with Pro Football Focus grading him as a top-3o cornerback over each of the past two seasons.

While the Buccaneers may be signaling that they don’t have future plans for the cornerback, the team is clearly relying on him for the time being. Once a candidate to get benched, Dean earned a 97 percent snap share yesterday. The 28-year-old finished the season opener with six tackles and three passes defended.

The organization clearly started preparing for a post-Dean secondary during this year’s draft. The team selected Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison in the second round before selecting Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish in the third round. With Zyon McCollum and Josh Hayes also still attached to their rookie contracts, the Buccaneers are clearly pivoting to youth in their cornerbacks room.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

CB Jamel Dean In Danger Of Losing Buccaneers Starting Job

July 29th, 2025 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Known as a retention-heavy team, the Buccaneers handed both Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean second contracts. They shipped Davis’ deal to the Lions last year, building around Dean. But the younger cornerback has been unable to stay on the field since signing his second Tampa Bay deal in 2023.

The Bucs ranked 30th in pass defense last season, and Dean missed five games while being forced out of others with injuries. Although Dean has made 82 starts and resides as by far the Bucs’ most experienced cornerback, the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud indicates he is in danger of losing his starting job.

The 2019 third-rounder saw a snap uptick during the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV-winning season and has operated as a full-timer since. The Bucs also retained him at a favorable rate (four years, $52MM) during the 2023 legal tampering period; no guaranteed money remains on the deal. Dean’s contract helped lead Davis off the roster, as the Bucs made 2024 payments to Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr.

Dean, 28, then missed five games, hurting the team in coverage. Pro Football Focus ranked Dean 18th among CB regulars last season, but his struggles staying healthy proved costly. After the inconsistent regular season, Dean left the Bucs’ wild-card loss due to injury. He had battled back from a hamstring injury to be ready for the playoff tilt.

Tampa Bay then drafted Benjamin Morrison in Round 2 and Jacob Parrish in Round 3, continuing a string of second-day cornerback investments. The team had already turned to Davis, Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Tykee Smith on Day 2; a new wave of cost-controlled corners emerged. Smith is also shifting from the slot to safety this year, and Parrish is pushing to start in the slot moving forward.

Morrison overtaking Dean would leave the Notre Dame product and Zyon McCollum as the outside starters; Dean would be an overpriced backup in that scenario. As Dean’s salary is nonguaranteed, it would save the Bucs $12.85MM in 2025 cap space if they were to trade or cut him. He is due $12.5MM in base salary this season; that figure does not become guaranteed until just before Week 1.

Release Candidate: Jamel Dean

July 6th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean has enjoyed an impressive career in Tampa Bay. Since the team drafted him out of Auburn in the third round of the 2019 draft, Dean has been a consistent, impactful presence in the Buccaneers’ secondary, starting 63 games in 82 appearances while recording eight interceptions, 52 passes defensed, and 313 tackles. He even won a Super Bowl in his second year with the team. Even so, it stands to reason that Dean’s time in pewter and red (and occasionally Creamsicle orange) could reasonably come to an end.

To begin with, injuries have been starting to impact the 28-year-old lately. Now, Dean has never played every game in a season, missing at least two games each year, but 2023 saw Dean miss four games with neck, knee, and ankle issues and 2024 saw Dean miss five games, including four straight, with a hamstring issue and a knee injury. Ultimately, it’s understandable to a degree, given the nature of the sport, but as Dean’s salary ($12.5MM in 2025 and $13MM in 2026) and cap hit ($15.14MM in 2025 and $15.78MM in 2026) continue to increase each year of his second contract, those missed games hurt that much more.

That brings us to our second point to this theory. Dean’s second contract — a four-year, $52MM re-signing in 2023 — features a potential out after the 2024 season that would have allowed the team to terminate the deal with only $6.85MM of dead money and $8.29MM of cap savings. Now that we are post-June 1, that potential out looks even more tempting as it would leave Tampa Bay with only $2.28MM in dead money and $12.85MM in cap savings.

In order to cut a starter like Dean, though, they should be confident that they can replace him. That makes it interesting, then, to go back and see that the Buccaneers utilized two Day 2 picks on second-round Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison and third-round Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish.

Morrison was garnering plenty of first-round buzz before suffering a season-ending hip injury in mid-October. His film from his freshman and sophomore campaigns — showing fluidity, vision, and big play ability — was enough to land him in the second round. Parrish is an extremely quick and twitchy cornerback with balance and physicality that help him play much bigger than his actual size. When matched up against the Heisman-winning, No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter this season, Parrish limited the two-way player to only three catches for 26 yards and no touchdowns.

If all that’s been laid out here comes to pass, and the Buccaneers part ways with the veteran of six years, Dean should be fine. He’s only two years removed from having earned a significant second contract, and at 28, he still has plenty of tread on his tires. Not to mention, any team lucky enough to have a hole at cornerback and a healthy chunk of available cap would be getting a cornerback who has never ranked lower than 26th (he averages around 16th over six seasons) in Pro Football Focus’ position rankings (subscription required).

The Buccaneers may very well intend for Dean to see his contract through, or perhaps they may even restructure the deal or extend him on new terms. He’s been a consistent, impactful presence and could be for years to come in Tampa Bay. But should the team want to improve its cap space from an admittedly already healthy $26.63MM, per OvertheCap.com, to $39.48MM, moving them from 14th in the NFL to fourth, this would be a potential option.

Buccaneers’ Antoine Winfield Jr., Jamel Dean Expected To Play In Wild-Card Round

January 10th, 2025 at 5:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the Buccaneers prepare for their wild-card matchup, they are set to have a pair of key defensive starters back in the lineup. Tampa Bay’s secondary figures to receive two notable boosts in time for Sunday.

Head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday that safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerback Jamel Dean are set to play this week (h/t Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). Both players were listed as full participants for today, and they are officially listed as questionable. Their respective returns to the lineup will be significant.

Winfield suffered a knee sprain one month ago, and it quickly became clear he would miss notable time. The All-Pro had already been sidelined by an ankle and foot sprain earlier in the season, and his absence was one of the factors influencing Tampa Bay’s underwhelming performance in many defensive categories this year. The Bucs elected not to place Winfield on injured reserve, though, and despite not being able to play in the waning stages of the regular season he will be back for the playoffs.

Dean was limited to 12 games this season as a result of his hamstring injury. The 28-year-old landed on injured reserve as a result, but at the first opportunity to do so he was activated. Dean managed a run of six straight games upon returning to the lineup, but he was absent for Tampa Bay’s regular season finale because of a knee injury. Considering the Bucs finished the season ranked 29th against the pass in 2024, having as many available options in the secondary as possible will be a welcomed sight.

By virtue of winning the NFC South, Tampa Bay is set to host Washington Sunday night. The Buccaneers’ offense will be leaned on after the unit finished top-four in the NFL in both points and yards per game this season. The team’s defense will welcome Winfield and Dean back into the picture, though, while attempting to generate a postseason run.

Buccaneers Activate CB Jamel Dean

November 23rd, 2024 at 8:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamel Dean returned to practice this week, giving him the chance to suit up for Week 12. The veteran corner has indeed been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

A hamstring injury kept Dean out of the fold for each of the past four games. It was an encouraging sign when he resumed practicing at the first point at which he was eligible to do so, something which opened his 21-day activation window. With Dean back in place, Tampa Bay now has four IR return spots remaining.

“I’m ready now,” the 28-year-old said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “I spent the whole bye week getting back into football shape… It was a whole circuit of different things. Shoutout to our trainers for running me to failure.”

Dean was a full participant in practice every day this week, so he should reprise his role as a full-time corner starter upon return. That will especially be true if fellow starter Zyon McCollum is unable to suit up; he is dealing with his own hamstring injury, and it cost him practice time this week. Third-round rookie Tykee Smith – the team’s starting slot corner – remains out of the lineup as he deals with a knee injury.

Tampa Bay traded away Carlton Davis this offseason, but the team retained Dean on a four-year, $52MM deal the previous spring. That led to continued expectations in the latter’s case for him to remain a staple of the Buccaneers’ secondary, and when healthy he has done so. With the team sitting at 4-6 on the year, Dean’s return to the lineup will certainly be welcomed.

Bucs Designate CB Jamel Dean For Return

November 18th, 2024 at 1:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers’ defense could receive a boost in time for Week 12. Cornerback Jamel Dean returned to practice on Monday, per a team announcement.

As a result, his 21-day activation is now open. Dean must be brought back onto the active roster within that span to avoid reverting to season-ending IR. Once he is back in place, he will be positioned to reprise his role as a starter in Tampa Bay’s secondary.

A hamstring injury set Dean up to miss multiple weeks, so it came as little surprise when he was moved to IR. After spending the required four games on the sidelines, it is an encouraging sign that the 28-year-old has returned to practice when first eligible to do so. The Buccaneers’ defense will certainly welcome Dean back into the fold once he is cleared to do so.

The Auburn product has been a first-team presence for much of his six-year Tampa Bay tenure, and that includes the 2024 campaign. Dean has amassed 43 tackles and four pass deflections this season, and he has yet to allow a touchdown in coverage. His return could provide a much-needed boost to a defense which ranks 30th against the pass and which has dealt with other injuries in the secondary over the course of the year.

Dean remained with the Bucs when he inked a four-year, $52MM deal last March. Especially with Carlton Davis no longer in place, that pact has increased expectations for the former third-rounder to be an impactful player in the secondary. If the 4-6 Buccaneers are to make a run at the postseason (either in the form of another NFC South title or a wild-card berth), Dean’s level of play once healthy will be a key determining factor.

Tampa Bay will have four IR activations remaining once Dean returns to the active roster. If that moves takes place within the coming days, he will be in line to return to action against the Giants.

Buccaneers Place CB Jamel Dean, WR Kameron Johnson On IR

October 21st, 2024 at 3:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bucs’ secondary will be shorthanded for tonight’s game and a notable stretch beyond that as well. Cornerback Jamel Dean was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement.

Dean is dealing with a hamstring injury, and a multi-week absence was recently floated as a possibility. Today’s move ensures he will be sidelined for at least the next four games, something which will be acutely felt at the cornerback spot for Tampa Bay. Dean has remained a full-time starter in 2024, his sixth season with the Buccaneers.

The former third-rounder saw a notable jump in playing time during the 2020 campaign, and since then he has been a staple in the secondary. Especially with Carlton Davis being traded away in the offseason, Dean’s presence has been key this year. He has amassed 43 tackles and four pass deflections while not allowing a touchdown in coverage. With Tampa Bay ranking 29th against the pass this year, losing a first-team corner contributor will hinder the team’s ability to improve over the short term.

2022 fifth-rounder Zyon McCollum has handed starting duties this season, and he will be counted on to remain a central figure on Tampa’s defense moving forward. Tykee Smith has had a strong rookie campaign in the slot, but it will be interesting to see who takes over for Dean on the perimeter. Free agent addition Bryce Hall is uncertain to return this season after he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in Week 2; with Dean now out of the picture, the team’s CB depth will be tested.

In addition to Dean, undrafted rookie receiver Kameron Johnson has been moved to IR. The latter has made four appearances this season, seeing rotational usage on offense and special teams. Bringing him back into the fold, just as in Dean’s case, will require using an in-season activation.

On that note, the Bucs activated defensive end Earnest Brown from IR in time for tonight’s contest against the Ravens. Brown had his 21-day practice window opened on October 9, so the team had time to wait with respect to activating him, but he will now be positioned to make his season debut. Tampa Bay has six IR activations remaining.

NFL Injury Updates: Texans, Carr, Dean, Lowe

October 18th, 2024 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans defense played without rookie starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter last weekend, and they may be without him for a bit longer. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Lassiter is expected to miss a few more games due to the scapula injury he suffered against the Bills nearly two weeks ago.

Wilson emphasized that Lassiter is improving and that he is expected to make a full recovery with no surgery, but for now, he’s a ways off from returning to the field. Another defensive back who is expected to miss his second straight game is veteran safety Jimmie Ward, who sat out last week’s contest after aggravating a groin injury.

Lastly, undrafted rookie running back British Brooks, who was placed on injured reserve 10 days ago, has undergone successful knee surgery, per Wilson. The procedure to repair Brooks’ torn meniscus took place yesterday. He is expected to make a full recovery but isn’t expected to return this season. Brooks should be ready for organized team activities in the spring.

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NFL:

After a promising 2-0 start, the Saints‘ 2024 campaign has taken a slide with five straight losses, partially due to the injury and absence of quarterback Derek Carr. Well, it appears that Carr will be out at least one more week. Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Carr may be trying to come back by Week 8 to plays the Chargers, a team he’s very familiar with, but the team views the Week 9 trip to Carolina or the Week 10 matchup versus the Falcons as more likely return-dates for their quarterback. Head coach Dennis Allen echoed this sentiment, telling Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune that he wasn’t sure whether or not Carr would play in Los Angeles but claiming that it was “very likely” that he’s back in time for the Panthers.
After leaving this past Sunday’s game in New Orleans early with a hamstring injury, Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean has not practiced this week. Greg Auman of FOX Sports believes that Dean is likely headed towards a multi-week absence. While a stint on IR may be in the cards, the Buccaneers haven’t gone that way just yet.
Patriots left tackle Vederian Lowe is another player who left this weekend’s games early. He underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed the expected diagnosis of an ankle sprain. While Lowe has been downgraded to out for this weekend’s game in London, New England expects to see him back in the near future, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign CB Jamel Dean

March 13th, 2023 at 4:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Coming back from being nearly $60MM over the cap, the Buccaneers are planning to still retain their top free agent. Jamel Dean intends to re-sign with Tampa Bay, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The Bucs have now re-signed Dean and fellow cornerback Carlton Davis in back-to-back legal tampering periods. Although the Tom Brady void-years bill led to the belief the Bucs were not planning a particularly active free agency period, they viewed Dean as a priority.

Dean agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $52MM, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets. This checks in at a manageable rate for the Bucs. Expected to attract a bit more interest on the market, Dean will be back in Tampa at just $13MM per year. This is well outside the top five at cornerback, and it does not check in among the top 12 contracts at the position. Dean will stay with the Bucs as the NFL’s 14th-highest-paid corner. The deal includes $26MM guaranteed, Jordan Schultz of The Score tweets.

Breaking through as a full-time player in 2022, Dean ranked as a top-10 corner in the view of Pro Football Focus. The former third-round pick’s coverage numbers were a bit better in 2021, when he allowed just a 50.0 passer rating as the closest defender. That number climbed to 86.0 last season, but Dean will keep developing in Todd Bowles’ system. Considering the Bucs’ performance last season, retaining one of their top pieces stands to be vital as they move forward post-Brady.

Dean is surprisingly now tied to less in average salary than Davis, whom the Bucs drafted on Day 2 a year before selecting Dean. Sean Murphy-Bunting, the other recent Bucs Day 2 cornerback pick, is still a free agent.

The Buccaneers have been focused on clearing room in recent weeks, restructuring a number of contracts. Still, the front office did have to move on from a number of notable players, including running back Leonard Fournette, tight end Cameron Brate, and offensive linemen Donovan Smith and Shaq Mason.

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