Jason Licht Reveals Jamel Dean’s Destiny For 2025

Nonetheless hanging within the stability with the Bucs going into the draft season is what there plans are on the cornerback place. There was a lot dialog earlier within the offseason concerning the Bucs probably letting go of veteran cornerback Jamel Dean, which might be a $6.582 million lifeless cap hit however would additionally save Tampa Bay $8,284,941 in cap room total.

Nevertheless, given a few of the outrageously costly contracts that different cornerbacks got this offseason, akin to Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr., who, is incomes $3o million per season, and Carolina’s Jaycee Horn making $25 million, Dean’s contract doesn’t appear so dangerous in spite of everything. It really works out fairly properly for the Bucs to maintain as a result of at $13 million per yr Dean is a cut price given the truth that he has 62 begins in his six-year NFL profession.

Nonetheless, there are different variables with Dean which will incline the Bucs to maneuver on from him, particularly if the staff hundreds up at cornerback within the upcoming draft and comes away with one two beginning choices. Throw in the truth that Dean has been very damage susceptible and doesn’t intercept the ball a lot, making one interception over the earlier two seasons, and that’s an indication he may ultimately put on out his welcome subsequent yr if it doesn’t occur this yr.

Jason Licht: “We Really feel Good About Jamel Dean”

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Commanders WR Terry McLaurin – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Jamel Dean scenario provides common supervisor Jason Licht so much to mull over. Might the staff exchange him within the draft? Is he steadfast on Dean being the starter going into the season?

Licht spoke about Tampa Bay’s highest-paid nook on the NFL Annual Assembly in West Palm Seashore, Fla.

“Jamel, [he’s] had some accidents over the previous couple of years,” Licht mentioned. “He was a extremely good participant not too way back. He has excessive expectations for himself. Now we have excessive expectations for him. We be ok with Jamel.”

Tampa Bay has ready for the potential that Dean is beset with accidents as soon as once more. They spent this offseason constructing skilled depth at cornerback with the signing of Kindle Vildor and re-signing Bryce Corridor, who suffered a season-ending ankle damage within the the primary common season sport in his first yr with the staff.

Whereas it’s actually not the primary transfer one might level to for the Bucs making a playoff run, these are mandatory transactions that must occur if Tampa Bay’s protection doesn’t wish to get into the identical pitfalls that it did a season in the past. The staff can sick afford to get right down to its fifth- and sixth-string corners taking part in vital time, particularly when these gamers final yr had been second-year cornerback Josh Hayes, who’s primarily a gunner, and undrafted free agent Tyrek Funderburk.

“I feel we’ve made enhancements,” Licht mentioned about his staff’s depth at cornerback. “We’re in a greater place than we had been final yr.”

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Picture by: USA As we speak

And the Bucs aren’t executed including to the cornerback place, both. That’s why drafting one within the first spherical or early on could be very a lot on the desk, too.

“It’s a reasonably good draft there all through the complete draft,” Licht mentioned. “We’ll see the way it falls to us. We may use some assist there – depth, no matter it’s. We may use some assist there.”

And the Bucs don’t need simply any type of participant. Head coach Todd Bowles mentioned he desires ballhawks this offseason. After recording simply seven interceptions as a protection – with solely six coming within the secondary – Tampa Bay wants defensive backs that can get picks in bunches. Cornerback Zyon McCollum and rookie Tykee Smith, who was the staff’s beginning nickelback, tied for the staff lead with two interceptions apiece.

“Belief me – there’s nothing Todd desires greater than extra interceptions,” Licht mentioned.