Bucs May Regret Letting Jamel Dean Walk
February 19th, 2026
Waving goodbye?
While Joe is like most Bucs fans, looking at potential free agent targets to bring into Tampa Bay, Joe is also largely ignoring guys who may walk away. That’s not smart of Joe.
One guy who Joe was hoping the Bucs would wash their hands of last year, Joe is hoping the guy sticks around. That would be starting corner Jamel Dean.
Dean was hurt so often that he wasn’t available in the Bucs’ biggest games (like playoff games). What’s the point when you aren’t available in the biggest games of the season?
But last year Dean remade his body and was largely able to stay on the field. And he had a helluva season. For starting cornerbacks, when targeted, Dean allowed the second-lowest completion percentage in the league.
Joe thinks that is damn good.
But Dean is a free agent. And Joe has a hunch the Bucs are going to let him walk. Hey, if Bucs coach Todd Bowles plans to move Jacob Parrish to full-time corner, that’s fine. If not, it’s better to keep Dean.
Joe was very underwhelmed with the play of Zyon McCollum, the other Bucs’ starting corner. So much so Joe thinks he shouldn’t be starting until he snaps out of his funk.
What Joe is getting at with Dean is that the Bucs have enough holes on defense as it is. No need to dig another unnecessary hole by letting Dean walk.
That was a hallmark of lousy Lovie Smith. He took over a team with a rotten defense and started tossing capable starters off the Sunshine Skyway Bridge without equal or better players to fill those holes.
All of a sudden you look up and the Bucs had the No. 1 overall pick.
Hey, if the Bucs were rebuilding, Joe can understand waving goodbye to Dean. But from what Joe sees, the Bucs are a team that thinks it can get back to the playoffs this coming season.
So if that is the case, why let Dean escape unless they have someone who can fully fill his shoes?