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?
February 19th, 2026 at 12:32 am
There is no point to all of this. The issue is Bowles not the players.
February 19th, 2026 at 12:44 am
Dean is going to explore his options and it is likely someone will make a better offer than the Bucs. Is this good or bad? Well, Dean did have a good season in a “prove it” situation but can someone expect the same if he gets paid or will he regress like Zyon did after he got paid. Dean still missed 3 games due to injury and in a 4th he had nada on the stat line (Buffalo) and only one tackle in the Jets game as well. The Bucs paid Zyon which was a huge mistake. I guess it all comes down to the Benjamis, can the Bucs afford to keep him or are they going to get a cheaper replacement via FA? I am just afraid they sign him to a deal and he promptly gets injured and goes on IR for 6 weeks……
February 19th, 2026 at 1:56 am
Was Bowles the issue when we won the Super Bowl?
When Bowles defense best Aaron Rodgers?
When Bowles defense destroyed Mahomes and the Chiefs?
People have short memories.
February 19th, 2026 at 2:36 am
Teacherman, I remember Bowles’ call on D when Cooper Cupp burned him in the Rams playoff loss as well as 3rd and 28 against the ATL this past season. All Tampa fans will always remember those 2 infamous plays and the mastermiond behind them!
February 19th, 2026 at 2:36 am
We just don’t have the cap space to retain Dean. Choices have to be made and the conclusion is we can’t afford him unless we let more important players (like ME13) walk. He has disappointed too many times.
February 19th, 2026 at 3:13 am
Franchise tag?
February 19th, 2026 at 4:03 am
@FortMyersDave,
For sure, Bucs fans will remember those negative plays, and should.
But if they forget one of the greatest defensive performances in Super Bowl history against a great Kansas City team, with Bowles as DC, they’re deluding themselves.
My preference was for Bowles to walk the plank, but with an infusion of talent, I’m confident this team can rebound, get back into the playoffs, and beat anyone. Our defense was horrible this past season, and yeah, Bowles was part of the problem. But the talent is in need of an upgrade, and that was a major factor as well.
I have no doubt the Glazers remember those plays you mentioned. But they remember the positive ones as well. And they remember the defense was top 10 in the league just a couple seasons ago in points per game allowed to their opponents, another thing that fans seem to have forgot, if they ever were aware of it to begin with.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:16 am
Teachman. when our defense was good Arians was the head coach. If you remember our offense was one of the best in the league with Leftwich as the OC calling the plays. Arians hands the reins to Bowles we go 8-9, with the offense, and defense going backwards. Arians made Bowles, and Lefty look good. Four years after he retires Bowles Bucs are 8-9. Can’t you see the difference a real good HC makes a team on both sides of the ball? Bowles don’t have what it takes.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:54 am
@Hodad, your just spinning a false narrative using revisionist history. Arian’s wasn’t a good coach. He was a great coach, winning coach-of-the-year twice before he arrived in Tampa. But he had nothing to do with the defense. That was completely left up to Bowles. And then, when Bowles took over as HC it was too late in the preseason for him to even choose his own assistant coaches.
Brady was not himself going through the marital issues & divorce. He took a vacation during training camp. LOL. And he wasn’t playing well after Jensen was lost for the year and Marpet retired. Leftwich wasn’t good as the OC.
None of those things were under the control of Bowles. He didn’t break up Brady’s marriage or injure Ryan Jensen’s knee, or hire Leftwich as OC, but you want to hold Bowles totally responsible.
February 19th, 2026 at 5:43 am
“Bucs May Regret Letting……………..Todd Bowles Stay”
February 19th, 2026 at 5:50 am
Ricky- I agree with you 100% this team is wasting away every year Todd Bowles is the head coach. The defense is going to be garbage again for yet another season. I hate to say it, but back to dark decades.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:15 am
Itâs all about availability and playing healthy
The grind of football has diminished his value
February 19th, 2026 at 6:51 am
Joe are memories short. Dean has one somewhat healthy year in his career, imagine that it is in a contract year. Once Dean gets a big fat contract he is going to be back in the tub. You don’t get healthier as you get older.
February 19th, 2026 at 6:54 am
Dean can barely run….much less walk sometimes… SMH