Replacing Jamel Dean
July 14th, 2026
Successor?
Joe has made the case several times this summer that Joe doesn’t know how a defense that loses its best corner actually gets better.
Especially a defense that perpetually is ranked in the 20s for passing yards allowed per game.
If used the right way, the Bucs do have a successor to Jamel Dean as the team’s best corner. That would be Jacob Parrish.
While Parrish this spring stated he is logging most of his snaps in practice as an outside corner, he was the Bucs’ nickel corner last year as a rookie and he was damn good.
Now if Joe was calling the shots, it would be a no-brainer to start Parrish at outside corner. But Joe is not Todd Bowles.
Also this spring, Bowles has stated Parrish is a nickel corner. And rookie Keionte Scott is a nickel corner. And Zyon McCollum is a nickel corner. And perhaps safety Tykee Smith or Benjamin Morrision.
You know what you have when you’ve got five nickel corners and no outside corner? You’ve got a two-bit defense.
However, even though Joe would move Parrish outside, Frank Schwab of Yahoo! doesn’t see Dean’s replacement on the roster.
The Buccaneers had a big loss when cornerback Jamel Dean signed a three-year, $36.75 million deal with the Steelers. Tampa Bay didn’t add anyone to help replace him.
The Bucs didn’t “add” anyone because Parrish is the likely replacement.
Joe fears if the Bucs go to battle in Cincinnati in Week 1 facing Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with Morrison and McCollum as their outside corners, the Bucs better plan on putting 35 points on the board if they hope to win.
July 14th, 2026 at 7:10 am
The Bucs are not going to shut out Chase and Higgins.
If they beat the Bengals, it will be because they stopped the run and put pressure on Burrow and the offense doesn’t screw it up with turnovers, penalties and sacks.
If they lose, it won’t be because Dean is gone.
July 14th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Seems like Dean’s name has been mentioned in every ‘loaf review’ article. Loafing and stone hands aren’t the traits of a NFL starting corner.
July 14th, 2026 at 7:12 am
It seems like you’re always hurt and when you do play your soft and when you do play, you played 10 yards off the wide receiver from the line of scrimmage should not be a great loss. Hopefully one of these young guys given the opportunity can show that they can play at this level too. I don’t think Dean‘s a big loss. Availability is a big component of being a critical part of a team he was just never someone you can count on every week.
July 14th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Silly Joe article alert.
July 14th, 2026 at 7:37 am
They previously lost Dean every season to injuries. Parrish is more physical.
The way the defense gets better Joe is by constantly putting the QB on his arse.
Simple. No one knows what BMo will become, we know Parrish is up to the task
Todd has been known to have been susceptible to favoring and family so most likely BMo gets the nod till he embarrasses himself.
July 14th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Joe … ‘The Bucs didn’t “add” anyone because Joe thinks Parrish will be the eventual replacement.’
Parrish has fantastic instincts as a Nickel IMO, but I question expecting him to eventually be our starting outside corner. Of course, if McCollum OR Morrison really screw it up, we may not have any choice.
Jacob had an outstanding rookie campaign IMO … 17 games (746 def snaps), 2 INTs, 1 FF, 2 sacks, 3 QB Hits, 7 TFL, and 76 tackles (50 solo). He also had 7 PDs to go with that. He was targeted 77 times & allowed 55 completions … 71.4%. Not many outside CBs will last very long if they surrender 71.4% completions.
But then again, what the stats don’t tell us though is how much of that was as a Nickel, and how much was playing outside. Personally I’d expect our Nickels to give up a higher completion percentage than our outside CBs, mostly because of how Bowles uses them.
For instance, Parrish blitzed 21 times last season (Dean only blitzed 2 times, Morrison 2 times ‡ McCollum 1 time). Plus Jacob probably faked blitzing many more times than that. And as Nickel, he’s got a LOT of space in the center of the field to defend, and a lot of crossing patterns to contend with. Not to mention that Todd’s continuous ‘quasi-prevent defense’ has our CBs in zone (playing off) more than in man coverage.
In any event, pass rush will be much more important this year than in years past IMO. THAT will be the key to this defense. Easier for CBs to look good if the opposing QB is flat on his back before he throws.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:57 am
I say it all the time. I don’t understand why Bowles and Licht did not go get a real CB, who can actually cover. Presently, Joe I agree Parrish is the best bet to take over 1 CB position. However, he is unproven as an outside corner. On the other hand I think he is head and shoulders above either McColumn, who shoud start the season as a backup until he proves otherwise and Morrison, who remains undevelpoed and is a libility when on the field. Yes I scratch my head. Talk all you want about Dean and yes he had his issues, but thus far both McColumn and Morrison are down grades to Dean not upgrades.I agree the first game shoud expose both Morrison and McColumn and the Bucs only win if they are able to outscore the Bengals in the passing game, which with those two corners is a tall order. Bowles and Licht are taking huge risks, so I can only assume they are taking their time to rebuild and don’t believe they can honestly contend this year. That is the only thing that makes sense.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Brittle Brother number 2, Dean, can’t be the best corner on any team on the bench. If you’re not available, you’re not the best.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:21 am
For the zillionth time, put hall of famers in Todd’s defensive backfield and his pass defense would still suck. When it’s 3rd and 2 and your DBs are 10 yards off the ball, it’s a simple question of physics. When it’s 3rd and 28, the “nothing over your heads” mantra means they’ll gladly concede two 14 yard passes. Hey, it didn’t go over their heads!
At least when they get into the red zone, you know the opponent is scoring a touchdown.
There is comfort in certainty.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:28 am
I’m not playing at least six games for the Bucs at corner either, so I can be Dean’s replacement
July 14th, 2026 at 9:55 am
Joe, it happens when the guy who’s replaced can only be counted on to play half the games. The salary cap is a real thing
July 14th, 2026 at 10:25 am
Dean could cover well, But his health issues kept him off the field too often. The Bucs didn’t play man coverage much last year. If Parish can cover at nickel well he should cover at corner reasonable well. If the Bucs improve at pass rushing, than our corners shouldn’t be on an island covering receivers because of an improved pass rush.
Our corners should be able to cover receivers if the quarterback is forced to get the ball out sooner due heavy pressure from the front line.
Our defense should improve this year with our offense healthier and scoring more points this year.
.
July 14th, 2026 at 10:35 am
Joe, I get it, but how can the worst pass defense in the league get any worse? No Place to go but up when you are on the bottom.
July 14th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Reality check.
The Lions’ woes hurt the Bucs. Terri Arnold is gone from that team so Detroit has to scare up someone new. Given a choice between a motivated contender in the Lions or a “value” placeholder like the Bucs who do you think the talent will choose?
And, sorry to say, the price for all CBs just got a boost.
Now maybe if Tampa Bay could sign Arnold . . .
July 14th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Ouch Joe. Parrish had some snaffus at times last year but dang nobody on the back end looked good to me except Smith and at times AWJ. Some of our dudes are bound to look better this year and the new kid Scott will show us he belongs. I think Morrison was still hurting last year so I look for him to be much better.
I also think we will somehow find a decent CB to bring in at some point. Likely after cuts in camp. Does Ronde want a 1 year deal? LOL
Go Bucs!
July 14th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Coach loves him some defensive backs. These last 3 years he’s drafted Tykee, Parrish, and now Scott, as nickel backs. Morrison as a cover corner.
Whatever happened to safeties helping out their corners? I think, probably like most of us, where in the hell are the secondary, as the guys in the other colors are gashing us for long TDs?
A secondary is a unit. They need communication and leadership. I’m thinking unless Winfield proves he’s more than just the average bear this year, he needs to hit the road. Pressure on him this year? There oughta be. The whole defense needs to be like one big pressure cooker this year, one that looks like it could explode at any moment.
July 14th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I think that the Bucs did what everyone claims to want, they let the draft board fall to them. They had a lot of luck in positions like OLB, WR but no such luck when it came to outside CB or TE. I’m sure that if a OCB or TE fell to them and was on their board as the BPA they would have taken them.
I haven’t given up on Morrison. B-Mo had a hereditary hip issues that he took care of in college and still showed enough to be drafted in the NFL in the 2nd round. That’s two separate planned surgeries. Last year was a recovery year. The Bucs knew that he wasn’t going to be 100% until this year. Zion has the athleticism and talent to be one of the best cbs in the league he just needs to keep locked in. The Bucs will probably add a cb after roster cut downs. Especially if there are any injuries or the outside cb aren’t looking great. The improvement in the pass rush WILL help the DBs out. I know it’s been said but it’s worth repeating.