Jamel Dean Named NFC Defensive Player Of The Week
October 15th, 2025
What a comeback by cornerback Jamel Dean, one of the more polarizing players of the Tampa Bay offseason.
In mid-April, Joe polled Bucs fans here and asked if they wanted Dean to be a Bucs’ opening day starter in 2025. “Yes” was the answer of 45.86 percent of respondents.
Well, after the Bucs drafted two cornerbacks, paid a king’s ransom to another and slashed Dean’s contract, Dean has emerged as a standout — in a good way. Today, Dean was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week. On Sunday, Dean had a strip-sack and an interception, the first time that’s happened in the NFL in a year.
Per NFL NextGen data, Dean’s 20.8 passer rating when targeted is the best mark in the NFL among defenders targeted 15 or more times.
After a strong training camp, Dean really made the most of his first career sack. He’ll be a free agent after this season, if the Bucs don’t re-sign him first.
Dean’s a solid player when he can stay healthy.
October 15th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Good job Dean!!!!
Stay healthy and Go Bucs!!!
October 15th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
I’d think Dean would be just as likely to retire before he left Tampa, he took the pay cut and mentioned “it’s not about the money” while expressing how he felt about leaving Tampa or going elsewhere to learn a new system. Wouldn’t be suprised if he stayed either, because I don’t think there’s a coach out there he’d want to play for other than Todd Bowles. My opinion, but congrats to Dean doing his job well enough to get the weekly award.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Now if he could just notch an INT every 3-4 weeks or so, he’d be a star.
He had a great game and it was nice to see.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Just do a similar contract that rewards him playing, that is the carrot to keep him on the field.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Sure seems that the pay cut was more a Licht idea than a bowles idea. Just the way bowles talks about him and gives him grief makes it seem like he has quite a bit of affection for him. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him resign here. And to everyone always talking about “pay the players early,” Zyon has not been earning that new money.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Good for him!
When he is healthy he is fine!
Thing is he has bad knee or knees and that will nag the remainder of his career
October 15th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
well deserved Dean!!!!!
6-1!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 15th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Good for Jamel….he deserves it. Works hard…..when healthy, plays good!!!
October 15th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
I think I saw somewhere, go shooting across the screen, on one of the DOZENS of sports ‘talk-shows’ I watched earlier in the week, that ATL had like the ‘Number-1’ Ranked DEFENSE, & like the ‘Number-2’ Ranked OFFENSE!? Which, was kind of ‘shocking’ to me considering that 0-30 BLOWOUT LOSS to Carolina. Is THAT TRUE, or did I just dream it!?
October 15th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Amazing – the old “carrot and the stick” theory still remains true…
As soon as you let the donkey eat the carrot there is zero incentive to move forward.
Now that Dean is seeking a new bank breaking deal he is playing like an All-Pro.
Big surprise – but at least the Bucs will get one decent year out of this dude.
October 15th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Dean!
We are a much better team with you on the field.
Get Morrison and Zion back on the field too and we have the makings of a MUCH BETTER secondary than last year.
If we can keep getting pressures with these guys mixing up the coverages we’ll continue to get turnovers 🤞🏼👍🏼
October 15th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
And to think so many of the dopes in the comments here have constantly called for him to be cut.
October 15th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Got to shake them up sometimes… Tough love. GO BUCS!
October 15th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Dean gambled on himsel and is winning. Someone will pay him big money this coming offseason.
October 15th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
I’m always down on Dean like most posters. But not this week. He played lights out against the 9ers. Keep it going and earn that $$$. GO BUCS!!
October 15th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
PFF has him (90.1) as THE best corner in the NFL
October 15th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Consistency is key. A great game against the depleted 49’ers.
October 15th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
It was a hell of a game. Congrats to CB Dean! Hope you continue to play that well.
October 15th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Joe … ‘He’ll be a free agent after this season, if the Bucs don’t re-sign him first.’
I don’t get it; why would Dean re-sign with the Bucs? He gave up roughly $7 mil this year to become a free agent next year. And logic tells me that wasn’t Dean’s idea (he’s in essence betting on himself to have a fantastic year that leads to a fantastic (and very rewarding) next contract … with WHOEVER.
Gut feel is that JL put a lot of pressure on Dean to re-do that contract. If I remember correctly, there was talk earlier this year about trading him, soon as Morrison stepped up & beat him out of a job. Instead, Morrison’s found his way to the ice tub & Jamel’s been playing lights out.
Today’s Jamel’s birthday … just turned 29 years old. He’s most likely got 1 more nice payday awaiting him if this year continues like it’s been going for him. He’ll be going to the highest bidder.
October 15th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
@I remember 21:
Paying Zion is/was more about getting him under contract BEFORE the market super jumps this off-season. Avoiding the situation that Washington & Terry McLaurin dealt with this offseason (they could have signed him early) to avoid. This will allow us to resign Cody Mauch, ME13 again possibly and others. In essence Zyon has already ‘Earned’ his payday. I do agree his play has dipped a bit but he’s also been injured. I don’t think we will have any issues with him going forward.
October 15th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
yea i dont see anyone who is being named player of the week resigning with the team who humiliated him with a pay cut.
October 15th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Let’s go, we are all pulling for you. Even the great Sage of Tampa Bay Sports
October 15th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
His contract for next year will be more than his pay cut. Good job Dean.
October 15th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Who is Zyon? The one really getting a lot of noise is Larry Parrish. I guess Bowles’ ribbing Dean about getting him drug-tested after grabbing a pick in the off-season paid off. He didn’t just grab one; he also got a sack. Congrats to him on a deserved honor! I hope Izien will play Monday. We’re gonna need it. GO BUCS!!
October 15th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Dean maybe in the pro Bowl if he stays healthy and gets one or two other receptions!
October 15th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
Two veteran Buccaneers who have elevated their game to some degree, in 2025, have contract years. It’s awesome to have, and both were already productive. On offense, White appears to have been running with more determination. Similarly to how he’s worked in the passing game for three years. Dean has been all over and missed only a week when injured.
I hope previous examples in professional sports that have had near, or actual, career seasons in the final season of a contract haven’t colored my already skeptical opinions on walk years. I’d love to see both players earn new deals in Tampa and continue to perform at their current levels.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Give him back his 7 million as part of an extension now. The Bucs have a legitimate gripe with him and his injuries and his not being available in crucial moments in playoff games. He’s doing fantastically well because we are playing a lot more man which he is awesomely suited for. If we plan to continue that, having McCollum and Dean as our corners are a heckuva 1-2 punch. Morrison will still get playing time (though hopefully not during the playoffs).
October 15th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Happy for the dude. Even happier he’s been making impact plays. Dynamic Dean. Came with high expectations. Not always easy to live up to. Off to a good start to the 2025 season.
Don’t look now but defense has the arrow pointing upward. Early days. Fingers crossed…Go Bucs.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:44 pm
Unless Dean planned on returning that 4th down interception for significant yardage he should have just knocked it down. As it was, he intercepted and more or less fell down. There is a long way to go this season and I expect Dean to play soft coverage and miss plenty of tackles as is his custom. If I am wrong about this, Dean would never have agreed to a substantial pay cut in 2025. Saw Pariish with outstanding coverage Sunday. He will supplant Dean in a few weeks. Nice that Parrish won this weekly award but he is not a reliable cover corner. The coming weeks will prove the point.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
Should have said “nice that Dean won this…….”
October 15th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Crazy good games by Dean, LVD, and Yaya. So good to see.
Congrats!
October 15th, 2025 at 8:39 pm
If ever there was a post begging Ira to comment on, this be it. I guess there can’t be any Joe cross content contamination.
October 15th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
I’m happy for Dean he didn’t get upset or pout like a former MLB in Tampa. He stepped up to the challenge and said I’ll show you that I deserved the money that I was supposed to have been paid. If he stays healthy he’s going to get paid in free agency this off-season!!
October 15th, 2025 at 10:06 pm
Two interceptions. That’s great. I’m still cautious about him. His full history is what cost him his salary reduction. There’s still plenty of football this year for him if he stays on the field.
October 15th, 2025 at 10:29 pm
Never trust a football player scurred of tackling. I saw the man with straight fear in his eyes against Dallas and will never forget that. Don’t understand his fans.