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 Joe was hoping the Bucs would wash their hands of last year is a guy “this Joe” hopes 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 will 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 by the play of Zyon McCollum, the other starting corner. So much so Joe thinks he shouldn’t be starting until he snaps out of his funk.
Regarding Dean, the Bucs defense has enough holes 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 right back to the playoffs.
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 1:43 am
The beauty of the D scheme is, it allows for total interchangeability of players with zero difference in performance. Jamel Dean, Marlin Brando, Fat Albert could all generate the same results.
It’s a great time to be a Bucs fan.
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 2:41 am
Monte Kiffin destroyed the Raiders in SB37 too. What a DC does working for a HC is not comparable to when the same DC reports to himself as HC. And if not for about 6 drops by the Chefs, the Arians SB win was in doubt. No matter, that game has zero to do with current day performance.
And I think Todd is the greatest. It’s hard to win 8 games in a season after starting 6-2.
February 19th, 2026 at 3:01 am
joe:
if there’s one area bowles is or should be fully capable, it is the secondary…that’s his forte…if he choses to let dean walk, so be it…dean was his coveted student of the game as a young buck…his “class pet” for a while there…so if coach gives him his walking papers – so be it…
you always knew when it came down to dean and davis…davis was the one getting traded, while dean stayed…
so if bowles is done with him – let it be…
and the play of zyon was downright scary like a hairy canary last year…talk about getting the bag and playing like a skag…everyone witnessed it…and i was a big zyon supporter going into last season too…
also bowles has gotta see that morrisson plays more like morrissey…he simply has too…the secondary is his specialty…
if bowles can screw up his own secondary, then what does that say about his defense…
the secondary should define this coach
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 4:08 am
It shouldn’t be a problem if Morrison lives up to his draft status. Same with Zyon living up to his new contract, and Winfield earning his top dollar as a safety. Bucs have drafted, and paid their secondary. It’s time it pays off. Either the players Licht has drafted, and paid can play, or they can’t.
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 4:26 am
The Bucs need to rebuild their defense, and in all likelihood, they’ll do it from the inside out.
I’m sure they’d love to have Dean back, but the priority has to be on the D-line and the linebackers. If they don’t fix that, it doesn’t matter who they have in the secondary.
I doubt they can fix everything in just one season. But if they can put an average defense on the field this coming season, and the offense plays up closer to it’s potential, we’ll be a dangerous team.
With a horrible defense last season, we beat several playoff teams, including Seattle in their home!
If our O-line stays healthy, the offense should be able to get back near 30 points per game again.
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 6:08 am
“They called me Mr. Glass.” ~ Elijah Price (aka Jamel Dean)
February 19th, 2026 at 6:15 am
It’s 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
February 19th, 2026 at 7:17 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.””
Are you freakin kiddin me man? Were you drunk or stoned when u wrote this crap? First of all that was SIX years ago. Somebody told me that the NFL is a what have u done for me lately business. Second of all we had a REAL HC then who would NEVER tolerate the lack of effort from Bowles garbage defense that we see now. No energy. No effort. No will to win. You’re in the running for the dumbest post of 2026. Teacher needs to go back to school.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Bowles must pay ppl to defend him, look at teacherman for example, he either lives under a rock or get paid from Bowles no other options.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:39 am
I will not lose any sleep over Dean 🤙🏾Mahalo
February 19th, 2026 at 7:50 am
🤣🤣🤣that didn’t put my comment down because I said Mahalo 🤣🤣🤣
February 19th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Ok 🤙🏾👊🏾
February 19th, 2026 at 7:56 am
If Evans walks we can keep Dean, that’s about the only way tho
February 19th, 2026 at 8:11 am
Bucsfan I don’t believe Arians had nothing to do with the defense. Both Bowles, and Leftwich went downhill after the boss retired.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:15 am
I see we’re still re-living the Kupp nightmare! I’ll say this about that play: Regardless the play call there were epic failures up and down the eleven that lined up. Coaches coach and players play. Everyone from coaches on down deserve the “credit” for that debacle. Just sayin”!
Personally, I think we’ve seen enough of Dean. We tend to hold onto players who “might” be good, only to find they’ve peaked a long time ago. He can’t stay on the field. Best ability…
February 19th, 2026 at 8:17 am
With Dean its damned if you do, damned if you dont. When not in a contract year, he is always injured and doesnt show up as often. They make him FA at the end of the season and look what happens. Some players are motivated by money. Dean is one of them and dont think resigning him would be best option. Good player but time to move on. Go get another CB.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:19 am
I thought the headline meant if they let him walk anywhere he’ll get hurt.