Four Interesting Nuggets From The Steelers’ Jamel Dean News Conference
March 15th, 2026
Jamel Dean is always smiling. So it’s understandable that the former Bucs cornerback looked to be a very happy man with his new three-year, $36 million contract.
Dean had plenty to say during his press event with Steelers media last week.
Joe shared one nugget, but there were more of interest.
*It was no surprise the Bucs let Dean walk in free agency, Dean said. In fact, he knew he was gone last summer when the Bucs squeezed him into a large paycut. “Before the season started, we came to an agreement so I was always aware that we were going to go our separate ways,” Dean said, adding that he’s ok with it because he looks forward to growing as a person through a new experience.
**The Bucs had joint practices in Pittsburgh last season with the Steelers. Dean’s opinion of a Mike Tomlin-led session intrigued Joe. “Everything was like on the move. Like we’re going to take advantage of every time we have on the football field. And there’s no walking. So everything was just fast-paced, but it was quality reps. So I was just like, ok, I could adapt to this.” To be fair, Joe must clarify that Tomlin, who resigned after last season, coordinated the joint practice plan with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles.
***See the photo above. That’s Dean picking off Aaron Rodgers during a big Bucs home win against the Packers in 2020. Dean said he eagerly looks forward to Rodgers returning as Steelers quarterback in 2026, so Dean can finally get Rodgers to sign that football he’s been treasuring for years.
****New Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is not a guy Dean used to like. Dean relayed a story of how Graham, then with the Dolphins, grilled him in pre-draft process seven years ago and pressed Dean on why he was a lazy player in college. Dean said Graham was way over-the-top but Dean called himself a very calm guy by nature and didn’t show his frustration. It looks like Dean got the last laugh.
Very interesting that the Bucs squeezed Dean into a huge paycut and simultaneously told him it was his last Tampa Bay season. That takes a lot of trust in a player’s professionalism to keep him on the roster in that situation.
Joe wasn’t a huge fan of Dean the player, but Joe was a fan of Dean the person. Smart and driven guy. In fact, Dean is the founder and CEO of a successful trucking company in central Florida. That’s right, several trucks on the road are with Dean managing the contracts and the drivers.
Joe wishes Dean well.
Ira Kaufman Talks New Signings, Maxx Crosby, Reaction To Mike Evans’ Comments To San Francisco Media, And Much More
March 15th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Dean gets the last laugh on Bright Licht as well. Licht had just inexplicably topped off Zyon early…a streaky player prone to boredom. Licht flexed…and is now poked in the belly like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Lucky for him, his job security is ironclad.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Another guy who seems to play harder in a contract year and is ok being “injured” or playing to less than full potential every snap. We need guys who love the game and cherish every snap like it’s their last. Nonstop motor for the love of the game.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
And is a scout or anyone said “the player was lazy” in college or questioned his want-to, they should be off our draft board. Talent only get you so far, which ain’t far enough.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I am happy with all the Bucs’ decisions in free agency but they need one splash move. I would get Maxx Crosby even for two first rounders then draft linebackers and cornerbacks.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Great defender when on the field. Nail in the coffin for me were the 23 and 24 seasons. I felt the same about White. In 23 he injured his back because of overuse, it was that point I realized this guy wasn’t work horse. Good ‘move on ‘ from Licht, we got good value last year from them both
March 15th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Top 5 cb.. it will suck not having him on the team. We always let the good CBs get away… Dean was the one we kept around until now they chose Mccollom over him. Smfh.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Both sides moving on. Away we go. Next.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
The Steelers gave Jamel Dean a 3 years $36.75 contract
With only 12 million guaranteed, less than 1/3 in guarantee money
.Omar Khan isn’t completely dumb
It’s a Team Friendly deal
March 15th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
It was crazy that few a few weeks ago, Dean was the only Bucs player at Jr Bucs movie night. He was there to take pictures with Bucs fans for a couple of hours before the movie started. He was smiling the whole time then as well. It just struck me very weird that a guy that was about to sign somewhere else representing the Bucs at that event.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
We got Bored Zyon McCollum and Benjamin “Lost in Space” Morrison to be confused by Todd, we didn’t need Dean. Let’s go, let’s see if the Bucs can give up a 3rd and 42 conversion this season.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Last year when Dean took the big pay cut in exchange for voiding the 2026 season on in his contract was a clear signal Dean and Bucs were going to part ways. As a player, Dean was OK. Flashed some plays, generally played all right, blew a coverage from time to time. IDK if Bowles scheme was right for him, and there was often miss-communication by the defense that left Dean exposed. TBH, I think letting the DC go rather than Dean would be a bigger improvement, but it did save a little cap space.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
I wonder how he finds time to run a trucking company.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Dean cost the Bucs a lot in time off for injuries, lazy play, indifference in tackling, money. Nice guy who started a trucking business? Fine. The Bucs need players who have dedication to playing football.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Dean’s success on the field was never in question. It was his absence on the field due to injuries every year. Ironically, Dean was pretty much injury free last year. Past years have indicated he will miss time on the field.
Aging players seldom improve in their 30’s. Wish him and the Steelers well except when he is playing the Bucs.
Past performance will likely repeat itself for him. Anyway. it’s not the Bucs problem anymore.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Good player. Just couldn’t stay healthy and be on the field enough to justify a starters salary.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
“Very interesting that the Bucs squeezed Dean into a huge paycut and simultaneously told him it was his last Tampa Bay season. That takes a lot of trust in a player’s professionalism to keep him on the roster in that situation.“
What sucks the most about this, even with Dean gone is that the restructure blew our chances at getting a comp pick for Dean.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Dean is soft.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Glazers always squeeze the pennies
March 15th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
More low IQ morons with very low IQ opinions, again, have no idea what they’re watching.
Dean is a really good man-to-man corner – ran out of town because Bowles insists on playing his garbage zone defense. The same thing happened with Carlton Davis – and the same morons now saying Dean is always injured, soft, not good, those morons were all celebrating getting a 3rd rounder from Detroit like the Bucs won the lottery. Meanwhile Davis continues to be one of the best corners in the NFL and was starting in the SB.
Dean is not as good as Davis – but over the last couple of years, the Bucs have lost two extremely good man-to-man corners and it’s 100% scheme related.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
“ Dean is not as good as Davis – but over the last couple of years, the Bucs have lost two extremely good man-to-man corners and it’s 100% scheme related.”
Spot on.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Joe spoke with him at length about it. You can do it all from your laptop. He doesn’t do the driving, he just takes bids on the freight and hires the drivers. All done online. GPS tracks the trucks.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
The photo above is against the Packers not the Steelers…..
March 15th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Are we really surprised he is gone? Every time I read the injury report it seemed like he was on it for some reason. This is addition by subtraction in my view. Nice guy, good player, but very injury prone. Not worth the value of the deal the Bucs gave him at the time. He should have been on the field more to receive the money he got from this franchise. I thought is was a bad decision at the time and here we are.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
My bad Joe, you are correct about the photo…
March 15th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Bowles will probably run Josh Hayes out there as a starter.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
It comes across in this report as if the Bucs told Dean he was done with the team. If that is actually the case, then that was dumb, but then the whole deal was dumb.
Deans injury history made a renegotiation appropriate. But, the deal should have included incentives that would have rewarded Dean for his 2025 production and kept the door open for the future.
The White situation was also handled poorly.
In Dean’s case, I wonder if this is a reflection of what they lost in the front office when Spytek left, or is it a reflection of Bowles’s fixation on turnovers.
White’s case I just do not understand at all.
The Bucs seem to have done a decent job of bringing in free agent value, but they let some value leave on the cheap.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Good for Dean. I wish him the best.
I’m with Munch.
Defensely 2026 will be RINSE AND REPEAT
SMH
March 15th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
@ Larrd Says: “I am happy with all the Bucs’ decisions in free agency but they need one splash move. I would get Maxx Crosby even for two first rounders.”
Ignorant. On just SO MANY levels. That is not even accounting for the injury concerns. And, it is DELUSIONAL to think that THIS team under THIS regime is even somewhat of a Contender. Even, WITH Crosby. Then, to completely blow-off, and not even take into effect the fact, that the 2027 Draft-Class is an “All-Time” LOADED CLASS. And, there being a really ‘high’ chance of it being a Top-10 PICK. Potentially, a TOP-5 even, by the time they move all assets at the trade deadline. You’re just going to give THAT UP… FOR NOTHING. For an aging, beat up, AND EXPENSIVE player, who couldn’t pass a PHYSICAL!? Really!? Immediately, END all chances of a ‘franchise QB’ such as Arch Manning, Moore, Sayin, or a couple others!? Or, how bout having a ZERO CHANCE at Jeremiah Smith, OR Cam Coleman!? How bout the YOUNG STUD EDGES, such as LJ McCray, Dylan Stewart from South Carolina, Kenyatta Jackson, or Simmons outta Texas!? YOU are willing to throw that away, FOR WHAT!? So, that Tom Brady, Mendoza, and the Raiders can draft JEREMIAH Freaking SMITH with what should’ve been OUR PICK!? This draft is soooo LOADED, you’re going to be able to grab 1ST-ROUND Talents in the back half of the 2ND-ROUND, who would be 1st-Round Picks in a ‘normal’ typical draft. 1st-Round “TALENTS,” you’ll be able to find in the 3RD, it is soooo DEEP. But, not only that… YOU blow-up our salary cap (and no first round pick), and by doing so, make THIS JOB farrrr less ‘attractive’ to ANY top-tier level, high-end, modern-day HC and GM. I mean, you can forget that… And trust-me, we are going to need all the help WE CAN GET.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Another genius move by our GM. I thought he liked draft picks. I guess it’s better to get nothing for your vets.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Cornerback is our greatest need going into the draft
Even a greater need than Edge Rusher
Free Agency wasn’t a strength for Corners
But going into the draft, l believe Corners will be a top priority
We have Morrison and Zyon outside, Parrish the Slot
Other than those 3, we don’t have much else
Josh Hayes might not make the roster this season
We need another Slot CB, and 2 more Outside Corners
March 15th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Was time to move on. Rebuilding the defense!
That said…Mike Tomlin for coach in 2027. The only Defense head coach I like.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
It’s just amazing to me how people cannot see ANYTHING further out than just on a ‘season to season’ basis ONLY, and are not capable of recognizing, realizing, or accepting the REALITY. The very WORST thing you can do as a franchise (especially in the Bucs’ current situation), is to continue throwing good money towards BAD. And, that is exactly WHY the Bucs haven’t this off-season. Well, partly. Most of those top players would not have come here to begin with, unless the Bucs had overpaid. There has to be NEW eyes on this, with NEW leadership, and a FRESH start. The ‘rebuild’ begins NOW. You’re ONLY making moves geared towards the FUTURE and NOT this season. The regime of Baker, Lickt, and Bowles is OVER. The sooner the better, and then we can all move on and get back to BUSINESS again. Cause, THIS is a lost cause.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Well, the 🤡 aka MelvinJr has weighed in. All should be well. 🤡🤡🤡🤡. He thinks Arch Manning is a franchise QB. Barely starts at Texas. Good kid. Decent player. Franchise QB? No way.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
I think Jason Licht draft CB Mansoor Delaney with the 15th pick
At least l hope he draft him
March 15th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
i will never blame or hate an NFL player for getting paid. Truth be told, the vast majority of them do not get their worth, So good for Dean. and anybody else who is making that paper.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
“”Mansoor Delaney””*
March 15th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Auto correct
It’s Mansoor Delane
March 15th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Absolutely NO to another “Defensive” HC. It’ll work in New England, because they have Josh McDaniels, who’s family and kids live there, and they all LOVE the area, and don’t want to leave. Plus, HE has nooo ‘intentions’ of ever becoming a HC again. At least not anytime soon. It’ll be interesting to see how well Mike MacDonald adjusts and survives after having to replace a few OC’s. He’s ‘special’ but you’re NOT going to ‘hit’ on all of them. And, THAT’s the problem with hiring a “DEFENSIVE” HC in today’s modern day! You get a HC that can CALL PLAYS, and that way you don’t have to worry about replacing your OC every year. THAT’s the play! And, that’s what made me soooo SICK over losing COEN. It was just soooo critical, and WE HAD “HIM.” It’s why (like I said with still 4-5 games left during that season), you just could NOT let “him” out the door no matter WHAT. Whatever it takes. Hopefully, things workout on our end the way they need to in order to LAND one of these guys next off-season. Hopefully, someone like a Shane Steichen. But, we HAVE TO make THIS JOB look as ‘attractive’ as POSSIBLE, for the next HC’ing cycle.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Joe … ‘In fact, he knew he was gone last summer when the Bucs squeezed him into a large paycut.’
Still wish I knew how that whole thing came about Joe. A contract is a contract, and I still can’t figure out how Licht ‘squeezed him into a large paycut’. Jamel had signed a new 4-year, $52 mil contract back in Mar 2023. That included $25.2 million in guarantees and a considerable $11.52 million bonus when Dean is on the roster of the fifth day of the league year.
So his guarantees & bonus should’ve covered $36.7 mil. Since he was making $13 mil per year, that’s almost enough to cover 3 years of that contract (through 2025 IOW). And yet Jamel settled for making only $4.25 mil for 2025, with as much as $750K in incentives. And that’s what allowed him to be a free agent in 2026. So he gave up quite a bit of $$$ to gain his free agency.
It paid off … for him. Bucs now have McCollum as our veteran CB. Good thing we signed him to a 3-year $48 mil contract with $35.4 mil in guaranteed money. Would hate to see Zion escape from the fold. (sarcasm font off now)
March 15th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Bowles has lost his best defensive back. Possibly the best defender in 2025.
He’s also lost the best offensive weapon of all time on offense.
No more excuses or players to fall back on.
He fired his defensive coaches and his OC.
The Swiss cheese defense will be fully exposed to the world.
I’ll be shocked if 2026 isn’t Bowles last season as a HC in the NFL.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
@ BigBoiBuc – I have no idea whether HE will be a franchise QB or NOT, and guess what, neither do YOU. And, he didn’t “barely” START at Texas last season. Did YOU even watch him play at all… How many games!? Cause if you DID, then you would KNOW that he looked like a completely different QB during the second half of the season, and was improving EVERY WEEK. So, there is still A LOT left to be determined. Hell, he might even return to TEXAS for another year. All I can tell you right now is that EVERYONE ELSE (all the pundits and scouts), has really liked what they’ve seen from him during the final stretch of the season, and ALL have HIM as being a Top-5 PICK. Most #1. And, that will most definitely play a factor… What GM is going to want to be known for PASSING on a “MANNING!?” Especially, IF he has a huge season like I expect him to, and truly is LEGIT. By the way, you do know they just ADDED CAM COLEMAN, right!? Cam Coleman, and I’m assuming that Wingo (and others) is still there…We’ll see what happens. But, the Bottomline being… “MANNING” was NOT my point, and YOU already knew that. YOU were just trying to USE IT was all. Mostly, because YOU were ‘triggered’ because of Baker.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Bonzai … ‘Was time to move on. Rebuilding the defense! That said…Mike Tomlin for coach in 2027. The only Defense head coach I like.’
I’m right there with you Bonzai, and it almost looks like the Bucs are restructuring the team up to be ‘Tomlin-friendly’ come 2027. From Mike Tomlin’s 2025 staff, we’ve added Danny Smith as our Special Teams coach & Luke Smith (his nephew) as his assistant. We’ve also added Miles Killebrew, Steelers’ special teams captain and a safety for them from 2021 to 2025, as well as RB Kenneth Gainwell, who played for the Steelers in 2025 (and has an excellent S/Ts background himself).
In his defense (no pun intended), Mike Tomlin never acted as his own DC in the 19 yrs he was Steelers’ head coach. He also never had a losing record. Tomlin just turned 54, so he’s still got a lot of years of coaching ahead of him IF that’s what he wants. HOPEFULLY it’ll be as the Bucs’ head coach.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Going from top 5 player (Dean) to a top 50 (Zion) and paying him more is a laughable joke. Always giving away our best CBs.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
No one KNOWS if anyone is going to be a future “franchise” QB. Period. But, guess what, IF you are drafted within the TOP 5-10 PICKS in the draft, actually anywhere in 1st-ROUND… At some point, sooner rather than later, YOU WILL be the “Franchise QB” of that team who drafted you. At least for a couple of 2-3 years, anyway!!!! NO ONE is drafting ANYONE, with any other thought(s) than THIS is “the guy” who will be MY franchise-QB. Period. End of Story.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
so just wondering what the bucs ideally would need to draft or pickup in free agency from this point on.?
2 more linebackers
3 more defensive backs
edge rusher
dline
guard
doesnt look like enough picks or salary cap. im probably missing a position or two.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Dean shut down many of the top WRs in the league. He’s gonna be missed when we are getting torched even worse
March 15th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Bring back Ryan Smith, ie, Mrs Julio Jones.
March 15th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Defense Rules Says:
And yet Jamel settled for making only $4.25 mil for 2025, with as much as $750K in incentives. And that’s what allowed him to be a free agent in 2026. So he gave up quite a bit of $$$ to gain his free agency.
———-
So he actually ended up making $6.3M for 2025.
But basically his 2025 salary wasn’t guaranteed, and I guess they threatened to release him, and getting cut before week 1, no one was likely to pay more than that. At the same time I have zero doubt the Bucs could have traded him and probably got at worst a 5th rounder, and likely a 4th from doing so.
I really don’t get what they were doing with Dean. Even with Zyon playing well the prior season, Dean was still a class above him going into 2025 – and obviously ended the year clearly as the Bucs top corner, and had a very good year, even in Bowles awful zone scheme.
Some very questionable moves, all seemingly related to Bowles and his desire to play this awful zone defense no matter what, even though time and time again we see the defense plays much better in man – when coverage is tight enough to give the pass rush a chance to get to QBs.
March 15th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
WWBWD?
Bill Walsh would have launched a 29 year old db who’s getting a new contract, would have launched a high-paid 33 year old receiver, H.O.F. bound or no. You GOT to have a fair # of starters on rookie salaries
March 15th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
zyon must get back to what he was…
we need the dude…not the dud from last year…
or the back end is is big trouble
March 15th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
can you rely-on zyon ?
🙂
March 15th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
And, that was the problem in Pittsburgh. They never had a true ‘rebuild’ and complete overhaul. They never tore it all down, and started over. It’s exactly where we are NOW. They just continued with the status quo and became OLD and STALE. For about a DECADE. It’s not where you really want to be in THE NFL. They were never good enough, and they remained STUCK in the ‘dark ages’ as a mediocre football team.