Buccaneers Re-Signing Cornerback Jamel Dean to New Four-Year Deal Worth $52 Million

A key piece of coach Todd Bowles' secondary is coming back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

David Harrison | Mar 13, 2023

Kim Klement, USA Today

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The new league year hasn't started yet, but already the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offseason is turning north.

After Tom Brady's retirement cost the Bucs nearly $40 million in salary cap space and the team's starting quarterback, many expected a mass exodus of free agents.

One of those players expected to depart Tampa Bay was cornerback Jamel Dean who instead agreed to re-sign with the team on Monday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the new contract is a four-year deal worth $52 million.

Dean was originally drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Auburn.

Along with Sean Murphy-Bunting, he was one of two cornerbacks taken by the team and one of three defensive backs along with safety Mike Edwards out of Kentucky.

Dean's career got off to an infamously rocky start that included a terrible outing against the Seattle Seahawks in a 40-34 loss during his rookie season.

Soon after, however, stories of Dean putting in extra work with then defensive coordinator Todd Bowles surfaced, and his play has steadily increased ever since.

In four seasons Dean has started 38 of the 57 games he's played including 26 in the last two seasons alone.

Meanwhile, Murphy-Bunting has started just 13 games over the past two years after 23 in his first two.

Retaining Dean to play opposite cornerback Carlton Davis III gives the Bucs a solid starting duo of outside cornerbacks, and lessens the need for the team to target the position on Day 1 of the upcoming NFL Draft.

Still, with 2022 rookie Zyon McCollum struggling in limited action Tampa Bay could certainly look to add to the group as early as Day 2.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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Published Mar 13, 2023

DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has been in sports media since 2015 using written, audio, and video media to cover athletes, coaches, and games. In addition to covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for BucsGameday and Locked On Bucs he also covers the Washington Commanders for Commander Country and Locked On Commanders and the Washington Wizards for Inside the Wizards. David also covers the NFL as a whole as one of the Friday hosts for Locked On NFL. He is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and previously spent 20 years as an active member of the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.