Dean made of glass, can't stay on the field, need to move on from him.
Most of the discussion here is about STARTERS on defense, but we did not play "starters" on defense much in 2024. This is SR in today's Fab 5:
"Licht and head coach Todd Bowles need to use that same approach on the bottom of the roster with the Bucs’ backups that they do when it comes to upgrading the starters on the team. They can’t fall in love with young backups who have potential.
Guys like cornerbacks Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk, safeties Kaevon Merriweather, Rashad Wisdom and Marcus Banks, outside linebackers Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez, defensive tackles Mike Greene, C.J. Brewer and Eric Banks. All are replaceable until they show otherwise . . ."
These guys started ir played substantial minutes . . often times together:
"cornerbacks Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk, safeties Kaevon Merriweather"
If you add to that we had NO ILB to play next to now 35 year old LVD who was extremely average in coverage . . .
right in the same article
"But for a cornerback position that was extremely weak last year, especially when starters Bryce Hall and Jamel Dean were injured, the Bucs can’t put themselves in that position again in 2025.
Funderburk had no business being on the field as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State. And Hayes, a sixth-round pick in 2023, is a special teams gunner who has no business starting at cornerback.
It was the same at safety and wide receiver, too. The Bucs barely got by in the secondary and wide receiver in some games, but lost a few others because of tremendous talent drop off. That needs to be fixed this offseason with better backups and a focus on building the roster from the back end up."
Let that sink in . .
"Funderburk had no business being on the field . ."
"Hayes, . . .has no business starting at cornerback."
Walter Football
Two linebackers: The Buccaneers couldn’t cover the middle of the field last year. They’ll have nothing at linebacker if Lavonte David leaves via free agency. A linebacker will still be needed if David re-signs.
SR mailbag
"The Bucs do have several holes, especially on defense where the team needs at least one inside linebacker, an impact, pass-rushing outside linebacker, an upgrade over Jordan Whitehead at strong safety, and a starting-caliber cornerback if the team plans on replacing Jamel Dean, as I believe it will. Not all of those needs can be filled in the draft and some will need to be addressed in free agency"
Cutting Dean saves $8.4M but you're just creating another hole. I would keep him, sign Asante Samuel Jr and move Tykee Smith to Safety. Izien is the 6th man.
Sign a starting ILB while drafting another one in the mid rounds. Then throw every last resource into edge rushers.
Dean made of glass, can't stay on the field, need to move on from him.
I would prefer to see the team move on from him. But after thinking about it a bit it is not a forgone conclusion that he is traded/cut. I believe that the team can't move forward with him because he can not generate turnovers, he isn't agile enough to play in zone and he is constantly injured with a high cap value.
But Dean is one of the fastest boundary CBs on the roster along with McCollum and the idea that the Bucs may have to burn a high pick to replace him is a bad idea. Bucs are better off using that first round pick on an edge rusher, interior DL or ILB before even thinking about a DB.
Cutting Dean saves $8.4M but you're just creating another hole. I would keep him, sign Asante Samuel Jr and move Tykee Smith to Safety. Izien is the 6th man.
Sign a starting ILB while drafting another one in the mid rounds. Then throw every last resource into edge rushers.
Yeah ASjr in the slot would be great and moving T. Smith to safety is a great outcome to team with Winfield. I think ASjr is going to have his market value low but he is going to be a great bargain.
(assuming we resign godwin)
1a. pass rusher
1b. nearly whole secondary
Cutting Dean saves $8.4M but you're just creating another hole. I would keep him, sign Asante Samuel Jr and move Tykee Smith to Safety. Izien is the 6th man.
Sign a starting ILB while drafting another one in the mid rounds. Then throw every last resource into edge rushers.
Dean isn't bad. just like Carlton Davis isn't bad. they just cant stay healthy
they should cut Dean and sign Charvarius Ward. Ward missed Dean/Davis like games last year but played complete seasons in the 2 prior seasons with San Francisco
one thing is for sure. This is the year for the Bucs to make a splash. They act like they did during their post Brady dead cap hit years of 2023 and 2024 and we are are destined for at best another 9-10 win season and first round playoff exit. Cant run it back with that starting defense.
that defense needs some retooling and with immediate talent upgrades
Dean isn't bad. just like Carlton Davis isn't bad. they just cant stay health
Dean only played in roughly 10 games. He was on the field at the beginning of 12 but in two of them he left with injuries early.
If they keep him they certainly cannot rely on him. They need someone better than Hayes in the rotation.
What happen to the argument that Bucs should not draft man CB - LIKE DEAN - because Bowles wants to play zone?
if that was true you definitely drop dean for a zone CB
Cutting Dean saves $8.4M but you're just creating another hole. I would keep him, sign Asante Samuel Jr and move Tykee Smith to Safety. Izien is the 6th man.
Sign a starting ILB while drafting another one in the mid rounds. Then throw every last resource into edge rushers.
Dean isn't bad. just like Carlton Davis isn't bad. they just cant stay healthy
they should cut Dean and sign Charvarius Ward. Ward missed Dean/Davis like games last year but played complete seasons in the 2 prior seasons with San Francisco
one thing is for sure. This is the year for the Bucs to make a splash. They act like they did during their post Brady dead cap hit years of 2023 and 2024 and we are are destined for at best another 9-10 win season and first round playoff exit. Cant run it back with that starting defense.
that defense needs some retooling and with immediate talent upgrades
Ward will be 30 and Spotrac has his value at $15.3M a year. So you're going to cut a $15M CB, bring on $7M of dead money, to sign a 30 year old $15M CB who may or not even be better. They're fairy close. Then you still have to add ANOTHER CB to either start or play nickel. That's why I love the idea of keeping Dean and signing Asante Samuel Jr. It would also allow Dean's snaps to be lowered as you can rotate Izien in.
I don't think Dean is part of the problem. I think there's just a hive mentality to blame the defense and blow it up. 2-3 edge rushers, an ILB and a CB and the defense will be more than adequate. Maybe even good if they hit on the right edge riushers. I propose Haason Reddick on an incentive heavy deal, K'Lavon Chaisson and trade up for Mike Green.
Cutting Dean saves $8.4M but you're just creating another hole. I would keep him, sign Asante Samuel Jr and move Tykee Smith to Safety. Izien is the 6th man.
Sign a starting ILB while drafting another one in the mid rounds. Then throw every last resource into edge rushers.
Dean isn't bad. just like Carlton Davis isn't bad. they just cant stay healthy
they should cut Dean and sign Charvarius Ward. Ward missed Dean/Davis like games last year but played complete seasons in the 2 prior seasons with San Francisco
one thing is for sure. This is the year for the Bucs to make a splash. They act like they did during their post Brady dead cap hit years of 2023 and 2024 and we are are destined for at best another 9-10 win season and first round playoff exit. Cant run it back with that starting defense.
that defense needs some retooling and with immediate talent upgrades
Ward will be 30 and Spotrac has his value at $15.3M a year. So you're going to cut a $15M CB, bring on $7M of dead money, to sign a 30 year old $15M CB who may or not even be better. They're fairy close. Then you still have to add ANOTHER CB to either start or play nickel. That's why I love the idea of keeping Dean and signing Asante Samuel Jr. It would also allow Dean's snaps to be lowered as you can rotate Izien in.
I don't think Dean is part of the problem. I think there's just a hive mentality to blame the defense and blow it up. 2-3 edge rushers, an ILB and a CB and the defense will be more than adequate. Maybe even good if they hit on the right edge riushers. I propose Haason Reddick on an incentive heavy deal, K'Lavon Chaisson and trade up for Mike Green.
i'm not married to the idea of cutting Dean, and i like your view that we are adding a DB like Samuel anyway to bolster the secondary. In my mock, i have us drafting a corner in the 4th round but signing Ward.
Dean is entering his age 29 season and has yet to have a complete season so it's just he puts us at a disadvantage missing a third of the season.
you have the right idea though, we need to sign some guys in free agency at edge and CB. All for drafting to build the team but sometimes you need to add pieces to the squad i.e. Saquan to the Eagles, Gronk to the Bucs, Von Miller to the Rams, etc
If a team offers a 2nd or 3rd for Dean I think he is gone but if a team isn't offering higher compensation then you stick with Dean for another year because you can not replace him that easily unless the team is ready to use a draft pick or spend even more cap space.
As for CB Ward he is a bad solution to the Bucs main problem on defense. Main problem on defense is you need a legit edge rusher on the other side and then stack more edge rushers for a rotation (eg pass rushing DT and a nickel rusher that can come off the bench). That allows the Bucs to keep the nickel or third safety near the box to disrupt routes in the middle of the field. That is how Edwards was used before he left the Bucs and we saw a little of that last year too. Which is why I wouldn't be surprised if Edwards is returned for that role on a cheap deal.
Here is what it could look like:
Sign Uche or Judon as starter
Sign Ojulari nickel edge rusher
Sign Onwuzurike as your third interior DL off the bench and as a hedge against Kancey injury. Onwuzurike is an upgrade over Gholston and Gaines on the inside and can allow Vea/Kancey to be rotated.
Sign Chinn as your third nickel safety/box safety because Whitehead spinal injury is worrisome.
Sign ASjr as NCB and move T. Smith to safety with Winfield Jr.
Re-sign Edwards as your robber safety to disrupt passes midfield.
Punt on signing a LB in free agency if LVD wants to come back. Better off drafting an ILB and developing them. LVD, Dennis, Russel and 2025 drafted ILB would round out this group.
