And why are you confident about Dean? i would be surprised if he stays to be honest
If you were to weave together posts on the Red Board you’d believe that “the Bucs shouldn’t draft a man corner because Bowles loves zone” and Dean - a man corner who only plays about 50% of the time - is staying because .. well… Bowles loves him.
lol
Or “they traded Davis because Bowles loves zone” (not because of the contract) but they will keep Deans big contract because .. well… Bowles loves zone?
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."
@jc5100 Definitely some risk there but I wouldn't mind if the Bucs took the chance.
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.