Round 4: Auburn CB Jamel Dean
6-1, 206 – Junior

Previous Pick: Central Michigan CB Sean Bunting
Tampa Bay continues to address its secondary with the selection of Dean, who is one of the fastest cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. Dean played opposite Carlton Davis, who was the Bucs’ second-round pick last year, at Auburn, and is similarly built at 6-foot-1, 206 pounds. Like Davis, Dean thrives in press-man coverage, which is the style of play that Tampa Bay is shifting towards under new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Dean ran a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which is quite a feat considering the multiple knee surgeries he’s had dating back to high school. According to NFL.com, Dean was medically disqualified at Ohio State and then wound up at Auburn where he suffered another knee injury that kept him out of the 2016 season. Dean was able to play in 2017 and ’18 and was a productive starter for the Tigers defense. Not wanting to risk another knee injury, Dean left for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

Dean’s Auburn Career Defensive Stats
2017: 43 tackles, 8 PBUs, 2.5 tackles for loss,
2018: 30 tackles, 9 PBUs 2 tackles for loss, 2 INTs, 1 sack, 1 FR

The Cocoa, Fla. native has limited production, but really good upside due to his speed, length and physicality in coverage. Dean allowed less than a 40 percent completion percentage as a junior in 2018.

The Bucs could use another talented press cornerback, especially since Vernon Hargreaves III and Ryan Smith are entering contract years in Tampa Bay this season. If his knee injuries are a thing of the past – and he has been healthy for the past two seasons – Dean could be quite a steal on Day 3 for the Bucs.

Click Below For Tampa Bay’s 5th-Round Pick.