Nonetheless hanging within the steadiness with the Bucs going into the draft season is what there plans are on the cornerback place. There was a lot dialog earlier within the offseason in regards to the Bucs presumably letting go of veteran cornerback Jamel Dean, which might be a $6.582 million lifeless cap hit however would additionally save Tampa Bay $8,284,941 in cap room general.
Nevertheless, given among the outrageously costly contracts that different cornerbacks got this offseason, resembling Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr., who, is incomes $3o million per season, and Carolina’s Jaycee Horn making $25 million, Dean’s contract doesn’t appear so unhealthy in any case. It really works out fairly effectively for the Bucs to maintain as a result of at $13 million per 12 months Dean is a discount given the truth that he has 62 begins in his six-year NFL profession.
Nonetheless, there are different variables with Dean which will incline the Bucs to maneuver on from him, particularly if the workforce hundreds up at cornerback within the upcoming draft and comes away with one two beginning choices. Throw in the truth that Dean has been very harm susceptible and doesn’t intercept the ball a lot, making one interception over the earlier two seasons, and that’s an indication he might finally put on out his welcome subsequent 12 months if it doesn’t occur this 12 months.
Jason Licht: “We Really feel Good About Jamel Dean”
Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Commanders WR Terry McLaurin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Jamel Dean scenario provides normal supervisor Jason Licht quite a bit to mull over. May the workforce exchange him within the draft? Is he steadfast on Dean being the starter going into the season?
Licht spoke about Tampa Bay’s highest-paid nook on the NFL Annual Assembly in West Palm Seaside, Fla.
“Jamel, [he’s] had some accidents over the previous couple of years,” Licht stated. “He was a extremely good participant not too way back. He has excessive expectations for himself. We have now excessive expectations for him. We be ok with Jamel.”
Tampa Bay has ready for the potential that Dean is beset with accidents as soon as once more. They spent this offseason constructing skilled depth at cornerback with the signing of Kindle Vildor and re-signing Bryce Corridor, who suffered a season-ending ankle harm within the the primary common season recreation in his first 12 months with the workforce.
Whereas it’s definitely not the primary transfer one might level to for the Bucs making a playoff run, these are crucial transactions that must occur if Tampa Bay’s protection doesn’t wish to get into the identical pitfalls that it did a season in the past. The workforce can unwell afford to get all the way down to its fifth- and sixth-string corners taking part in important time, particularly when these gamers final 12 months have been second-year cornerback Josh Hayes, who’s primarily a gunner, and undrafted free agent Tyrek Funderburk.
“I feel we’ve made enhancements,” Licht stated about his workforce’s depth at cornerback. “We’re in a greater place than we have been final 12 months.”
Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photograph by: USA As we speak
And the Bucs aren’t accomplished including to the cornerback place, both. That’s why drafting one within the first spherical or early on may be very a lot on the desk, too.
“It’s a reasonably good draft there all through your complete draft,” Licht stated. “We’ll see the way it falls to us. We might use some assist there – depth, no matter it’s. We might use some assist there.”
And the Bucs don’t need simply any form of participant. Head coach Todd Bowles stated he needs ballhawks this offseason. After recording simply seven interceptions as a protection – with solely six coming within the secondary – Tampa Bay wants defensive backs that may get picks in bunches. Cornerback Zyon McCollum and rookie Tykee Smith, who was the workforce’s beginning nickelback, tied for the workforce lead with two interceptions apiece.
“Belief me – there’s nothing Todd needs greater than extra interceptions,” Licht stated.
