Feb. 4, 2026, 12:33 p.m. ET
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and general manager Jason Licht are facing a critical offseason for the team. They are coming off yet another downtrodden season, this one though hurt more than most. After starting the season with a record of 5-1, they collapsed and finished with a record of 8-9. Injuries certainly played a role, but some roster decisions have proven to set the team up for where they now find themselves.
The decisions do not get any easier, as the team now faces some tough choices about notable players on the roster. While everyone is focusing on Mike Evans and Lavonte David, there is another key member of theteam flying under the radar who will be a free agent.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine wrote about the team’s decision to re-sign cornerback Jamel Dean as he gets ready to hit the open market. She writes, “The decision to return for wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David will be entirely up to Tampa Bay. Dean is interesting given his health issues (he has missed 21 regular-season games in seven seasons), but he was willing to take a significant pay cut last season, going from $12.5 million per year to $4.5 million. Still, the only starting cornerback who made it through all 17 games last season was rookie nickelback Jacob Parrish. The Bucs have to prioritize health at this position, but it’s one of the more expensive positions in free agency.”
The secondary of the Bucs struggled a lot during the 2025 season. They relied heavily on the arrival of rookies like Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, who shone in moments but fell well short in others. Being able to retain a veteran like Dean, who showcased he still has plenty of juice left, would benefit the current build of the secondary.
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