The Bucs’ secondary was a major hindrance to the team in 2024 due to injury and lack of consistent play by many within the group.
Antoine Winfield Jr. was hurt and never played to his potential, Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith showed flashes but were beat at times, and Jamel Dean was expected to be a veteran presence within the group but instead was something that more closely resembled burnt toast.
That brings us to the ongoing discussion that has been circulating all offseason, where the idea of Dean being a cut candidate remains a hot topic. Most recently, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay discussed potential cut candidates and Dean was one of the five he decided to mention.
He writes, “Dean conceded a career-high 69.7 percent completion rate in 2024 and allowed a concerning 66.1 percent completion rate the season prior. Those marks are well above the 54.2 percent completion rate he posted over the first four years of his career meaning it could be time for Tampa to part ways with the soon-to-be 29-year-old. While the financial incentives are strong, the Buccaneers also have plenty of reason to move on from Dean after landing two potential replacements in Benjamin Morris and Jacob Parrish on Day 2 of the 2025 draft.”
The arrivals of Morrison and Parrish are going to be the most significant issues for Dean during training camp. As it relates to Morrison, his health could ultimately be the deciding factor as to whether this will be a season where Dean wears pewter during the regular season.
Benjamin Morrison missed all of minicamp for the Bucs in July, while Parrish was able to participate.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers defender listed as potential cut candidate ahead of training camp
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
