Buccaneers: Jamel Dean has been criminally underrated

The secondary of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been the subject of some scrutiny so far in 2021, and the mountain of injuries that keeping piling up for the unit hasn’t been helping. However, there is one player of the Buccaneers secondary that has been just flat out underrated, and deserves a little bit of shine.

The starting cornerbacks that the Bucs won a Super Bowl with, Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting, were sent to the shelf early this season, resulting in what seems like a revolving door for the position. While they are set to return sooner rather than later, the third cornerback from the Super Bowl run has quietly had a solid season.

When it comes to cornerbacks, often the quietest stats speak the loudest, and that is certainly the case with Jamel Dean.

Dean does have two interceptions at about the halfway point in the season in 2021, which is pretty impressive, but not enough to get people talking. He also has 29 total tackles including one for a loss, but again, that doesn’t garner much attention.

The thing is with corners, if they’re doing their job, chances are they won’t get thrown at much, and that’s been the story with Dean so far this season. For those that may not convinced, or are simply visual learners, try this out for size.

https://twitter.com/mattkaroly/status/1456351360224530433?s=21

Granted, this tweet and accompanied graph was intended to showcase division rival A.J. Terrell, Dean is in the same neighborhood when it comes to the corners who are rarely targeted due to their excellent coverage.

While the bulk of the attention when it comes to the Buccaneers has been on the offense’s success and the secondary’s stress, Jamel Dean has flown under the radar for far too long, and it’s time he gets the praise he rightfully deserves.