Earlier this week, it was revealed that Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean restructured his contract and took a significant pay cut ahead of the 2025 season.
Dean took an $8.25 million pay decrease and is now set to enter free agency at the end of the season, a year ahead of schedule. Speaking to reporters, Dean got surprisingly candid about his decision to restructure his deal and accept the steep pay cut.
Bucs CB Jamel Dean with great perspective on taking a big pay cut to stay in Tampa: "I'm comfortable here. It's really not about the money anymore. I'm like 'I'm not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new system and city, like I did my rookie year.' It saved me a headache."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 11, 2025
“I'm comfortable here. It's really not about the money anymore. I'm like 'I'm not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new system and city, like I did my rookie year.' It saved me a headache," Dean said, via Fox Sports' Greg Auman.
Jamel Dean chose pay cut over being released by Buccaneers
Dean implied that if he didn't restructure his contract, he'd have to learn a new system in a new city, indicating that the Buccaneers front office played hardball and gave him the option to either take a pay cut, or get released.
The Buccaneers drafted two cornerbacks on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting both Benjamin Morrison out of Notre Dame and Jacob Parrish out of Kansas State.
On top of bringing in a pair of promising young corners, the team also reached a massive three-year extension with Zyon McCollum ahead of the season opener, which was the writing on the wall for Dean's future in Tampa Bay
The team was apparently ready to move on sooner rather than later, and by cutting a year off Dean's contract in the restructure, the table is set for the parties to go their separate ways at the end of the 2025 season.
Tampa Bay already has Dean's replacement(s) for the future on the roster, with McCollum and Morrison penciled in as the starting outside cornerbacks, and Parrish as the starting nickel cornerback.
Dean, now suddenly in a contract year, will look to raise his stock ahead of free agency. If Dean can stay healthy in 2025 and turn in a strong performance in his final season as a Buccaneer, it would provide a major boost for Tampa Bay's defensive unit in its push for a Super Bowl.
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