When the Buccaneers drafted cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, then extended Zyon McCollum on a three-year deal, the writing was on the wall for Jamel Dean’s future in Tampa Bay.
The team appeared ready to move on from Dean sooner rather than later, but he remained under contract through 2026 on the four-year, $52 million deal he signed before the 2023 season.
Dean has been a serviceable cornerback when healthy, but injuries have been a recurring storyline throughout his Buccaneers tenure.
Most notably, he exited playoff games in back-to-back years — against the Lions in 2023 and the Commanders in 2024, both close losses for Tampa Bay.
While it’s unfair to blame a player for bad injury luck, the reality is that Dean’s absences in crucial moments left Tampa Bay vulnerable. The greatest ability is availability, and the Bucs needed a corner they could rely on in big games.
Now, according to Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo, Dean has not only taken a major pay cut in 2025 but will also reach free agency a year ahead of schedule, with his deal set to expire after this season.
Fox Sports’ Greg Auman confirmed Queipo’s report, and clarified just how steep the cut is.
I can confirm this. It’s a significant pay cut for Bucs corner Jamel Dean, who was to make $12.5 million but will now make $4.25 million this season, with another $750k in potential playing time incentives. Now a free agent next spring. https://t.co/2yKvMmXAOl
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 8, 2025
“It’s a significant pay cut for Bucs corner Jamel Dean, who was to make $12.5 million but will now make $4.25 million this season, with another $750k in potential playing time incentives. Now a free agent next spring,” wrote Auman.
The Buccaneers restructuring Jamel Dean’s contract makes sense for both sides
The restructuring suggests both sides were ready to part ways. Dean’s willingness to slash his salary by $8.25 million in exchange for an early exit may have been a way to avoid being cut outright, allowing him to initiate a change of scenery on his own terms.
It also reflects a bet on himself. By taking a pay cut now to hit the market earlier, Dean is banking that he can stay healthy and play at a high enough level this season to land a significant payday in 2026 free agency that will outweigh the money he gave up.
For the Bucs, the future at cornerback appears set. McCollum and Morrison are projected to start on the outside in 2026, with Parrish in the slot. Dean, meanwhile, will be searching for a better fit for next season.
More Tampa Bay Buccaneers news and rumors