Buccaneers CB is in danger of losing starting job

The Bucs ranked 30th in pass defense last season, and Dean missed five games while being forced out of others with injuries. Although Dean has made 82 starts and resides as by far the Bucs’ most experienced cornerback, the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud indicates he is in danger of losing his starting job.

The 2019 third-rounder saw a snap uptick during the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV-winning season and has operated as a full-timer since. The Bucs also retained him at a favorable rate (four years, $52M) during the 2023 legal tampering period; no guaranteed money remains on the deal. Dean’s contract helped lead Davis off the roster, as the Bucs made 2024 payments to Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr.

Dean, 28, then missed five games, hurting the team in coverage. Pro Football Focus ranked Dean 18th among CB regulars last season, but his struggles staying healthy proved costly. After the inconsistent regular season, Dean left the Bucs’ wild-card loss due to injury. He had battled back from a hamstring injury to be ready for the playoff tilt.

Tampa Bay then drafted Benjamin Morrison in Round 2 and Jacob Parrish in Round 3, continuing a string of second-day cornerback investments. The team had already turned to Davis, Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Tykee Smith on Day 2; a new wave of cost-controlled corners emerged. Smith is also shifting from the slot to safety this year, and Parrish is pushing to start in the slot moving forward.

Morrison overtaking Dean would leave the Notre Dame product and Zyon McCollum as the outside starters; Dean would be an overpriced backup in that scenario. As Dean’s salary is nonguaranteed, it would save the Bucs $12.85M in 2025 cap space if they were to trade or cut him. He is due $12.5M in base salary this season; that figure does not become guaranteed until just before Week 1.