Bucs CB Makes Prestigious List

For his career he has allowed just 0.89 yards per coverage snap and has allowed a catch rate of 58.6% and a quarterback rating of just 85.3 when he has been targeted. Those numbers compare similarly to other top corners in the league such as Jaylon Johnson (0.87, 57.0%, 87.9) and Charvarius Ward (1.06, 55.0%, 82.9).

Some of those metrics fell off this past year amidst lower-body injuries. His catch rate allowed ballooned to 65.1% while his yards per coverage snap was just south of 1.00. And looking at a two season sample those numbers stand at 66.4% and 1.10. But Dean is still one of the best run defending and tackling corners in the league. His missed tackle rate has never been north of 10% at any point in his career and was just 8.8% last year.

While many, me included, expected the Bucs to cut ties with the oft injured defensive back this off-season, the team still showed faith in him. And as the veteran cornerback market skyrocketed in free agency with third contract corners getting upwards of $18 million per year, the team saw a value in Dean at a price tag of just $13 million this year. It didn’t stop them from hedging against his injury history by drafting two corners in the 2025 NFL Draft. But they still clearly see Dean as a talented corner if he can stay on the field and the starting right cornerback position is his to lose at the moment.

Zyon McCollum Absent

Notably missing from the list is Dean’s running mate Zyon McCollum. He was off to a phenomenal start to begin last season. Over the first five weeks of 2024 McCollum allowed just four catches on 12 targets for 52 yards over 111 coverage reps. He forced four incompletions and earned a 90.1 coverage grade from PFF. But from week 6 through the Bucs’ wild card loss to the Commanders those numbers fell off precipitously as he allowed a 63.1% catch rate and 1.11 yards per coverage route with eight forced incompletions. And per Next Gen Stats he ranked 38th in tight window percentage among all defensive backs with at least 300 coverage snaps.

McCollum’s ball production was one of the best in the NFL last year as well. His 17 passes defensed were tied for 3rd in the league. And while his two interceptions don’t seem like many, only 15 corners in the league had more. What’s more, McCollum’s career trajectory looks bright. He was undeniably the most consistent player in the Bucs’ secondary last year. The season prior he filled in and played well for Dean and Carlton Davis III as both missed time for injuries. All of that came after a rookie year where he looked absolutely lost at times.

For as much worry that surrounds the Bucs secondary after a down 2024, there is a clear path to the Bucs perimeter corners being one of the top pairings in all of football. If Dean can manage to play 14 or more games and McCollum takes yet another step, the two can help vault the defense back to a top 10 unit. This is far from a foregone conclusion, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

What would be most interesting at that point is how the team handles the position in 2026 and beyond. A bounce back season from Dean would give the Bucs the chance to retain his services for one more season at an extremely reasonable $13.5 million. But at that point they would be entering year two with two corners they sank considerable draft capital into in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. That would be a champagne problem the team would certainly welcome.

Until then, Dean joins Cade Otton, Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Vita Vea and Bucky Irving as being one of the top players at his position.