The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are close to becoming a Super Bowl contender, with their current roster only needing a few adjustments. This was evident during the NFC Divisional Round, where the Washington Commanders secured a dominant win over the Detroit Lions, advancing to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991.
The Buccaneers, who lost 23-20 to the Commanders in the NFC Wild Card Round on January 12, likely felt the sting the most. In a game that ended with a last-second field goal, Tampa Bay made several costly mistakes, despite playing at home and being one of only two teams to defeat the Lions during the regular season.
So, what needs to change for the Buccaneers? One major decision revolves around whether to re-sign free agent wide receiver Chris Godwin, who could command a $20 million annual salary. If they retain Godwin, they may need to free up cap space by cutting a high-priced player, such as veteran cornerback Jamel Dean, who has started for the team for five seasons.
Dean signed a 4-year, $52 million extension in March 2023, which includes $13 million in 2025 and $13.5 million in 2026. According to Bleacher Report, parting ways with Dean would free up $8.4 million in cap space, which could be vital for re-signing Godwin. This season, Dean started 12 games but only recorded seven passes defended, with a passer rating of 91.2 when targeted.
Other players potentially on the chopping block for Tampa Bay include safety Jordan Whitehead ($4.5 million) and third-string running back Sean Tucker ($1 million), both of whom could be traded as part of the team’s cap-clearing efforts.
Dean, who has been with the Buccaneers since they selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, was a key contributor to their Super Bowl LV win. That season, he posted a career-high 62 tackles and became one of only three players in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown against Aaron Rodgers.
However, after a disappointing 2023 season, where Dean failed to record an interception and allowed a career-high 42 receptions, some analysts, including Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, labeled him one of the most overpaid players in the NFL.
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