Where Does Jamel Dean Rank On PFF List Of Best In Game?

Pro Football Focus has given love to several Bucs players over the past few weeks as they continue to rank the top players at each position group. Most recently they ranked All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. the best safety in the NFL.

Looking at the rest of the defensive backfield, one current Bucs player makes the cut as one of the 32 best cornerbacks in the league. Jamel Dean clocks in at No. 18 on the list with author John Kosko writing, “Dean is as consistent as they come, as he has earned a 70.0-plus coverage grade in all five of his seasons as a pro. He recorded a career-high 18 stops in 2023 and has missed a grand total of 15 tackles in his five-year career.”

Bucs Looking For More From Jamel Dean

Despite the favorable write-up, most in the Bucs front office and locker room would say it was a bit of a disappointing season from Dean. He ranked 10th overall on the same list last year.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today

He missed four games and left another early due to injury, keeping with a theme that has plagued the talented corner for much of his career. Dean was also much less effective in coverage, allowing 1.33 yards per coverage rep, which was the highest mark of his career and almost double the 0.76 mark for his career leading into the 2023 season.

Even more memorable than the overall play during the regular season was the would-be interception he dropped in the end zone during the NFC Divisional game against the Lions that proved to be a pivotal play in the outcome of the game. All of this was following him signing a lucrative extension last year.

Dean spoke recently of how the team is looking for him to be more of a ballhawk in 2024, saying that cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross texted him in the offseason that it needed to be a focus.

#Bucs CB Jamel Dean talks about holding onto the ball for INTs this season.

CB Coach Kevin Ross would text him in the offseason: “You need to start catching balls”

Dean replied: “I know I dropped 5 interceptions last year. I’m sorry.” pic.twitter.com/2JtTS8u7GJ

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) May 28, 2024

Former Bucs Player Also Makes List

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo – Photo by: USA Today

Carlton Davis III, whom the Bucs just traded to the Lions, also made PFF’s list, ranking 22nd overall. PFF noted that his grades per their site may not reflect the actual quality of his play.

“Davis has often been tasked with tracking the opposing team’s top receiver, which never results in high grades. The advanced metrics look more kindly on him, though, as he ranks 18th there over the past two years.”

With Davis entering the final year of his contract, due $14.5 million in cash, and oft-injured himself, the Bucs opted to trade him for a third-round pick and give third-year corner Zyon McCollum a chance to become a full-time starter.

Despite the injury and overall play struggles for Davis, he actually moved up seven spots from where he ranked on PFF’s list last year. That goes to show how fickle the position is overall, with performance for most players who play the position varying wildly from year to year.