Jamel Dean has been excellent in Pittsburgh, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found a way to keep rolling without him.
That’s the part that stands out most in a season where Tampa Bay has already absorbed some major offseason losses. Mike Evans was the biggest one, and his move has done real damage to the Buccaneers’ passing game while also making the San Francisco 49ers even more dangerous. On defense, Lavonte David’s retirement after 14 years of steady production and leadership has left a noticeable void.
Dean, though, was the sneaky departure. After the best season of his career in 2025, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.
He even got the better of Tampa Bay’s receivers and picked off a pass when the Steelers beat the Bucs in Week 6. Still, Tampa Bay hasn’t been left wishing it had kept him.
That’s because Dean has kept playing at a high level, but the Buccaneers have somehow been even better at cornerback.
Dean has opened the season with eight passes defended, an interception and three forced fumbles in seven starts. He hasn’t allowed a touchdown, and he’s carrying a QBR surrendered of 66.8. That’s a strong run by any standard.
Even so, Tampa Bay’s secondary has been just as sharp, if not sharper. The Buccaneers are in the top 10 in yards per attempt allowed, and they’re coming off a dominant showing against Michael Penix and the Atlanta Falcons.
The weather helped, sure, but four interceptions against a quarterback who had a 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is still a huge statement. Penix completed only a third of his throws.
The real engine of this group has been the cornerback pairing of Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum. Parrish leads the NFL with 13 passes defended, while McCollum has nine.
Both have two interceptions, giving them more playmaking production than Dean so far. McCollum has allowed a QB rating of 66.6, which is slightly better than Dean’s mark, and Parrish is even tighter at 63.9.
Rookie nickel corner Keionte Scott has also been everywhere, just as advertised, and he and Tykee Smith have arguably been even better than Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who looks much improved from last season.
So while Dean remains a top-tier corner in Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay’s answer at the position has been pretty clear: the Buccaneers didn’t just survive his exit. They may have upgraded around it.
In Other News...
Bucs Defense Just Turned A Lost Season Into A Real NFC South Race
After an 0-4 start, the Buccaneers have dragged themselves back into the NFC South conversation by leaning on a defense that has suddenly started to look like a strength instead of a liability. The turnaround has shown up in turnovers and a much sturdier run defense, and it was on display again in a recent shutout of Atlanta that tightened the race at the top of the division.
Tampa Bay now sits close enough to first place that the path is easy to see, even if it is still narrow. The Bucs believe winning the rest of their division games could be enough to carry them into the playoffs, which gives every NFC South matchup a little more weight from here on out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Secondary Is Forcing A Much Bigger Conversation
The Buccaneers defense has spent enough time near the top of the league this season to make the secondary a real talking point, not just a supporting cast. Tampa Bay currently ranks first in expected points added per play allowed, and a big part of that surge has been the play of cornerback Jacob Parrish, whose coverage and run support have stood out as the unit has tightened up behind an improving pass rush.
Parrishs value has been easy to see on tape, especially in how he handles receivers at the line and stays disciplined once the play develops. Todd Bowles has singled out those traits while the rest of the defense keeps rounding into form, with contributions coming from several rushers, including Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby. The bigger question now is how high this group can climb if the back end keeps playing at this level and the pressure up front keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Face A Yaya Diaby Problem In Playoff Push
The Buccaneers pass rush took a hit at a bad time, with head coach Todd Bowles confirming that Yaya Diaby is dealing with an MCL sprain and is currently sidelined. Diaby has been one of the more important pieces of Tampa Bays defensive front, and his absence adds another layer of pressure as the team tries to keep its playoff push on track.
For now, the Bucs are leaning on younger and less established options to help fill the gap, including rookie Reuben Bain Jr. and David Walker. Tampa Bay has managed to keep moving, but the next stretch will say plenty about how well the defense can absorb the loss if Diabys recovery takes longer than hoped. [Read more 🡒]