With the start of the league year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they have officially come to terms with cornerback Jamel Dean. During the free agent tampering period, it was reported that the Bucs re-signed Dean for four years, $52 million.
In the announcement, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said:
It has been great seeing Jamel’s growth as a player these past four seasons. Keeping him was a top priority for us and it worked out well that he also had a strong desire to stay here. Any time you draft a player who meets and exceeds your expectations, you want to do all you can to ensure he remains a part of the organization. Jamel is a special person who is highly respected throughout our building for his work on the field and in the community. We think he is only going to continue ascending as a football player and will continue to play a big role in our defensive success over the coming seasons.
Dean is expected to address the media on Thursday, March 16 at approximately 10:30 a.m. ET.
Keeping Dean solidifies the Bucs’ cornerback room alongside CB Carlton Davis, who signed a three-year extension last year. Despite entering the offseason with more money over the cap than any other team, the Bucs were able to keep one of their best free agents at a below-market price.
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