Buccaneers Trade Pitch Sends Pricey Vet to Raiders in $12.8 Million Cap Dump

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean has become a popular trade or cut candidate due to his $15-plus million cap hit over the next two seasons, and the most recent trade idea would ship the veteran CB to the Las Vegas Raiders.

CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin pitched this proposal on June 26, explaining why he believes it would “make sense” for both teams.

“Dean’s six-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers includes a Super Bowl title and big-money extension, but the veteran has been frequently mentioned as a potential cut or trade candidate due to a $15 million 2025 cap hit, almost all of which the Bucs could clear from their books by dealing Dean elsewhere,” Benjamin began.

To be more exact, Over the Cap notes that Tampa Bay could free up approximately $12.85 million in cap space this year if they were to trade Dean, not to mention another $13.5 million in 2026.

As for the Raiders’ part in this deal, Benjamin argued that “Las Vegas is a logical landing spot firstly because new coach Pete Carroll still lacks formidable answers at cornerback, secondly because the Raiders have more than $30 million in available cap space, and thirdly because there’s a personal connection here: New general manager John Spytek directed the Bucs’ player personnel department when Dean was drafted in 2019.”

Why Would the Buccaneers Trade CB Jamel Dean Amid a Super Bowl Pursuit?

There’s one major issue with this Bucs and Raiders trade idea, and that’s Tampa Bay sacrificing its most established starting-caliber cornerback when the secondary is young and inexperienced in the first place.

Benjamin did include this “potential holdup” in the article, writing: “Even if Dean is more serviceable than special at a lofty price, the Bucs are trying to defend their NFC South crown, and jettisoning such an experienced corner would put immediate pressure on rookie corners like Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish to have a playoff-caliber impact.”

So, why might the Buccaneers consider such a move? The short answer is that this could be their best chance to rid themselves of Dean’s contract, while also getting some sort of draft capital back in return.

In other words, by weakening themselves in 2025, Tampa Bay could get ahead of a potential 2026 problem.

Dean will be 29 years old in October, and he’s missed starts in each of the past two seasons. In 2023, he suited up for 13 games. That number then decreased to 12 starts in 2024.

This trend might already be problematic in trade discussions, but if Dean were to get hurt again this year, say goodbye to any sort of draft capital in return.

Trading Dean now, before another potential injury or regression in play, would be like pushing the emergency eject button before a crash.

Bucs Rookie Cornerbacks Would Have to Step Up During Training Camp for Front Office to Consider Jamel Dean, Raiders Trade

If Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht were to consider such a move, he’d have to get word from head coach Todd Bowles that draft picks like Morrison and Parrish are coming along quickly at training camp.

Fourth-year cornerback Zyon McCollum is another important figure in this discussion, too, considering he needs a new contract in 2026.

As are role players, Tykee Smith, Bryce Hall and Josh Hayes.

If this collection of cornerbacks looks like they’re taking a step in the right direction at training camp, that would make parting ways with Dean one year early a lot more palatable for Tampa Bay.