All offseason the question in Tampa was simple and uncomfortable: could the Buccaneers fix a defense that had slid in pass rush, linebacker depth, and the back end. Free agency and the draft said yes. Through six weeks, the tape agrees. The loudest proof wears No. 35.

Jamel Dean spent the summer on every “trade or cut” list, took a hefty pay cut, and heard the whispers about durability and a dip in form. His response has been a clinic.

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Dean just won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for a demolition of the 49ers that doubled as a birthday present and a receipt. In the Bucs’ 30–19 win, he stacked four tackles (one for loss), an interception, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass defended, and a quarterback hit. It was his first NFL sack, and he became the first cornerback since Week 7 of 2024 to record an INT, sack, and forced fumble in a single game (Cobie Durant).

Winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week on your birthday?

Priceless 🙏 pic.twitter.com/7NOqbBS3t0

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 15, 2025

That wasn’t a one-off. Dean currently leads the team and is tied for fifth in the NFL with two interceptions.

When targeted, opponents are posting a 20.8 passer rating, the best mark in the league. He’s allowing a 42.1 percent completion rate, tied for the second-lowest among qualified DBs, and receivers are getting just 1.4 yards of separation per target, also tied for second-best. Translation: throws to his side are bad business.

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Credit the Bucs for rebuilding every level of the defense, but credit Dean for betting on himself and winning.

The next stress test arrives fast: Detroit’s loaded skill group with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery. If Dean keeps erasing windows and finishing plays, Tampa’s defensive “fix” stops being a headline and starts being the identity.