It's hard to know where the Washington Commanders are going to start in free agency when it comes to defensive reinforcements. There are so many holes to fill, and general manager Adam Peters must be bold in his quest to provide coordinator Daronte Jones with the ammunition needed to hit the ground running.
Fans are expecting drastic action. The cornerback position is one area that needs to be prioritized. And there is a name gaining steam among team insiders that deserves more respect.
Both John Keim of ESPN and independent reporter Ben Standig have mentioned Jamel Dean as someone the Commanders could potentially take a long look at in free agency. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would probably like to keep him around, but they have several other key free agents who might be deemed bigger priorities right now.
Commanders could upgrade their cornerback room with Jamel Dean in free agency
If Dean hits the market as expected, the Commanders would be wise to make an approach. He's approaching 30, which isn't ideal. At the same time, his accomplished coverage capabilities and superb run-stopping look tailor-made for the scheme Jones plans to run in Washington.
Dean showed no signs of slowing down last season, despite missing three games due to injury. The former Auburn star gave up just 49.2 targets thrown in his direction for 424 yards and a measly 63.1 passer rating when targeted. He's the definition of a lockdown presence, which means acquiring him on the open market will not be cheap.
Spotrac projects Dean to get $12.46 million per season on a three-year, $37.4 million deal. This would rank only 22nd among corner contracts around the league, though the price may go higher if more suitors than expected show their hand.
The Commanders have more than enough salary-cap space to make Dean a tempting offer. He's spent the entirety of his seven-year career in Tampa Bay so far, but this could also be the best possible time for a fresh start.
Washington needs to find a replacement for four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore after he was released as anticipated. Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are the only guarantees to be around, though Jonathan Jones could get another short-term deal if the money works. Either way, the Commanders need an experienced presence capable of shutting down one side of the field with minimal fuss. Dean ticks that box, and luring him from the Buccaneers would be a massive statement of intent.
Other possibilities will also be on the shortlist, but don't be surprised if the Commanders make a play for Dean when the legal tampering window opens.